*UPDATE* Rampage Jackson Will Return To UFC Despite Bellator Contract

After leaving the UFC in early 2013 amidst a highly publicized feud with Dana White, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson has racked up three straight victories in rival promotion Bellator.

His latest victory, a unanimous decision win over Muhammed Lawal at May’s Bellator 120, earned Rampage the Season 10 Light Heavyweight Tournament title and a proposed shot at champion Emanuel Newton, who is a former training partner of his.

Apparently Rampage doesn’t want to take that shot, however, and he could be headed back to familiar stomping ground. A rumor surfaced from MMA Junkie’s Steven Marrocco that Rampage is coming back to the UFC and it will be announced tonight:

I’m hearing Rampage just signed a deal with UFC for announce Sat. I’m skeptical. He’s under contract with Bellator.

— Steven Marrocco (@MMAjunkieSteven) December 20, 2014

That’s a bit of unexpected news, as the rift between Rampage and White was supposedly beyond the point of repair. Jackson has won three straight after dropping his last three in the Octagon, and there’s little doubt he could at least make for an excellent gatekeeper in some exciting bouts.

With the UFC’s business practices and fighter treatment under extreme scrutiny thanks to the recent class action lawsuit filed by Jon Fitch, Cung Le, and Nate Quarry, the promotion may want to mend the fence with formerly prominent fighters whom they had disagreed with in the past.

Of course it’s entirely speculation, but a report has also surfaced that Tito Ortiz was approached multiple times about being a part of said lawsuit but declined, clearing a patch for a potential return after he’s also found success in Bellator.

Ortiz was supposed to face Rampage in the main event of Bellator 117 in November 2013, which was the promotion’s first attempt at a pay-per-view (PPV), but a neck injury put those plans on hold indefinitely.

Could Rampage’s return to the Octagon open the door for that matchup to take place in the UFC?

*UPDATE*

As the UFC teased a”major announcement” during the main card of tonight’s UFC Fight Night 58 from Barueri, Brazil, Sherdog’s Jeff Sherwood reported that Rampage had indeed re-signed with the UFC and is scheduled to return in 2-15 despite being still under contract with Bellator.

Bellator officials confirmed that Jackson was still “one hundred percent” employed by the promotion. Stay tuned for more updates on the developing situation.