Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is officially in the mixed martial arts business.
On Thursday, Bellator MMA announced it had reached an “extension agreement” with Jackson, which includes a new apparel line as well as integrating his champagne brand, Le Chemin du Roi, into future promotional events.
The apparel line will incorporate Jackson’s popular “Get the Strap” trademark, which hereportedly sold to Viacom in June. The hip-hop mogul also hinted at the prospect of managing fighters and pushing them into the mainstream.
“Bellator has a roster filled with some of the most charismatic athletes in the world,” stated Jackson in a press release. “As my relationship with Bellator deepens, you will see me moving into fighter management opportunities that will allow me to integrate top stars into both scripted and unscripted projects across the Viacom networks, as well as the other outlets I have access to.”
More notably, Jackson agreed to re-invest a portion of his deal by offering $1 million, in cash, to the winner of the upcoming Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix.
The 170-pound tournament is slated to kick off at Bellator 206 this weekend when fans witness former champions Douglas Lima and Andrey Koreshkov throw down.
Other matchups included current welterweight champion Rory MacDonald taking on fellow UFC veteran Jon Fitch as well as a heated grudge match between British strikers Paul Daley andMichael Page. A battle between undefeated prospects in Ed Ruth and Neiman Gracie rounds out the bracket.
