UFC fighter gets 3 years’ probation

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship light-heavyweight title holder Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was sentenced to three years’ informal probation Friday for hitting three vehicles with his truck in 2008 and fleeing police.

The sentence dismissed his felony evading police charge and upheld his conviction for misdemeanor reckless driving because he completed 200 hours of community service, submitted to random drug testing and underwent psychological counseling.

Jackson, 31, was suffering from delirium from a lack of food and sleep July 15, 2008, when he sped his lifted truck with his likeness painted on the side up the 55 Freeway onto Newport Boulevard in Costa Mesa. He hit three cars within minutes, was seen driving on a flat tire while talking on his cell phone and drove on the wrong side of the road, barely missing cars and pedestrians, according to police. Jackson had lost his championship belt in a fight in Las Vegas 10 days earlier.

Authorities chased him into Newport Beach where he eventually pulled over and was arrested. He was bailed out hours later by UFC President Dana White.

Jackson’s sentencing, and potential jail time, was held off for a year while he underwent counseling and did community service. His probation is scheduled to end Jan. 7, 2013.

One of the drivers Jackson hit that day is suing him, claiming he caused her to miscarry her baby.