Jason Jackson Bio
Jason Jackson is a Jamaican mixed martial artist who competes in the welterweight division of the Professional Fighters League (PFL). Nicknamed “The Ass-Kicking Machine,” he is a former Bellator Welterweight World Champion and was the first fighter ever to defeat longtime champion Yaroslav Amosov. Jackson has also competed in Titan FC and the Legacy Fighting Alliance, and he appeared on the UFC reality series The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians.
Born in Spanish Town, Jamaica, Jackson moved to the United States as a child and built his career out of Hollywood, Florida, where he trains with Kill Cliff FC. Across more than a decade as a professional, he has built a reputation as a technical wrestler with sharp striking and a calm finishing instinct under pressure.
Early Life and Background
Jason Jackson was born on October 30, 1990, in Spanish Town, Jamaica. He grew up in a household that followed combat sports, and as a young fan he was drawn to professional wrestling and the WWE, following the careers of stars like The Rock, Kane, and Hulk Hogan. At the age of 12, Jackson moved to South Florida with his family, where he adjusted to a new country and a new culture while staying close to the sports he loved.
He attended Miramar High School, where he competed on the school’s wrestling team. The grappling foundation he built in those years became the backbone of his later mixed martial arts style. After finishing high school, he decided to pursue fighting full time, and at the age of 19, he began training mixed martial arts with the Blackzilians, one of the top fight camps in the United States at the time.
Path to MMA
Jackson’s path to professional mixed martial arts started in the regional circuit, where he quickly established himself as a prospect to watch. His early training with the Blackzilians connected him with elite coaches and sparring partners, and he used that environment to sharpen his wrestling-heavy style.
In 2012, Jackson made his professional debut and spent the first few years of his career building a record in regional promotions. He faced a number of future UFC fighters during this stretch, including Colby Covington, which gave him valuable rounds against high-level opposition. The experience of competing on the regional scene prepared him for the national spotlight and set the stage for his appearance on The Ultimate Fighter.
Jason Jackson Career
Early Career (2012–2015)
Between 2012 and 2015, Jackson compiled a 5–2 record in regional promotions, learning on the job and developing into a complete mixed martial artist. He trained at a high level with the Blackzilians and tested himself against a range of experienced welterweights, which helped him understand the demands of professional fighting.
In February 2015, Jackson was announced as a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians. He won his first fight on the show against Marcelo Alfaya by majority decision, showing composure in a hostile environment. His tournament run ended against Michael Graves, who submitted him in the first round, but the experience introduced him to a national audience and to the upper level of the sport.
Titan Fighting Championships (2016–2017)
After The Ultimate Fighter, Jackson signed with Titan Fighting Championships and made his debut against Rodrigo Cavalheiro Correia on September 9, 2016, at Titan FC 41, winning by unanimous decision. The performance announced him as a serious title contender in the promotion’s welterweight division.
On December 2, 2016, at Titan FC 42, Jackson challenged Dhiego Lima for the Titan FC Welterweight Championship. He won the fight by technical knockout early in round one, claiming the title and announcing himself as one of the top welterweight prospects outside the major promotions. He later vacated the belt when he received an invitation to compete on Dana White’s Contender Series, where he lost to Kyle Stewart by TKO in the second round after suffering an ankle injury and was not offered a UFC contract.
Bellator MMA (2018–2024)
Jackson made his Bellator MMA debut on August 17, 2018, at Bellator 204, stopping Jordon Larson by TKO in the opening round. After picking up two wins in the Legacy Fighting Alliance, he returned to Bellator and faced Ed Ruth on October 25, 2019, at Bellator 231, where he dropped a controversial split decision. He quickly bounced back with a unanimous decision win over Kiichi Kunimoto at Bellator 236.
In 2020, Jackson built a serious run of form at Bellator. He defeated Jordan Mein by unanimous decision at Bellator 242, then handed former UFC Lightweight Champion Benson Henderson a unanimous decision loss at Bellator 253, controlling large stretches of the fight. He followed that with a close unanimous decision win over Neiman Gracie at Bellator 255 and a wrestling-driven decision over striking specialist Paul Daley at Bellator 260, putting himself firmly into title contention.
After a unanimous decision win over former champion Douglas Lima at Bellator 283, Jackson earned his first world title shot. On November 17, 2023, at Bellator 301, he challenged reigning champion Yaroslav Amosov and produced one of the biggest upsets of the year, stuffing all of Amosov’s takedowns and finishing him with uppercuts in the third round to become the Bellator Welterweight World Champion and the first person to ever defeat Amosov. He later added a technical knockout win over Ray Cooper III at PFL vs. Bellator in February 2024 before losing the Bellator title to Ramazan Kuramagomedov by unanimous decision in June 2024.
Professional Fighters League (2025–Present)
On February 11, 2025, the PFL officially confirmed that Jackson would join the 2025 PFL Welterweight Tournament. He made his promotional debut on April 3, 2025, at PFL 1, submitting Andrey Koreshkov with a rear-naked choke in the second round to advance in the bracket.
In the welterweight semifinals, Jackson faced Thad Jean on June 12, 2025, at PFL 5, where he dropped a back-and-forth split decision and was eliminated from the tournament. The result did little to change his standing as one of the division’s most experienced and dangerous competitors, and he remained active on the global circuit.
Style and Strengths
Jason Jackson is best known as a pressure fighter with a strong wrestling base and a growing finishing tool set. His grappling, built during his high school wrestling years and sharpened under the Blackzilians, lets him control where the fight takes place, while his uppercut striking, sharp leg kicks, and ground-and-pound make him a constant threat when the fight moves into the pocket. His calm, patient approach has allowed him to outwork high-level opponents across five-round championship fights.
Notable Events and Milestones
The defining moment of Jackson’s career came on November 17, 2023, at Bellator 301, when he became the first fighter ever to defeat Yaroslav Amosov and claimed the Bellator Welterweight World Championship. Other milestone wins include his upset victory over Benson Henderson at Bellator 253, his Bellator title-winning finish of Amosov, and his submission of Andrey Koreshkov in his PFL debut.
Jason Jackson Career Wins
Across his professional career, Jason Jackson has earned wins in regional promotions, Titan FC, the Legacy Fighting Alliance, Bellator MMA, the PFL, and the MVP MMA promotion, with a record built on a mix of knockouts, submissions, and decisions. His finishing variety and consistency over five-round championship fights have established him as one of the most reliable welterweights of his era.
Bellator Highlights
In Bellator, Jackson captured the Bellator Welterweight World Championship by stopping Yaroslav Amosov in the third round at Bellator 301. Earlier in his Bellator run, he racked up key wins over Benson Henderson, Neiman Gracie, Paul Daley, Douglas Lima, Kiichi Kunimoto, Jordan Mein, and Jordon Larson, building a reputation for grinding down elite opposition with wrestling and pressure.
Other Wins & Performances
Outside of Bellator, Jackson captured the Titan FC Welterweight Championship with a first-round TKO of Dhiego Lima, earned a second-round technical submission win over Andrey Koreshkov in his PFL debut, and most recently stopped Jefferson Creighton by knockout in the first round at MVP MMA 1, continuing to add finishes across multiple high-level promotions.
Jason Jackson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jason Jackson was raised in Spanish Town, Jamaica, before his family relocated to South Florida when he was 12 years old. His upbringing in a wrestling-loving household helped shape his future in combat sports, and his training path, from Miramar High School wrestling to the Blackzilians camp, reflected the strong family support behind his career.
Personal Life
Jason Jackson is married to his wife, Yanisuka, and together they have two children and two stepchildren. Outside of fighting, he remains a fan of professional wrestling and the WWE, and his longtime nickname “The Ass-Kicking Machine” is inspired by a classic angle involving The Rock, Kane, and Hulk Hogan.
2025 Season Performance
Jason Jackson’s 2025 campaign began with a major opportunity, as the PFL officially revealed on February 11, 2025, that he would join the 2025 PFL Welterweight Tournament. Coming off a roller-coaster 2024 that included a Bellator title win and a title loss, Jackson entered the season as one of the most experienced names in the bracket and a dangerous dark-horse pick.
He opened his PFL tournament run on April 3, 2025, at PFL 1, submitting Andrey Koreshkov in the second round to advance to the semifinals. The performance showed the same patient, pressure-based style that carried him through Bellator, and it moved him one step closer to a second major world title opportunity.
In the welterweight semifinals at PFL 5 on June 12, 2025, Jackson dropped a back-and-forth split decision to Thad Jean, ending his tournament run. Despite the early exit, his strong first-round finish and competitive showing kept him in the welterweight mix, and he continued to stay active with high-profile fights, including his knockout win at MVP MMA 1.
