Former trainer/manager for UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson is striking back at former champion Tito Ortiz (picture) for calling him a "thief". Juanito Ibarra claims that Ortiz' comments have caused emotional distress through defamation and invasion of privacy according to TMZ.

Here's an excerpt of what Ortiz had said about Ibarra this past September:

"Let me explain this to you because it really pisses me off that Ibarra has done what he has done, he is a thief. I have been running training camps for seven years up in Big Bear California and the most that my camp has cost a fighter to attend is $35,000. Ibarra was charging Jackson $65,000 to go to Big Bear. I don't understand that!! He was being very disrespectful and taking advantage of 'Rampage'. Including travel, training partners, food and lodging, the most ever was $35,000, maybe if you flew in more trainers...$40K. Where did that extra money go that Ibarra was charging?"

Not only is Ibarra going after Ortiz, he's also suing the media who reported the story which helped spread Ortiz' comments throughout the Internet.

There's no doubt that after what Ortiz had said, followed by Jackson leaving Ibarra that he's probably struggling to get clients into his camp. We don't know how much Ibarra is suing for and which MMA websites he has targeted.

Meanwhile, Tito Ortiz is free to receive an offer from any promotion without having to reveal the offer to the UFC beginning this weekend.

Ortiz's contract with the UFC ended last year when he lost against Lyoto Machia at UFC 84 on May 24. Although Ortiz was allowed to negotiate with other promotions, the UFC retained the right to match any offer until June 5, 2009.

A press conference was held yesterday in Tokyo by World Victory Road to announce the signing of 2008 Olympic gold medalist in Judo Satoshi Ishii for the promotion. Previously signing with the UFC is reported to have no impact on Ishii's negotiations with WVR to appear in their Sengoku events.

The 22-year-old judoka had been sought out by the other major mixed martial arts promotion in Japan, DREAM as well as the UFC.

Ishii accepted an invitation from the UFC last December to meet UFC President Dana White and experience UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008 live at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. White said Ishii has the potential to become a great MMA fighter.

Ishii appeared at first willing to put aside his celebrity in Japan to compete in the UFC. But by signing with World Victory Road, Ishii picks the safest and richest choice to begin his MMA career.

It was previously reported on several sources that Ishii was set to appear on the tenth season of the popular Spike television series, The Ultimate Fighter. Ishii's Facebook page appeared to confirm that rumor yet now, this signing may not allow the Japanese fighter to do both. It is important to note that he has a clause in his new 2-year contract allowing him to fight for other promotions outside of Japan and Ishii has previously indicated a desire to fight in the UFC late last year.

"I have finally made up my mind," Ishii told Nikkan Sports in December. "The UFC is where I want to fight."

Time will tell where he really makes his MMA debut. WVR Director Takahiro Kokuho believes Ishii's first fight for the promotion can come as early as August 2 and as late as the New Year's Eve event at the end of the year.

In any case, for WVR and Japanese MMA in general, this signing might mark a significant turning point in their campaign to get back on network television. With WVR and DREAM alike staging strong events, fans may see a resurgence of MMA in the once PRIDE-dominated country.

Since leaving Judo with his eyes set on MMA, Ishii has been traveling around putting in mat time with current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida, the American Top Team and Xtreme Couture.