Jason Jackson Bio
Jason Jackson, born on October 30, 1990, is a Jamaican mixed martial artist who competes in the Welterweight division of the Professional Fighters League (PFL). Known by the ring name “The Ass-Kicking Machine,” Jackson is a former Bellator Welterweight World Champion and has built a professional record that includes appearances across Titan FC, the Legacy Fighting Alliance, Bellator MMA, and PFL. He is recognized as the first fighter ever to defeat Yaroslav Amosov, a result that defined his place among the top welterweights of his era.
Standing 185 cm tall with a 198 cm reach, Jackson has campaigned at 77 kg throughout his professional career. He represents the Kill Cliff FC fight team and currently lives in Hollywood, Florida, while continuing to represent his Jamaican heritage in competition.
Early Life and Background
Jason Jackson was born in Spanish Town, Jamaica, on October 30, 1990. At the age of 12, he moved to South Florida with his family, settling in the Miramar area. He attended Miramar High School, where he competed on the school’s wrestling team, an experience that helped build the grappling base that would later become a central part of his fighting style.
Growing up, Jackson was a fan of professional wrestling and the WWE. That fandom later inspired his nickname “The Ass-Kicking Machine,” which references a classic angle involving The Rock, Kane, and Hulk Hogan. He began formal mixed martial arts training at the age of 19 with the Blackzilians, a prominent fight camp in South Florida known for producing top-tier talent.
Path to MMA
Jackson’s entry into mixed martial arts came through the Blackzilians camp, where he developed his skills alongside a strong stable of fighters. His dedication earned him a spot on the UFC’s reality series The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians, which was announced in February 2015. On the show, he defeated Marcelo Alfaya by majority decision in his first fight before being eliminated by future Titan FC Welterweight Champion Michael Graves, who submitted him with a rear-naked choke in round one.
After the TUF experience, Jackson continued to build his career on the regional circuit. He made his professional debut in 2012 and compiled a 5–2 record in regional promotions during his developmental years, including a fight against future UFC contender Colby Covington. That early grind prepared him for a run on larger stages, beginning with Titan FC.
Jason Jackson Career
Early Career (2012–2017)
Jason Jackson made his professional debut in 2012 and spent his first several years working through regional shows while sharpening his skills with the Blackzilians. His early record of 5–2 included matchups that would later prove valuable, including a bout against Colby Covington, a fighter who would go on to headline UFC events.
Jackson earned his first major opportunity in Titan FC, debuting against Rodrigo Cavalheiro Correia on September 9, 2016, at Titan FC 41, where he won by unanimous decision. He then challenged Titan FC Welterweight Champion Dhiego Lima on December 2, 2016, at Titan FC 42, capturing the title by technical knockout early in round one. He later vacated the belt after being invited to Dana White’s Contender Series, where he lost to Kyle Stewart by TKO in round two due to an ankle injury and was not awarded a UFC contract.
Bellator MMA Breakthrough (2018–2024)
Jackson made his Bellator MMA debut against Jordon Larson on August 17, 2018, at Bellator 204, winning by TKO in round one. After adding two wins in the Legacy Fighting Alliance, he returned to Bellator and faced Ed Ruth at Bellator 231 on October 25, 2019, dropping a controversial split decision in which four of six media outlets scored the fight in Jackson’s favor.
Jackson quickly rebuilt momentum with unanimous decision wins over Kiichi Kunimoto at Bellator 236, Jordan Mein at Bellator 242, and former UFC and Bellator title contender Benson Henderson at Bellator 253. He continued his run with a close unanimous decision win over Neiman Gracie at Bellator 255 and a dominant wrestling-based decision over Paul Daley at Bellator 260, establishing himself as one of the division’s top contenders.
After a delayed and rescheduled bout, Jackson faced former Bellator Welterweight Champion Douglas Lima at Bellator 283 in July 2022, winning by unanimous decision. His biggest moment came on November 17, 2023, at Bellator 301, when he challenged reigning champion Yaroslav Amosov. In a defining upset, Jackson stuffed all of Amosov’s takedowns and knocked him out with uppercuts in round three, becoming both the new Bellator Welterweight World Champion and the first fighter ever to defeat Amosov.
Jackson’s reign ended on June 22, 2024, at Bellator Champions Series 3, when he lost the welterweight championship to Ramazan Kuramagomedov by unanimous decision. Earlier in 2024, he also won a non-title crossover fight against Ray Cooper III at PFL vs. Bellator by second-round TKO after dominating with leg kicks and ground-and-pound.
Professional Fighters League Era (2025–Present)
On February 11, 2025, PFL officially announced that Jackson would join the 2025 PFL Welterweight Tournament. He made his PFL tournament debut on April 3, 2025, at PFL 1, defeating Andrey Koreshkov by technical submission via rear-naked choke in round two of their First Round bout.
In the semifinals at PFL 5 on June 12, 2025, Jackson faced Thad Jean in a back-and-forth bout and lost by split decision, ending his run in the 2025 tournament. Despite the semifinal exit, Jackson remains a prominent figure in the PFL welterweight picture and is expected to continue competing at the top of the division.
Fighting Style and Strengths
Jason Jackson is a well-rounded mixed martial artist whose foundation is built on strong wrestling, an asset he developed during his time on the Miramar High School wrestling team and refined with the Blackzilians. He excels at controlling opponents through takedown defense and top control, as shown in his upset of Yaroslav Amosov, where he neutralized one of the division’s most decorated grapplers. Jackson also displays sharp striking, particularly with uppercuts and leg kicks, and has shown the cardio and composure needed to win decisions against high-caliber opponents.
Notable Events and Milestones
Jackson’s signature moment remains his third-round knockout of Yaroslav Amosov at Bellator 301, which made him Bellator Welterweight World Champion and the first person to defeat Amosov. Other milestones include capturing the Titan FC Welterweight Championship in 2016, upset decision wins over Benson Henderson and Douglas Lima, and his 2025 PFL tournament victory over Andrey Koreshkov.
Jason Jackson Career Wins
Jason Jackson has built a professional record of 19 wins and 6 losses across 25 total bouts, with victories coming by decision, knockout, and submission. His wins span regional promotions, Titan FC, the Legacy Fighting Alliance, Bellator MMA, and the Professional Fighters League, reflecting a career that has steadily climbed from the regional circuit to world title fights.
Bellator MMA Highlights
Jackson went 8–2 inside the Bellator cage, with notable wins over Jordon Larson, Kiichi Kunimoto, Jordan Mein, Benson Henderson, Neiman Gracie, Paul Daley, Douglas Lima, and Yaroslav Amosov. His first Bellator win came by first-round TKO over Larson at Bellator 204 in 2018, and his most recent Bellator victory was the third-round knockout of Amosov at Bellator 301 in November 2023.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside of Bellator, Jackson captured the Titan FC Welterweight Championship by TKO over Dhiego Lima in 2016 and added wins in the Legacy Fighting Alliance during a brief 2019 stint. He also earned a second-round TKO win over Ray Cooper III at the 2024 PFL vs. Bellator event, showcasing his leg-kick and ground-and-pound game against a former PFL champion.
Jason Jackson Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Jason Jackson was born and raised in Spanish Town, Jamaica, before relocating to South Florida at the age of 12. He attended Miramar High School, where he wrestled competitively, an early chapter that laid the foundation for his future in combat sports. His Jamaican heritage remains a central part of his identity as a fighter.
Spouse and Children
Jackson is married to his wife, Yanisuka, and the couple has two children together, along with two stepchildren. He has spoken openly about the role his family plays in keeping him grounded amid a demanding fight schedule, and he continues to make his home in Hollywood, Florida.
2025 Season Performance
Jason Jackson’s 2025 campaign began with the announcement on February 11 that he would enter the PFL Welterweight Tournament. He opened the bracket on April 3, 2025, at PFL 1 with a second-round technical submission win over Andrey Koreshkov, a result that reinforced his standing as a top-tier welterweight and moved him into the semifinals.
His tournament run ended in the semifinals on June 12, 2025, at PFL 5, where he dropped a split decision to Thad Jean in a closely contested bout. Although the loss kept him from advancing to the final, Jackson’s performance through the first two rounds of the bracket kept him firmly in the welterweight mix.
With the 2025 PFL tournament behind him, Jackson is expected to remain active in the PFL welterweight division. His combination of Bellator pedigree, championship experience, and recent wins over top competition should keep him in line for high-profile matchups as PFL continues to build its roster. A return to title contention remains a realistic next step as he looks ahead.