Montel Jackson grateful for chance to bring UFC career full-circle

LAS VEGAS – Montel Jackson met the media Saturday after his win over Ricky Simon at UFC Fight Night 289. Jackson (16-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) took out Simon (22-8-1 MMA, 10-7-1 UFC) with a second-round knockout on the prelims at the Meta APEX. Jackson broke a two-fight skid of split decision losses to forme

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LAS VEGAS – Montel Jackson met the media Saturday after his win over Ricky Simon at UFC Fight Night 289.

Jackson (16-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) took out Simon (22-8-1 MMA, 10-7-1 UFC) with a second-round knockout on the prelims at the Meta APEX.

Jackson broke a two-fight skid of split decision losses to former flyweight champ Deiveson Figueiredo and Saturday headliner Raoni Barcelos with the win. It was his first finish since an 18-second bonus-winning knockout of Da’Mon Blackshear more than two years ago.

Jackson’s fight with Simon was a rematch. He fought him on short notice in his UFC debut more than eight years ago coming off a DWCS win, but he dropped a decision. He gave credit to Simon for that initial opportunity, since it led to a lengthy career

so far in the promotion.

Jackson highlights, UFC Fight Night 289

Focused on the takedown 😤

[ #UFCVegas121 LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/zBfimY9W3I
— UFC (@ufc) September 26, 2026

No segundo round! 🔥

Vitória de Montel Jackson por nocaute no #UFCVegas121! 👊

[ Ao vivo somente no @ParamountPlusBR ] pic.twitter.com/TI8HZq6gEW

— UFC Brasil (@UFCBrasil) September 26, 2026

Jackson key quotes, UFC Fight Night 289

“I'm grateful for Ricky and everything that Ricky helped me get to this point. Without Ricky, I probably wouldn't be in the UFC. I fought Ricky on short notice. He could have said no. He could have held out or found somebody else, but he said yeah to fight me. So I’m forever thankful for Ricky. This time I was able to train adequately and have a real camp. Taking nothing away from the first fight, but I had more time to prepare and be ready for Ricky and what he had to offer.”

“Anybody standing in front of me, the shot's going to be there. … ‘Amateurs do it till they get it right, and pros do it till they can't get it wrong.’ Shots like that, you train repeatedly, repeatedly, repeatedly so you know you'll never get it wrong. It'll always be there on anybody for sure.”

“It sucks (to lose split decisions). You’ve really got to go back and re-evaluate your game and try to fill all those holes. Ultimately, all the successful people I ever talked to, I always ask them what failure brought you your biggest success. For me it may be those losses.”