by Adam Josephson
Photo Credit: Dave Mandal
Acknowledging Jason Jackson as his toughest test so far, Ramazan Kuramagomedov remains confident in his ability to defeat the Jamaican fighter.
Kuramagomedov is set to challenge Jackson for the Bellator welterweight title in the main event of Bellator Champions Series Dublin on June 22. Although Kuramagomedov enters the fight as a slight favorite, he anticipates a challenging bout against Jackson.
“Jason Jackson is the hardest fight in my MMA career thus far,” Kuramagomedov stated during a recent media call.
Despite his respect for Jackson’s skill set, Kuramagomedov believes every fighter has weaknesses.
“This is a very exciting fight. Jason is one of the top fighters in the world,” he said. “Every fighter has their shortcomings, so I will need to find the key to defeating Jason this time. There are several strategies, but I will showcase the best approach on the night of the fight.”
Kuramagomedov is not underestimating Jackson. The undefeated Dagestani contender has been meticulously preparing for what he describes as one of the “top fights” of his career.
“I am definitely not taking this fight lightly,” he emphasized. “I’ve been specifically preparing for him throughout my camp. I’ve watched all of his fights and studied him closely. I think this will be one of the top fights in my career.”
At 27, Kuramagomedov has been fighting professionally for nearly a decade. Having dreamed of becoming a world champion since he began training, he now feels closer than ever to achieving his goal.
“Becoming a world champion has been my goal my entire career. I’ve been training for 13 years and have been waiting for this moment since I first stepped into the gym,” he said. “I think I am the closest I have ever been to the belt, and on June 22, I will have that belt wrapped around my waist.”
Kuramagomedov earned his title shot after just two fights in Bellator, both ending in stoppage victories. Meanwhile, Jackson is riding an impressive eight-fight winning streak, recently securing a TKO victory over former PFL champion Ray Cooper.
