Bellator MMA has a new undefeated champion.
Ramazan Kuramagomedov took a big step up in competition Saturday in Dublin and rose to the occasion, taking the welterweight championship from Jason Jackson by building an early advantage and holding on for a unanimous decision victory.
Kuramagomedov (13-0) scored a takedown less than two minutes into the fight and kept Jackson on the canvas for the rest of the first round. He delivered minimal damage but set the tone, as Jackson (18-5) fought timidly for the next two rounds and fell behind before rallying, though it proved to be too little, too late.
All three judges scored the bout 48-47 for Kuramagomedov.
Jackson was making the first defense of a title he won in November against Kuramagomedov’s teammate, Yaroslav Amosov, who also had come into their bout undefeated. After falling behind in this fight at 3 Arena, Jackson got it to the canvas in the fourth round and looked for a submission. Kuramagomedov appeared fatigued but managed to stay safe in that round and the final one, holding on to get his hand raised in his third Bellator fight, the biggest of his career.
“My opponent doesn’t deserve a loss,” a teary Kuramagomedov said through an interpreter. “He’s a great guy, a tough guy. Today was just my day.”
Kuramagomedov, 27, had never before been in the cage with a fighter the caliber of Jackson, whose résumé includes wins over former champions Amosov, Douglas Lima and Benson Henderson. But the Russian was undaunted, emboldened by the early takedown.
Even after Jackson took over in the championship rounds, there was no panic in Kuramagomedov. He maintained distance with a steady array of leg strikes, landing 35 to just one for Jackson. This largely immobilized the champ and allowed the challenger to mostly dictate where the fight was fought.
After sharing the cage with him for five rounds, Kuramagomedov heaped praise upon Jackson afterward, saying, “In my opinion, he was the best welterweight in the world.”