A new interim welterweight champion was crowned, one of the fights of the year took place but all anyone wants to talk about is CM Punk’s defeat to Mike Jackson.
MMA websites’ traffic over the weekend would suggest that people care an awful lot about the former WWE superstar and the man who beat him into his second UFC defeat.
Jackson, a photographer with experience in professional boxing and kickboxing, dominated Punk for all three rounds of the UFC 225 main card opener.
Each of the three judges gave Jackson a 30-26 unanimous decision which saw ‘The Truth’ move to 1-1 as a pro mixed martial artist.
But after UFC President Dana White confirmed that Punk would no longer be fighting in the Octagon, he tore into Jackson for failing to finish the fight.
Unleashing the boxing. @TheTruthJackson #UFC225 pic.twitter.com/GuVbGy7tRb
— UFC (@ufc) June 10, 2018
White insisted that Jackson’s UFC career was also done, claiming that he “wouldn’t even put that kid in the Contender Series.”
“Michael Jackson I’m not happy with,” White said. “This guy was acting like a goofball tonight. You get this opportunity to come in and fight CM Punk, and you’re doing, like, bolo punches to the body on top. Never looked like he was trying to finish the fight ever. Looked like he could have finished the fight a few times. Never tried!
“I don’t know what that guy did for a living before we gave him the shot, but whatever it was, he needs to go back and do that again. He’s 0-2 as far as I’m concerned.
“I got the sense that he’s a complete fucking idiot and I couldn’t wait for that fight to end and I regretted not putting that fight on Fight Pass. That’s how I felt about it.”
Jackson has hit back at White’s criticism, which seemed incredibly harsh on a fighter who was submitted just 45 seconds into his MMA debut and was trying to fight conservatively to ensure he got his hand raised in his second outing.
I’m legit confused here. I’m trying to figure out how I was “cocky” & “taunting”?! I’m sorry, I didn’t knock out Phil, dude is hella tough. And I didn’t want to get caught with some dumb shit. pic.twitter.com/ucCb0y8HwT
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) June 10, 2018
I hit him with punches and elbows and he stayed standing. I didn’t want to run in and get caught with dumb shit. Imagine being the guy who loses to CM Punk! https://t.co/DNgztswpzH
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) June 10, 2018
I was looking at my corner for instruction https://t.co/zIDNYJWQBM
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) June 10, 2018
The crazy thing, I was never showboating and/or taunting in the fight. Dana White says some silly shit and the internet hits the sprints with it. AH WELL! #UFC225 pic.twitter.com/Q26pcFExcC
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) June 10, 2018
Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know punching someone in the face while looking at my corner was showboating; excuse me. https://t.co/MvVodvebaa
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) June 10, 2018
It wasn’t a “wind up”, it was trying to land a clean shot instead of just throwing random punches. https://t.co/2pqSub9296
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) June 11, 2018
