“Have fun, smile, and don’t have bad energy.” That, at least in part, was what welterweight Jason Jackson saw as keys to his performance at Bellator 242.
Whether the positive approach helped or not, the result was the right one. Jackson (12-4), known as “The Ass-Kicking Machine,” lived up to his name against Jordan Mein. A debuting veteran, and UFC alum who came in off a pair of wins, albeit after a lengthy layoff.
“That’s what I did tonight. Still got some more stuff to work on,” Jackson added, speaking to media outlets including Cageside Press following the event. So it’s “back to the drawing board” for Jackson — but it might be a short lesson.
“Hopefully in two weeks, if someone falls off the card, August 7, I’m willing and able,” Jackson promised. That would be Bellator 243, also set for the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. “Bellator, pay close attention to that!”
A big part of Jackson’s approach against Mein on Saturday came care of a couple of UFC stars. Specifically, the leg kicks. “Gilbert Burns and Vicente Luque, those guys are top of the chain. Every single time I spar against them, they use that move. I’m like, ‘why shouldn’t I use it in my arsenal?'” Jackson noted. “They take stuff from me, so I’m going to take stuff from them.”
“Thank you Vicente, thank you Gilbert Burns,” Jackson added, tipping his hat to his Sanford MMA teammates.
Watch the full Bellator 242 post-fight press scrum with Jason Jackson above.
