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A lot can change in a day or two.
After telling Ariel Helwani on Monday that he was contemplating retirement, Quinton Jackson seems to have a renewed interest in fighting.
Jackson's career has been in limbo as Bellator parent company Viacom and the UFC battle over "Rampage's" contract rights.
According to Jackson, the UFC is pulling out of the fight to allow the 37-year-old veteran to settle the contractual dispute with Viacom which would allow him to return to Bellator.
"Everybody knows I'm going through a big court case," Jackson said Wednesday on his Twtich live stream. "I signed with Bellator but then s**t happened and I left to sign with UFC. I talked to uncle [UFC president] Dana White and uncle [UFC CEO] Lorenzo Fertitta yesterday and they told me, 'You're cool. We'll let you settle your stuff with Bellator without us taking you to court.' So I did a post saying that the UFC stopped me from retiring."
"I didn't say anything about I was going to fight Michael Bisping or fight nobody in the UFC. I was just saying that the UFC was cool by not taking me to court if I had to go back to fight for Bellator."
Jackson lashed out at Bisping earlier this week on his channel, calling him "a traitor." He elaborated on the beef Wednesday by saying Bisping made statements implicating him in an unrelated lawsuit involving a former manager.
After splitting from his head trainer Juanito Ibarra in 2008, Jackson joined up with Bisping as part of the UK's Wolfslair Fight Team. Jackson's manager Lee Gwynn, a co-founder of the Wolfslair gym, previously managed Bisping.
"F**k Michael Bisping," Jackson said. "He's a traitor. I was going through another court case that you guys don't know about. I was always cool with Bisping, helped him train. I even paid half on some of his training camps, but he wanted me to pay for his sparring partners. He would hurt my sparring partners and all this bulls**t. I would never care. I was always cool with him. Then he gave a statement against me in the other lawsuit. That's bulls**t. How you going to do that to somebody who helped you out?
"That's why I said I would like to fight Bisping. He's a f***ing a**hole. I've never done anything wrong to him. You don't do that to your teammates. He's a cheap motherf**ker because he doesn't like to pay his manager when he owes him money. That doesn't have anything to do with me. In order to help his case he lies on me and gives some bulls**t statements. I'd fight him on the playground if I knew I wouldn't go to jail."
If he can get his legal situation resolved soon, Jackson says he hopes to be part of the new Japanese event being promoted by former PRIDE head Nobuyuki Sakakibara. The event will star former PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko and will air in the U.S. on Spike TV on New Year's Eve.
"I better start getting in shape because hopefully I'll be fighting by Christmas," said Jackson. "I'm looking forward to possibly fighting in Japan on New Year's if everything goes right. You all need to hit up [Bellator CEO] Scott Coker to call the dogs off of Rampage. The UFC already said they're going to be cool and aren't going to take no legal actions if I go back and settle up with you guys.
"I'm down to go to Japan and fight on that card. We can settle up and get s**t back going so I don't retire. That's the only other option. If they're going to tie me up in court for a couple years I might as well go retire and become a stripper."
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Big Business. UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw says Elevation Fight Team is paying him "good money" to train there.
Ronda on SC. Get the complete rundown, videos included, of UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey's day co-hosting ESPN's SportsCenter.
Contenders. Anthony Johnson wants Ryan Bader next, but Bader's still hoping he can get his shot at UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier.
Bigg Rigg. Nutritionist Mike Dolce says Johny Hendricks' UFC 192 weight cut was "a comedy of errors."
Movin' on up. John Dodson, who holds a win over UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw, moves back to 135 pounds.
MEDIA STEW
Behind the scenes at UFC 192.
Rousey and UFC strawweight champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk on ESPN's First Take.
Around the Octagon with Ariel Helwani.
What to watch at Bellator 144: Rafael Carvalho vs. Brandon Halsey.
Saul Rogers vs. Billy Quarantillo from TUF 22.
Rampage calls Rashad Evans to catch up.
Long watches.
'Press Row' with Jordan Breen and Jeremy Botter
...
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TWEETS
Facebook official.
Been fun brotha, see u on the otherside. Safe Journey @tjdillashaw @ Texas Roadhouse - Elk Grove, CA https://t.co/TomxzDcEJY
— Urijah Faber (@UrijahFaber) October 8, 2015
Digging.
Much love to the loyal.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 8, 2015
Champs.
Ronda and Joanna getting ready for Australia with a stare down... And koala fight! https://t.co/6oE6JNawfC
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 7, 2015
The more you know.
Amazing how different NFL practices are now from when I played college ball. Great focus on athletes peaking and being healthy.
— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) October 8, 2015
I learned a great deal, and realized even more how badly we over-train in mma. We train way too much, especially head trauma from sparring
— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) October 8, 2015
looking at the science the Falcons track their players "output" each day, MMA fighters probably lose yrs of career due to training intensity
— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) October 8, 2015
Yes, already happening in smaller camps, Yair Rodriguez's coaches told me he sparred 4x whole camp https://t.co/qbKpfd3PmK
— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) October 8, 2015
Like it?
Can't wait!!!! Orlando, FL on Dec 19th, I'm making my 145 debut vs top 10 ranked Charles Oliveira!!! #UFConFox17 pic.twitter.com/mhjppf2soH
— Myles Jury (@FuryJury) October 8, 2015
New ink.
What do you think of the new neck tattoo? @ Michigan Top Team https://t.co/ry8frKOZsT
— Daron Cruickshank (@Cruickshank155) October 8, 2015
My homie Tattoos by Elvis using my body as a canvas again.❤️Always happy w/his work.✔️him out!Best artist around! You came into this world as a blank canvas do you really want to leave that way? I don't.✨
Posted by Ashlee Evans-Smith on Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Damn.
I'ma just leave this right here. The buns are grilled cheese filled with pastrami pic.twitter.com/ANUJN5Yg8p
— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) October 8, 2015
So many kids.
Takin my big guy Trick or Treating this Halloween!! Happy Halloween @UrijahFaber pic.twitter.com/AsmCRAtqSc
— Dana White (@danawhite) October 7, 2015
Thanks for the late night text @danawhite at least it wasn't a D- pic @ufc @ Ben Chang Massage... https://t.co/Qrm2ZB1uSf
— Urijah Faber (@UrijahFaber) October 7, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Oct. 7 2015)
Myles Jury vs. Charles Oliveira at UFC on FOX 17
Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Randa Markos at UFC on FOX 17
Found something you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we'll include it in tomorrow's column.
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