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Rampage gets Bader in Japan after UFC U-turn

Rampage Jackson has got his wish to fight in Japan © Getty Images

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Rampage Jackson will get to fight in Japan after all, after the former UFC light-heavyweight champion was paired with Ryan Bader at UFC 144.

Rampage appeared to be off the UFC 144 card earlier this week when he posted a tweet saying: "It don't look like I'm fighting in Japan which I'm not happy about at all, I think it's a big mistake by the UFC... F*** it."

Jackson has strong ties to the Japanese MMA scene having built a huge fanbase over there during his Pride days, but it was believed the UFC may have denied him his wish for a return in order to put him on the UFC on Fox 2 card in January.

However, Rampage's latest comments on the issue became slightly more positive, tweeting first on Wednesday: "Guys I have the best managers in the business, this thing will work its way out, I was peed off when I first tweeted the bad news, let's see what's up."

Then on Thursday, in response to the fact White had said in one of his earlier video blogs that Rampage could fight in Japan, Jackson replied: "Now you see what I deal with, but I'm sure he's gonna make it happen."

Stephan Bonnar had been put forward as Jackson's next opponent, having called him out after UFC 139, but Rampage insisted no agreement was in place to take on the American Psycho.

"Bonnar called me out?! I would end his career for real," Rampage tweeted. "Guys I never said I was fighting Bonnar next, but since the guys I wanna fight can't or won't fight me, I wouldn't mind fighting him next."

Now it has been confirmed to ESPN by Lorenzo Fertitta that Rampage will meet Bader at UFC 144. The card is headlined by Frankie Edgar v Ben Henderson.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.