'Rampage' edges out Ishii in Bellator 157 main event

It wasn't one for his highlight reel, but Quinton "Rampage" Jackson got the W in his return to Bellator MMA on Friday.

For three lukewarm rounds, Jackson and Satoshi Ishii battled in the clinch, with Ishii looking for takedowns and Jackson scoring points with short punches.

A late takedown of his own may have sealed the deal for Jackson, who was rewarded with a split decision that included a ludicrous 30-27 score. The call drew a tepid reaction from the Bellator 157 crowd in St. Louis, Mo.

Jackson and Ishii were competing at a catchweight of 225 pounds.

Fighting for the first time since a UFC bout on April 25, 2015, Jackson looked eager to throw down, turning his back to Ishii early in the first when his opponent refused to step into the pocket with him.

Instead, the Olympic gold medal-winning judoka clinched up with Jackson against the cage, leading to a trip and control on the ground for Ishii. Jackson fought back up, but was brought down with another trip that presumably won Ishii the round.

Rounds 2 and 3 were close, but still favorable for Jackson as he stayed active with strikes while Ishii worked to smother him in the clinch. Even though nothing substantial landed, it was enough to convince two of the three judges that Jackson was the winner.

"Rampage" wins his fourth straight Bellator fight and fifth overall. The run was interrupted by a UFC fight against Fabio Maldonado after Jackson argued that he was a free agent due to Bellator not fulfilling certain contract obligations.

The two parties resolved their issues, clearing the path for Rampage to come back after a 25-month separation from the organization.