Tag: Jason Jackson

Jason Jackson vs. Ramazan Kuramagomedov title fight to headline Bellator Champion Series: Dublin in June

Jason Jackson will make the first defense of his Bellator welterweight title against an undefeated Russian.

The Bellator Champions Series: Dublin event this summer has its headliner.

The promotion announced Friday that welterweight champ [autotag]Jason Jackson[/autotag] will put his title on the line against undefeated [autotag]Ramazan Kuramagomedov[/autotag] in the BCS: Dublin main event June 22 at 3Arena.

The bout will mark 33-year-old Jackson’s first defense of the 170-pound title after claiming it from Yaroslav Amosov by third-round TKO last November at Bellator 301, although it won’t be his first competition since then. Jackson (18-4 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) is coming off a ground-and-pound TKO win over former PFL champ Ray Cooper III in the second round of their fight at PFL vs. Bellator: Champions on Feb. 24.

Kuramagomedov, 27, has yet to taste defeat in 12 professional fights, with eight of his victories by stoppage, including six submissions. The Russian’s first two Bellator appearances came last year – a first-round TKO of Jaleel Willis in June followed by a second-round rear-naked choke submission of Randall Wallace in November.

The main event between Jackson and Kuramagomedov is the first official bout for BCS: Dublin, with more expected to be announced soon.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030791]

Jason Jackson def. Ray Cooper III at PFL vs. Bellator: Champions: Best photos

Check out these photos from Jason Jackson vs. Ray Cooper III at PFL vs. Bellator: Champions in Saudi Arabia.

Check out these photos from [autotag]Jason Jackson[/autotag]’s TKO victory over Ray Cooper III at PFL vs. Bellator: Champions, which took place at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photos courtesy of PFL)

Matchup Roundup: New UFC, PFL, Bellator fights announced in the past week (Jan. 22-28)

Check out the UFC, PFL, and Bellator fights that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC, PFL, and Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie or officially announced by the promotions from Jan. 22-28.

Video: Which side has the edge in the upcoming PFL vs. Bellator: Champions event?

Our “Spinning Back Clique” debates if PFL or Bellator has an advantage, and the potential for a complete sweep.

Next month, the best of the best in PFL and Bellator will travel across the globe for a unique event.

On Feb. 24 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the PFL vs. Bellator: Champions event goes down, and it places champs from both promotions against one another. The top four fights on the card will be champion vs. champion bouts, all three rounds, with no title on the line.

This event will give us [autotag]Renan Ferreria[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Ryan Bader[/autotag], [autotag]Impa Kasanganay[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Johnny Eblen[/autotag], [autotag]Ray Cooper III[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jason Jackson[/autotag], [autotag]Jesus Pinedo[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] and other PFL vs. Bellator matchups.

Should either promotion bring a broom for the clean sweep, or will both sides pick up victories?

Our “Spinning Back Clique” of Mike Bohn, Matthew Wells and Brian “Goze” Garcia discussed the matchups with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia.

You can watch their discussion in the video above, and check out this week’s episode below on YouTube or in podcast form.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC, PFL, Bellator fights announced in the past week (Jan. 15-21)

Check out the UFC, PFL, and Bellator fights that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC, PFL, and Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie or officially announced by the promotions from Jan. 15-21.

Ray Cooper III replaces Magomed Magomedkerimov at PFL vs. Bellator event, faces Jason Jackson

The 2019 PFL welterweight champion replaces the 2023 PFL welterweight champion against the current Bellator welterweight champion.

The 2019 PFL welterweight champion will leplace the 2023 PFL welterweight champion on the promotion’s upcoming card that pins its champions and fighters against their Bellator counterparts.

With [autotag]Magomed Magomedkerimov[/autotag] out with an undisclosed injury, [autotag]Ray Cooper III[/autotag] has stepped in to fight Bellator welterweight champion [autotag]Jason Jackson[/autotag] at the PFL vs. Bellator: Champions event Feb. 24 in Saudi Arabia, a promotion official told MMA Junkie on Monday.

The bout will be contested at a contracted weight of 182 pounds.

Cooper (25-10-1) has only competed once since July 2022, as he angled to elevate to middleweight, a non-season weight division for PFL. His most recent fight was in November when he lost a unanimous decision to Derek Brunson.

Jackson (17-4) rides high off a title-clinching knockout of Yaroslav Amosov at Bellator 301 in November. The victory extended his winning streak to seven. He also holds wins over Douglas Lima, Paul Daley, and Neiman Gracie among others.

With the change, the PFL vs. Bellator: Champions now includes:

MAIN CARD (ESPN+ pay-per-view, 3 p.m. ET)

  • Renan Ferreira vs. Ryan Bader
  • Impa Kasanganay vs. Johnny Eblen
  • Ray Cooper III vs. Jason Jackson
  • Jesus Pinedo vs. Patricio Pitbull
  • Bruno Cappelozza vs. Vadim Nemkov
  • Thiago Santos vs. Yoel Romero
  • Clay Collard vs. AJ McKee

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, ESPNews, 12:30 p.m. ET)

  • Gabriel Braga vs. Aaron Pico
  • Biaggio Ali Walsh (pro debut) vs. Chris Morris
  • Claressa Shields vs. Kelsey DeSantis
  • Abdullah Al-Qahtani vs. Edukondal Rao
  • Malik Basahel vs. Vinicius Pereira

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL vs. Bellator: Champions.

MMA Junkie’s Knockout of the Month for November: Tom Aspinall claims interim gold in 69 seconds

With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best knockouts from November 2023.

With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best knockouts from November 2023: Here are the five nominees, listed in chronological order, and winner of MMA Junkie’s Knockout of the Month award for November.

At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by voting for your choice.

Nominees

Jason Jackson thought of late friend Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson during Bellator 301 knockout sequence

At Bellator 301, Jason Jackson couldn’t help but channel the power of his late friend Anthony Johnson as he pounded his way to title gold.

CHICAGO – Almost one year to the day of [autotag]Anthony Johnson[/autotag]’s death, [autotag]Jason Jackson[/autotag] felt his friend “Rumble” was in the cage with him as he pounded his way to victory and Bellator welterweight gold.

A former UFC title challenger, Johnson died in November 2022 following a battle with a serious illness. Alongside Johnson, Jackson (17-4 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) manned the frequently rebranded Kill Cliff FC squad, dating back to its days as “The Blackzilians” camp.

As Jackson pounded out Yaroslav Amosov (27-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) at Bellator 301 to become the promotion’s 170-pound titleholder, “Rumble” entered his mind.

“‘Rumble’ is not just a captain. He’s an idol to me, Rumble,” Jackson told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “It just reminded me of when he knocked Glover Teixeira out with the uppercut. He’s just vicious and violent. That’s just what I thought when I was in the moment. I hit him with that first uppercut and I was like, get him with another one. Rest in peace, ‘Rumble.’ I love you.”

Jackson, 33, did not have a linear journey to his first major promotional title, but his road proved effective. After stops on Dana White’s Contender Series and “The Ultimate Fighter,” as well as regional appearances in LFA, Titan FC, Victory FC, and more, Jackson finally found consistency under the Bellator banner.

It’s been a long yet worthwhile journey for the Jamaica-born Floridian.

“It means everything to me and my family because now this great now this creates opportunity to make a better living for my family,” Jackson said. “It just makes all the non-believers into believers. I have a belt to show my country that yes, Jason Jackson can be champ anywhere he goes. It’s just a matter of time before he becomes the best welterweight on this planet.

[lawrence-related id=2697239]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 301.

Bellator 301 results: Jason Jackson shocks previously unbeaten Yaroslav Amosov with brutal KO to win title

Jason Jackson shocked the MMA world and became welterweight champ at Bellator 301 by handing Yaroslav Amosov his first loss in devastating fashion.

[autotag]Jason Jackson[/autotag] shocked the MMA world at Bellator 301 and became champion.

Considered by many as a hefty underdog, Jackson (17-4 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) knocked out previously unbeaten [autotag]Yaroslav Amosov[/autotag] (27-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) to top off a dominant striking performance in Friday’s main event at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The stoppage came via punches at 2:08  of Round 3.

From the opening bell, Jackson stuffed Amosov’s takedown attempts and established range. Jackson used leg kicks to keep Amosov at bay. His uppercuts and knees threatened Amosov each time he shot for a takedown.

As the fight wore on, Amosov wore down. Jackson remained calm and waited for his moment, which he found in a combination that ended in a hard right hand. Down went Amosov, who tried to survive. Amosov absorbed blows as he got to his feet. A sloppy takedown was once again countered by an uppercut – but this one put him out.

Jackson, who had not competed since July 2022, extended his winning streak to seven. Other notable wins include Douglas Lima, Paul Daley, Benson Henderson, and Neiman Gracie also.

Amosov loses for the first time as a professional. He won the title vs. Douglas Lima in June 2021 and defended it once successfully vs. Logan Storley in February after a split from MMA to serve in the Ukrainian military.

Up-to-the-minute Bellator 301 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 301.

Video: Will Bellator 301 be the promotion’s curtain call?

Will there be a Bellator 302? Our “Spinning Back Clique” breaks down what could be the final event in Bellator 301.

If Bellator 301 is the final event for the promotion, there are some solid matchups to go out on.

The event taking place at Wintrust Arena in Chicago brings a pair of title fights along with a few other intriguing matchups. In the main event, [autotag]Yaroslav Amosov[/autotag] puts his welterweight title on the line against [autotag]Jason Jackson[/autotag]. In the co-feature, [autotag]Sergio Pettis[/autotag] takes on [autotag]Patchy Mix[/autotag] in a bantamweight title unification bout.

Also on the card is a heated rivalry matchup between [autotag]Danny Sabatello[/autotag] and former interim bantamweight champ [autotag]Raufeon Stots[/autotag]. Former featherweight champion A.J. McKee also is in action against Sidney Outlaw. Rounding out the main card is a lightweight grand prix semifinal bout between Patricky Freire and Alexander Shabliy.

These are solid matchups on paper, but the event doesn’t seem to have the same buzz around it as the promotion’s previous event. Is it because the promotion’s future beyond this event is uncertain? Will there be a Bellator 302?

Our “Spinning Back Clique” panel of Mike Bohn, Nolan King and Brian “Goze” Garcia answered those questions with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia.

You can watch their discussion in the video above and check out this week’s full episode on YouTube below.