Jason Jackson says Ed Ruth loss sharpened his focus for Bellator 236 victory, expects to meet again

HONOLULU – Jason Jackson’s short-notice assignment at Bellator 236 proved to be a successful one as he stepped in on just seven days’ notice to defeat Japanese veteran Kiichi Kunimoto.

Jackson’s unanimous decision victory gave him a welcome notch in the win column after his split decision defeat to Ed Ruth at Bellator 231 in October. And the Jamaican, known as “The Ass-Kicking Machine” said he’s was happy to showcase his full MMA skillset after admitting he fought within himself against Ruth last time out.

“As you guys could see, Jason Jackson is not just only a boxer. He can wrestle, he can grapple, he can stop shots,” he told MMA Junkie backstage after his victory. “But the thing is, I felt I held myself back with Ed Ruth because I heard everybody talk well about him (being) the best wrestler in the United States, all this, and I forgot about my grappling, my MMA grappling. And you know, I just left it. But now I’m going to do everything; I’m going to show everything. I’m better than you guys at everything, the all-around game. That’s the scariest Jason Jackson.”

After carrying that disappointment from his last fight into his short-notice bout with Kunimoto (20-9-2, 0-2 BMMA), Jackson (11-4, 2-1 BMMA) was determined to do his skillset justice.

“Absolutely. Because I knew I fought five rounds before. I fought for three world titles,” Jackson said. “And coming in here and fighting Ed Ruth, I knew if I can stop Ed Ruth (taking me down), (Kunimoto) can’t take me down. I knew that.”

Jackson said he fully expects to face off with Ruth inside the Bellator cage further down the line as the pair make their way toward the top of Bellator’s 170-pound division.

“The Ed Ruth fight will happen again, for sure,” he stated. “Because right now we’re the two best up-and-coming (fighters). We’re the ones to watch out for, and we have to meet (again). It’s destined.”

That fight is unlikely to be next, however, and Jackson said his priority now is simply to fight and pick up more wins as he moves his way up the ladder.

“I can’t give you who I want (or) where I want. I just want to fight and enjoy it,” he said.