Bellator 301: new champion recalled dead friend during winning

Follow Us Now!

The latest winner of the Bellator MMA welterweight championship, Jason Jackson, said he remembered his dead MMA-artist friend just before causing an upset at Bellator 301.

His friend Anthony Johnson died last November from a serious ailment, and Jackson saw ‘Rumble’ as more than a captain.

‘”Rumble” is not just a captain. He’s an idol to me, Rumble,’ said Jackson. ‘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 went into the octagon as a big underdog that was not expected to perform as well as he did. He successfully foiled Yaroslav Amasov’s attempts to take the fight to the mat and knocked him out with an uppercut when Amasov continued going for the takedown.

Jason Jackson is a Jamaican and took the win as a statement and proof to his country.

‘It means everything to me and my family because now this great opportunity creates opportunity to make a better living for my family,’ Jackson said of his new welterweight title. ‘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.’

He will have to prepare to defend his title in the future against hungry contenders.