Montel Jackson

When and why did you start training for fighting? I started training the summer that wrestling was dropped from the Olympics. My friend Devon asked me to wrestle with him on Sundays to prepare for his upcoming fight against Raufeon Stots. After wrestling with Devon, Red Schafer would have open mats where I met this guy named Gato and he gave me the basic rundown of Jiu-Jitsu and grappling. After Devon’s fight I continued to go to the Red's open mats on Sunday to roll with Gato and received pointers on my jiu jitsu. Gato said I was good at this, so I should do this Jiu-Jitsu tournament in a month. I was unsure because I didn't have any formal classes on grappling other than Gato telling me what to do at open mats. I wasn't sure of my skills entering into that Jiu-Jitsu tournament. Gato didn't give up or quit talking s**t every Sunday, and I entered the Jiu-Jitsu tournament and won with coaching from Gato. A guy in the division was upset about losing and started talking s**t, saying that I was a sandbagger. Gato said the guy was mad that I kicked his ass and he had more experienced grappling than me. Gato told me to sign up for MMA with Red, so I did and I met Solo and Scotty and started fighting MMA.

Any accomplishments in amateur combat sports? XFO Amateur Champion at Featherweight and Lightweight 

Any belts/ranks in grappling disciplines? Purple belt in BJJ 

What has been your toughest fight to date and why? The next fight is always the toughest.

Who is your favorite fighter and why? “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler – he overcame all obstacles to become champ.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? I went to a technical college but never finished because I started fighting and because of the failing health of my grandparents at the time.

What was your job before you started fighting? Manager of liquor store

Origin of nickname: I got the nickname because I worked at the Kwick Pantry (a neighborhood store) and because I'm fast.