Early career Jackson compiled a professional mixed martial arts record of 9-3-1 that included winning the Bas Rutten Invitational 1 Middleweight tournament over
Joe Doerksen as well as losing to future
Pride Middleweight Champion,
Wanderlei Silva whilst competing for the
IVC Cruiserweight Championship before signing for
UFC in 1999.
Ultimate Fighting Championship Jackson made his UFC debut at
middleweight on July 16, 1999, against
Royce Alger at
UFC 21. He won the fight via KO with punches in the second round. Jackson then faced
Keiichiro Yamamiya on November 19, 1999, at
UFC 23. He won the fight via KO with a punch in the third round. Jackson then faced
Sanae Kikuta on April 14, 2000, at
UFC 25. He lost the fight via an
armbar submission in the first round. Jackson then faced
Jeremy Horn on September 22, 2000, at UFC 27. He lost the fight via an
armbar submission in the first round. Jackson then faced
Ricardo Almeida on September 28, 2001, at
UFC 33. He lost the fight via a
triangle choke submission in the first round. Jackson then faced Keith Rockel on January 11, 2002, at
UFC 35. He won the fight via a
guillotine choke submission in the second round thus snapping a three-fight losing streak. Jackson's final UFC bout came against
Mark Weir on July 13, 2002, at
UFC 38. He lost the fight via KO with a punch in the first round.
Strikeforce Jackson made his
Strikeforce debut against
Jorge Ortiz on March 10, 2006, at
Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Gracie. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Jackson then faced
Mike Seal on June 9, 2006, at
Strikeforce: Revenge. He won the fight via TKO due to punches in the second round. Jackson then faced
Ronald Jhun for the inaugural
Strikeforce U.S. Middleweight Championship on December 8, 2006, at
Strikeforce: Triple Threat. He won the fight via a
rear naked choke submission in the first round thus being the sole person to win the title. Jackson's final fight came against
Joe Riggs on September 29, 2007, at
Strikeforce: Playboy Mansion. He lost the fight via KO due to punches in the first round. ==Personal life==