MMA Newswrap: Rampage's Court Date, Tito's Back Surgery, Lappen's Statement

-Former UFC Light Heavy Champion Rampage Jackson's day in court has been rescheduled for October 24th as Orange County (CA) prosecutor Keith Bogardus was held up with another trial. Today's pre-trial hearing is where parties are brought together to set up future court dates and an opportunity for the defense to change its plea. Jackson is facing a plethora of charges due to his reckless drive through the streets of the O.C. a few months back, which completed a bizarre series of events for Rampage.

-EliteXC Head of Fight Operations Jeremy Lappen released a statement today on the speculation that they insinuated Seth Petruzelli take a dive in his fight against Kimbo Slice last Saturday.

Lappen said that "press reports that EliteXC suggested or paid money to heavyweight fighter Seth Petruzelli to keep his fight against Kimbo Slice off the ground are false. Let me be perfectly clear with no ambiguity that did not happen." For the whole statement, check it out here.

-So much for Tito Ortiz being featured in an EliteXC octagon anytime soon. Ortiz - who appeared at the organization's show last Saturday and came across as very elusive about signing a deal - is going to have back surgery and might be ready to return during the summer of 2009, but that is not guaranteed. The surgery is similar to what Nate Quarry had in June 2006 and he didn't return until September 2007.

And of course, Ortiz is blaming UFC. The Huntington Beach Bad Boy told MMAWeekly.com "the kicker to this whole story is that the UFC denied my claim for coverage of my debilitating back injury obviously acquired in the Octagon. After all of the battling, and allegiance I pledged to them, they now have stooped so low as to not give me the medical care I so desperately needed.”

UFC responded: “The UFC does not have the authority to deny or approve any insurance claims asserted by UFC athletes. Rather, Zuffa purchases medical insurance coverage for the benefit of fighters at levels significantly higher than those required by state athletic commissions. The decision regarding whether a filed claim is valid and therefore approved is determined exclusively through the standard review process of the insurance company AIG.”

All of that bitterness aside, this hurts for EliteXC. With Kimbo Slice's star needing some PR shine, Ortiz could have been an immediate draw, especially against an Andre Arlovski, Ken Shamrock or fighter of that caliber. Now, they have to wait and decide whether Ortiz will be worth the wait...and whether Ortiz will be ready to fight next year.

-Recently stripped of his EliteXC Lightweight title, KJ Noons announced his free agency this week. Will we ever see that Nick Diaz vs. Noons grudge match?

Josh Nason started Ropes, Ring and Cage in 2007 and is the main contributor of content for the site. His debut article in FIGHT! Magazine will appear soon. He can be reached at [e-mail].