Fighting his way to the top: Montel Jackson back in UFC spotlight Saturday

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Local fighter Montel Jackson and Milwaukee will be center stage in the MMA world this weekend. The UFC's event in Denver features three Milwaukee natives: Montel, Christian Rodriguez, and former two-time champion Rose Namajunas.

"It is important because it shows that we can make it from a little city called Milwaukee." Montel says, "you don't got to leave. You don't got to go look for something on the outside, it's right in front of you. You just got to be willing to put in the work."

Montel was on top of the world last year after winning his fourth fight in a row when his left hand sent Rani Yahya into the Nether realm. Unfortunately, he cracked his ribs training a week before his next fight, starting a nine-month-long road to recovery that will finally end Saturday when he steps into the octagon against Da'mon Blackshear.

"I'm super excited, but I'm still staying pretty calm. Just going out there thinking it's another fight. Don't put too much on it."

Ferocious power is the Riverside High School grad's calling card. In only nine UFC fights, he's tied for the most knockdowns in bantamweight history, but the truth is it doesn't matter to Montel how he wins, as long as his hand is raised at the end.

"I don't think about that stuff. I don't think about the stats, man. I go out there and I try to be perfect in everything I do and execute the gameplan."

A win this weekend could push Montel into the top 15 for the first time in his career, and he won't slow down from there. He wants to fight again as soon as possible, keeping Milwaukee in the UFC spotlight.