Jason Jackson bided his time ready for the prospect to indicate the world that he belonged among the many finest welterweights within the sport. He lastly proved it with a surprising third-round stoppage towards beforehand undefeated Bellator champion Yaroslav Amosov this previous November.
He adopted up that efficiency with a lopsided completed of former PFL champion Ray Cooper III on the inaugural PFL vs. Bellator occasion again in February. Now, as he approaches his upcoming title protection towards Ramazan Kuramagomedov on Saturday at Bellator Dublin, Jackson hopes to indicate as soon as once more that he’s a vastly totally different fighter than the one many followers first found throughout his appearances on The Final Fighter and Dana White’s Contender Collection.
“It’s progress, expertise — nothing beats expertise,” Jackson instructed MMA Combating. “That’s not one thing you’re born with. It’s one thing that it’s a must to get in there and earn and acquire.
“I’m nothing like I used to be on the Contender Collection. I discovered to be affected person. I had loads of setbacks to get to the place I’m proper now as champion. I’m grateful for all these days that mildew me into the person I’m inside and out of doors the cage. I’m blessed and I’m grateful.”
The appearances on The Final Fighter and Contender Collection could have gotten his identify on the market, however neither went Jackson’s method. He was eradicated from the truth present competitors after falling to Michael Graves in a quarterfinal matchup after which suffered a ugly ankle harm that ended his DWCS evening early.
Since that point, Jackson has put collectively a powerful 11-1 run and he’s at the moment driving an eight-fight win streak forward of his title protection this weekend.
Whereas he’s definitely appreciative of every little thing that Bellator has executed for him over the previous few years, the 33-year-old veteran admits that the day will finally come when he must go over to the UFC to settle slightly little bit of unfinished enterprise.
“I management my future,” Jackson stated. “I’m certain that I’ll struggle within the UFC at some point, as soon as the time is correct. I do know that for a reality. That’s one thing I’m telling you. As soon as I end getting sufficient of a bag and sufficient is sufficient, they’re going to see my face for certain.”
Jackson received’t put a date on when his transition to the UFC may occur, however he’s brazenly stating his intention to go there at some point to problem the very best welterweights who aren’t competing in PFL or Bellator.
He is aware of he’s greater than able to face anyone who will get in his method, particularly contemplating he already trains with an extended checklist of prime UFC fighters at Kill Cliff FC, which is a gymnasium that homes names like Shavkat Rakhmonov, Gilbert Burns and Michael Chandler.
“It’s going to occur at some point,” Jackson stated. “Final yr round this time, we wasn’t right here talking about this. Subsequent yr, it could possibly be a should the place all people [says], ‘That is what we want.’ I’m nonetheless younger and that is simply the tip of the iceberg. I’ve a lot to showcase and show to myself and show to the world that Jason Jackson is simply on the tip of the iceberg.”
One struggle he may need to revisit ought to he find yourself within the UFC is a matchup he really pursued in Bellator that by no means materialized.
Earlier than signing with the UFC in free company, Michael “Venom” Page was a prime welterweight contender in Bellator and he really known as out Jackson after mashing Derek Anderson’s nostril in brutal trend again in 2021. Jackson says he couldn’t run quick sufficient to inform the Bellator matchmakers that he accepted the problem, however he didn’t get the response he anticipated.
“I requested for him,” Jackson stated. “The second he fought [Derek Anderson] and kicked him within the face and pushed his nostril again, he went on the mic and stated he wished to get in there with Jason Jackson. That’s who he wished to combine it up with. I simply got here off slightly eye surgical procedure with Neiman Gracie. I ripped my eye like three weeks earlier than however I known as Bellator and I stated, ‘The struggle is already on. He stated he wished to struggle me and I’m saying sure, I need to struggle.’ They stated, ‘He’s not going to be able to struggle till September however we’ve Paul Daley able to go.’ I used to be like, this don’t make no sense?
“He simply stated he wished to struggle me and he finally ends up preventing Douglas Lima as a substitute. I went and fought Paul Daley and received and I used to be able to go once more in September and he went to a different struggle. He wished the rematch [with Lima] so he may get the title struggle. I don’t know if it was only a good transfer on his half or what it was, however he had struggled with Paul Daley and I beat Paul Daley. I felt like he didn’t need that smoke.”
Jackson doesn’t know if Web page particularly averted him, but it surely felt that method on the time.
“I don’t know if it was him deliberately [ducking me] however the struggle didn’t occur,” Jackson stated. “I spoke about it, I attempted to talk it into existence. I wished to struggle him and I ended up preventing Neiman Gracie. Each time I attempted to struggle him, they put another person in entrance of me and I beat them.”
Maybe he’ll get the prospect to face Web page at some point sooner or later, however for now Jackson has to remain centered on the duty at hand and that includes his title protection on Saturday.
Whereas Kuramagomedov wasn’t the primary identify anticipated to get provided to him, Jackson by no means hesitated to simply accept and he hopes handy the undefeated Russian the primary lack of his profession.
“A little bit bit [surprised] however on the identical time, he’s doing his factor,” Jackson stated. “He’s fought within the UFC Contender Collection, he’s fought on the large exhibits so he’s been ending his guys. There should be one thing particular about him why they selected him.
“I’m not going to say [too much, too soon] as a result of a struggle is a struggle and each man is equal. Two arms, two legs, two eyes, one physique.”
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