By J.L. KIRVEN
Jason Jackson shocked the world Friday night after ending mixed martial arts’ longest unbeaten streak when he masterfully knocked out Bellator MMA welterweight champion Yaroslav Amosov (27-1) in the third round (2:08) of the Bellator 301 main event at Winstrust Arena in Chicago.
Jackson (17-4) may have come in as the underdog but after winning his last six fights, the Kingston, Jamaica, native fought with the poise of a polished champion. Amosov tried desperately to get the heavy hitter to the mat and Jackson turned him away at every opportunity.
Forced to engage with him on the feet, Amosov looked to bait Jackson into a big shot or a takedown, but again Jackson wouldn’t budge. Once Jackson found his preferred range he maintained it.
With Jackson calmly closing off the cage, Amosov became more desperate and began telegraphing his shots, which only made things worse for the longtime champ. Jackson snapped his head back with rear uppercuts and jabs before scurrying back to his range on the outside. Amosov simply couldn’t keep up with the boxing lesson he was being given.
As the fight wore on things only got worse for the champion. Amosov, desperate to find something, only opened himself up to more punishment. Midway through the third round he’d finally have enough.
Jackson closed the show and claimed the belt with a devastatingly crisp three-punch combination that brought Amosov to his knees. With nothing left between him and the belt, Jackson followed up with blows until referee Blake Grice was forced to intervene. Jackson not only beat one of the promotion’s greatest champions, he made it look easy.
