HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Jason Jackson doesn’t see any benefit in fighting Roman Faraldo.
Following his spectacular flying knee knockout of Robert Turnquest at Bellator 271 on Friday, unbeaten prospect Faraldo (6-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) called Jackson (15-4 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) out.
But the top contender, who’s currently No. 3 in Bellator’s welterweight rankings, doesn’t think Faraldo has earned the right to fight him.
“If Bellator wants to use some wasted money, they can definitely make that match,” Jackson told reporters, including MMA Junkie, following the event. “But I don’t take it serious because every single time I’m watching TV, somebody calls my name. (Michael Page) called my name. I asked for it and ended up with Paul Daley. (Yaroslav) Amosov called me out. I asked for him, I still haven’t gotten him yet. So it’s Bellator that’s in control right now. So if Roman called my name and Bellator said yes, he’s next. I have no choice but to go to work.
“I didn’t think about Roman because Roman hasn’t beaten anybody in Bellator with some weight on his name. So for me, that’s just a back step for me. If he’s actually going to prove himself, then he’ll be the next guy. If he goes ahead – there are so many people in the division right now, he can’t jump over everybody like that. He has to do his work the same way I did.
“Who did he fight? No disrespect to Robert. I know Robert. But who did he fight? Robert came in fat and overweight. He didn’t come to fight. He didn’t take that seriously. It’s a different fight when I show up. I show up, trust me. He better take his time and crawl his way up before he get knocked off.”
Instead, Jackson has his eyes on the title after managing to put together a five-fight winning streak. Although Page currently is ranked above him, Jackson will just wait and see who the matchmakers decide is next for newly crowned champion Amosov.
“I am next, but ‘MVP’ is No. 1 and can’t get around that,” Jackson said. “But if he’s not ready to go in February, I’ll be more than ready.”
Bellator 271 took place Friday at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The main card aired on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.
Jason Jackson: Roman Faraldo hasn’t beaten anybody, fighting him would be a ‘back step’