LAS VEGAS – Montel Jackson is cool with not getting the attention from fans and media, despite being one of the most interesting rising contenders at 135 pounds.
Jackson (14-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) picked up his fourth consecutive win this Saturday, becoming the first man to knockout Rani Yahya in the UFC. Jackson put away the highly-touted grappler in the first round of their bantamweight contest on the preliminary card of UFC Fight Night 222, which went down at the UFC Apex.
Jackson doesn’t care if he gets a top-15 fighter or not, and frankly enjoys laying low and not causing too much buzz.
“We just got to see, we got to see, you know?” Jackson said when asked if he should get a top-15 fighter next. “I don’t mind flying under the radar. It makes life a little bit more easier for me. I can go most places and not be so recognizable. I can enjoy dinner. I can move about incognito, so it’s good, it’s good. I’ll deal with it when it comes.”
Yahya (28-11-1 MMA, 13-5-1 UFC), who’s one of the best grapplers to ever compete in the UFC, was able to get Jackson to the ground by pulling guard. Yahya attempted to tie up Jackson, but he was able to avoid any submissions and return to fighting on the feet.
Jackson said he never felt in danger at any point in the fight.
“Very confident,” Jackson said regarding his comfort level grappling with Yahya. “I grapple with some of the best grapplers in the world. Even in the midwest, we have a lot of tough grapplers.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 222.
