Bellator MMA will hold its first pay-per-view on November 2nd from the Long Beach Arena in California and the card will be headlined by former UFC champions squaring off as Quinton “Rampage” Jackson faces Tito Ortiz.
The fight booking was announced during the Bellator 97 main card broadcast on Spike TV and tickets for the event will go on sale this Saturday at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT at Bellator.com, Ticketmaster.com, as well as at the Long Beach Arena Box Office.
“To have two of the biggest names in MMA headline our first PPV is awesome,” Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “Rampage vs. Tito is a fight I’ve wanted to see for years and to have it as our Main Event on our first Pay-Per-View is a spectacular next step in Bellator’s evolution. They’re both re-energized, excited and ready for a war. This will be a great fight.”
Jackson (32-11) will be making his Bellator debut in this fight and will be looking to snap a three fight losing streak. The former UFC champion is happy being in Bellator and November 2nd will be a horrible night for his opponent.
“Honestly, I feel like I’ve been re-born.,” Jackson said. “My excitement, energy and aggression, it’s all back and bigger than ever. I feel like a kid again. The Rampage you’ll see Nov. 2nd will be better than any Rampage you’ve ever seen. Everybody knows Tito and I have a very long history. He’s a former teammate and friend, and it’s one of the reasons I stayed away from the UFC as long as I did. But, I want to be very clear; any sort of friendship we once had doesn’t exist when that cage door shuts. I’ve got a ton to prove on November 2nd, and unfortunately for Tito he’s the guy I have to make an example of. He’s in my house now and Saturday, November 2nd on PPV, it’s going to be a horrible night for Tito Ortiz.”
Ortiz (16-11-1) is coming out of retirement and this will be his Bellator debut. He is currently on a three fight losing streak and is 1-7-1 in his last nine fights. His passion for MMA was killed while in UFC and is happy to join Bellator.
“I’m back,” Ortiz stated. “Over the last few years, my passion for MMA was completely killed, dealing with UFC politics and with Dana. I didn’t have that drive to compete, my heart wasn’t in it. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I’m free. Bjorn and Bellator put together an opportunity that made me part of the promotion, part of the family. I feel like I can breathe again and my old friend is going to be on the receiving end of all that happiness turned into an old school Tito Ortiz ground and pound beating. I’ve fought and beaten the very best in MMA history and on Nov. 2nd, Rampage will be the next huge win on my record. This is a new era for the People’s Champion.”
Bellator will hold a press conference on Monday at the Bellator headquarters and more details on this event will be announced at that time.