Jason Jackson poses at the Bellator 204 weight ins.
Jason Jackson expects Bellator to “Pay more attention” after Bellator 242 performance
Jason Jackson considers himself at the bottom of Bellator’s welterweight division.
At 2-1 inside the Bellator cage, Jackson welcomes Mein to the promotion in the Bellator 242 co-main event at the Mohegun Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT this Friday, July 24. Mein may be a Bellator newcomer, but is known for his days with the UFC and Strikeforce.
The 29-year-old senses he is being overlooked.
“It shows that Bellator needs to pay more close attention to Jason Jackson. That’s all this fight is going to say,” Jackson said. “I’m at the bottom, still at the bottom. I still need to prove myself and that’s what I’ve been doing so far.”
Jackson is well known in his own right. He competed on season 21 of “The Ultimate Fighter” and later fought on “Dana White’s Contender Series.”
Jackson represented the Blackzilians against Florida rivals American Top Team on TUF 21, finishing 1-1. He earned another chance for a UFC contract against Kyle Stewart on DWCS in 2017. Jackson suffered an ankle injury, losing via second-round TKO.
Since then, the Jamaican won four out of his last five fights. Jackson entered his second stint with Bellator in 2019 with a split-decision loss to Ed Ruth at Bellator 231 last October.
He quickly rebounded with a unanimous decision win against Kiichi Kunimoto at Bellator 236 this past December. The 29-year-old is still convinced Mein is getting all the shine in the lead up to the fight.
“It’s more about Jordan Mein being the big name, it’s not about Jason Jackson’s skillset,” Jackson said. “I can take a punch and keep going and just show that nothing is going to hold me back or restrict me from getting the best worth out of my full potential and my ability to fight.”
The Mein challenge
After Mein earned two-straight victories inside the octagon, he signed a multi-fight deal with Bellator in January. His back-to-back decision wins came after losing three-consecutive bouts in the UFC.
The nine-time octagon veteran has earned a number of victories of former TUF contenders like Matt Brown and Mike Ricci. Jackson still likes his chances.
“It’s a great matchup,” Jackson said. “He’s well rounded, I’m well rounded. He loves to fight and I love to fight. So it’s a perfect match.”
For someone who feels like they are at the bottom, Bellator 242 is a clear opportunity for Jackson. Not only is he in the co-main event on the Paramount Network, but he is a part of Bellator’s first event of a five-month break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The promotion’s last card was Bellator 240 in Dublin, Ireland on Feb. 22.
Jackson knows what it’s like to be on a big stage from TUF and DWCS. This is something different.
It is not something he takes for granted.
“This will actually put me a little where guys will have to take notes if I got out there and do the performance I have been training for “They are going to be like, ‘This guy is on another level.’”
