The co-main bout of Bellator 242 is easily a worthy pick for the card.
Canadian fighter Jordan Mein (31-12) is set to step into the Bellator MMA cage for the first time when he squares off against Jamaica-native Jason Jackson (11-4) in a welterweight showdown this Friday in Uncasville, CT.
This fight had originally been booked for May before the whole event was scrapped because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now that the moment has finally come for 30-year-old Mein to make his long-awaited Bellator MMA debut, his father and trainer Lee shared that Mein is absolutely buzzing.
"He's thrilled, really thankful for the shot to step inside the cage, appreciative of the local sponsors behind him, and just eager to get moving and enjoy himself," Lee told MMA Empire.
"He's been enjoying the grind every single day. Two or three sessions daily, fully committed to the work."
Jackson, 29, is stepping into his third Bellator MMA fight after making his promotional debut back in October—a chance he won after taking the LFA welterweight belt just three months earlier.
On the matchup ahead, Jackson sees this as his chance to send a serious message about where he stands in the welterweight rankings.
"I feel like this fight right here proves I'm a contender, that I deserve a title shot, and that I'm someone worth pushing forward," Jackson told MMA Empire.
"It's going to show everyone exactly where I stand."
Mein ready for another stiff test against Jackson
After spending more than half a decade in Mein's corner during his UFC days, Lee and his son have witnessed the elite-level talent and most well-rounded skill sets the sport has to offer.
Since Jackson was the opponent Mein was meant to face back in May, Lee says they've gotten comfortable with his game and are anticipating a balanced challenge.
"He looks sharp and moves well. He's training with Henri Hooft, which means he's in a solid striking camp with strong wrestling backing," Lee noted.
"He's a complete package. He's secured wins by both submission and knockout. Jordan always hunts down the hardest opponents for that experience, so this should be a great one."
Mein wrapped up his UFC run on a two-fight hot streak, most recently earning a unanimous decision victory over Alex Morono in July 2018 at UFC Calgary.
According to Lee, the split from the UFC went out on positive terms, and Mein wasn't released from the roster—it was simply a case of Mein wanting to fight more frequently.
"Following his most recent victory, he stepped back from competition to grieve the loss of his mother and prepare for knee surgery," Lee explained. "Once he recovered and was ready to resume training, we reached out to the UFC, but their roster was so stacked with contenders that they couldn't promise him a bout anytime soon."
"He then requested his release so he could pursue opportunities elsewhere—he didn't want to sit idly. The split was amicable, without hard feelings. He simply wanted to compete, and the UFC wasn't sure they had a matchup available for him."
Jackson's Activity Could Be Significant
Though Mein hasn't competed in nearly two years, Jackson has maintained a busy pace throughout that same period, stepping into the cage five times.
While Jackson isn't banking on Mein's lengthy absence as a decisive advantage, he acknowledged that his own continued activity during Mein's downtime could serve as a marginal edge.
"It'll become clear once we're in the cage, but I refuse to underestimate him," Jackson noted.
"Staying active speaks for itself. I haven't been taking on easy opponents in these five bouts, so that has to factor into the equation."
Jackson's most recent appearance came at Bellator 236 in December, where he earned a unanimous decision win over Kiichi Kunimoto—a milestone that also marked his first victory inside the Bellator MMA cage.
Since that bout arrived on short notice, Jackson said emerging victorious demonstrated his ability to thrive regardless of circumstances.
"I received notification for that fight roughly six days beforehand, so I had to make the best of it, rely on my strengths, and get the job done," Jackson recalled.
"That bout taught me a crucial lesson: whatever resources you have available, you can leverage them, and still come out ahead of most fighters' best efforts."
Jackson's Shoutouts
"I want to extend my appreciation to my coaching staff (Henri Hooft, Bill McKnight, Sean Soriano, Adam), my family, God, Bellator MMA, my management team (Randall, Dave Martin), and my sponsors (American Ethanol, Sanford MMA)" Connect with Jackson on social media: FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM
Follow Mein on social media: INSTAGRAM
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