Jason
Jackson believes he can disrupt the
Ultimate Fighting Championship's welterweight division and
upset the reigning champ.

Jackson recently called for a UFC signing while making a bold
claim. The former Bellator
welterweight champion believes he can defeat UFC welterweight king
Islam
Makhachev. Furthermore, the 35-year-old says the premier
promotion doesn't want him on the roster, considering his age.

Jason Jackson explains why he believes he can beat UFC champ
Islam Makhachev

Makhachev faced one of the toughest tests of his career while
successfully defending his welterweight title against Ian Garry at
UFC
330. Jackson claims he had his way with Garry in training and
never struggled against the Irishman.

Jackson also handed Yaroslav
Amosov his lone career loss. According to the Jamaican, Amosov,
who has finished both of his UFC wins so far, is a better fighter
than Makhachev. He believes the UFC isn't offering him a contract
as they fear that he would turn the division on its head.

“I want to go to the UFC. I'm not even gonna beat around the bush
because I feel like I could beat Makhachev,†Jackson said in an X
post. “And the reason why I said that is that he struggled with
Ian. And no disrespect to Ian, I done put Ian down in the gym. I
don't struggle with him. And from what I did to Yaroslav, I think
he is better than Makhachev. If I get into the UFC, I feel like
that's one that the UFC don't want, is a guy my age coming from a
different promotion, going there and just disrupting their whole
pecking order. I feel like that's why they are holding out on me
getting in there.â€

Jackson (20-6) is 2-2 in his last four outings and most recently
scored a 20-second knockout win at
Most Valuable Promotions' inaugural mixed martial arts event
this past May.

I could beat Makhachev pic.twitter.com/AEX8Finr75

— Jason
Jackson MMA (@TAKM_MMA)
September 3, 2026

Bilal
Hasan is unburdened by his perfect record.

Hasan (10-0) is rapidly rising to stardom less than a week after
making his
Ultimate Fighting Championship debut. He earned his UFC
contract with a 45-second knockout win on
Dana White's Contender Series less than three weeks prior.

Bilal Hasan explains why protecting his 10-0 record doesn’t
consume him

Hasan says he isn't concerned about losing his perfect record.
While many undefeated prospects are devastated after their first
loss, Hasan says he is used to losing in the gym. He claims he
loves the sport as it gives him space for endless growth and is
excited to be a student and keep learning forever.

“Not at all, man. I lose every day in the gym, and it's cool,â€
Hasan told Bedtime MMA. “I love that, man; that's how it should be.
The No. 1 thing I love about martial arts, and I know you train as
well, is the learning, man. The constant being a student, being a
sponge, it's so cool. There's so much for me to develop, and that's
what excites me truly.â€

Hasan has finished nine of his 10 career wins so far. Apart from
his electrifying performances inside the cage, Hasan's slick dance
moves and affability on the mic have further boosted his
stardom.

Fares
Ziam plans to move to the United States to develop his
game.

Ziam is scheduled to fight fellow Frenchman Alex Sola in the
co-main event of the
Ultimate Fighting Championship's event in France on Sept. 5. He
did most of his camp in Denver under Justin
Gaethje's head coach, Trevor Wittman, and eventually wants to
move stateside.

Fares Ziam plans to move his family to Denver to develop his
UFC career

Ziam says that while he didn't previously have a head coach, he
believes he needs one at the highest level. He eventually plans to
move with his family to Denver to train under Wittman, whom he
considers the best head coach for himself.

“My plan is to move with my family to the U.S. to be in Denver,â€
Ziam told MMA Junkie. “Two to three years in Denver and forget. For
me, it's important to evolve in this game, to be focused. Before, I
didn't get any head coach; I had a team around me. But at this
level, we need a head coach, a guy who is looking out for you. For
me, Trevor is the best for me.â€

Ziam first met Wittman while helping Gaethje as a sparring partner
for his win over Paddy
Pimblett earlier this year. When he asked their common manager,
Ali Abdelaziz, about training with Gaethje, Abdelaziz said that
Wittman doesn't accept everybody. However, Wittman accepted Ziam as
he liked what he saw during Gaethje's camp for the Pimblett
fight.

“I asked my manager, Ali, ‘What do you think if I go train with
Justin?' He said, ‘It's a very good idea, but Trevor doesn't take
just anyone,'†Ziam added. “But after me and him had a good
feeling, he said I am a good person. Because he saw something in
me, he took me in this gym.â€

Ziam looks to return to winning ways at
UFC Paris.

Fares Ziam
explains how training under Trevor Wittman came together, what he's
learned, and what it's been like training with Justin
Gaethje 👊 (via @Farah_Hannoun)
pic.twitter.com/L7cRJoCAJx

— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie)
September 3, 2026