Photo credit: Lucas Noonan/ Bellator MMA
Jason Jackson Post-Bellator Title Win “You’re Looking At Him”
Jason Jackson finished Yaroslav Amosov with punches in the second stanza to claim the welterweight title at Bellator 301.
Our interaction at the Bellator MMA post-fight presser in Chicago is below.
Jason Jackson
I guess there’s one thing I wanted to address first, because you referenced Robbie Lawler in your post-fight interview. You work really hard, obviously. But how invaluable is it to have someone like that helping you who has previously been a welterweight champion?
“Well, Robbie always give me some good insight. He gave me that mean pad work that last week of camp (laughs). It was funny, but it made a lot of sense. Everything that he was doing. The mits got me tired and opened my mind to some new tricks. He always called me to check up on me and make sure. Took me out under his wing just like a Michael Johnson does as well. He showed me the ropes, and you know, give me insight into how to be a professional. So I want to commend him on that.”
Bellator 301
Yeah, fair enough. You were talking earlier about how much family is a driving factor and motivator for you. You were talking about how your brother has the belt. Was it almost equally as exciting to give the belt to your brother as it was for you to receive it yourself here at Bellator 301?
“Yeah, my brother always been there for me. You know, he even gave me my nickname. So you know I was a little man. I was little but I was a man and he saw that when we was little kids. He always been at my fight and always support me in every way possible. Even though we bumped heads sometimes.”
Jason Jackson continued, “He actually kind of took me into the tree business as well and showed me hard work as well. He was like my dad, because you know, I met my dad when I came to America. So you know, my older brother was kind of like my dad in a way.”
Jason Jackson vs Yaroslav Amosov
Lastly for me, because you were talking earlier about representing your country. Obviously a tremendous individual accomplishment. But what’s the ripple effect you see for Jamaican mixed martial arts? It seems like it’s continually growing.
“Yeah, we’ve made great athletes. That’s one thing I know about Jamaican fighters. The ones that was born in Jamaica and raised in Jamaica and been through hard struggles. Seen hard struggle, lived the homeless nightlife, come to America. Land of opportunity and made the best out of opportunity, those are the ones that are gonna strive. I’m one of them, you’re looking at him.”
