Gulf High Alumnus Faces Big MMA Fight

Ladarious Jackson is getting ready for a big fight.

Jackson, a Gulf High alumnus and New Port Richey area resident, is going to be fighting in the main title match at the World Class Fight League  "Breaking Point" amateur MMA (mixed martial arts) event at the Hilton Downtown Tampa Hotel on Saturday, March 30.

Jackson faces Amar Short from gym Gracie Barra Orlando in the 170-pound weight class fight.

Florida regulations require that a fighter participate in five amateur mixed martial arts before they compete in professional match.

Jackson says Saturday's fight will be his sixth.

Jackson was a wrestling champ in high school, rising above a troubled childhood that was documented in the Tampa Bay Times.  He won two state wrestling championships during his time as a student at Gulf High.

He graduated in 2011.

Jackson attended Indiana Tech University for a time, but dropped out and returned to the New Port Richey area. In 2012, he stopped into Gator MMA on Leo Kidd Avenue in Port Richey. He had gotten the advice of a roommate to try his hand at MMA. 

At the time, he didn’t know much about the sport.

“It looked like two guys going chaotic,” he said.

Now, Jackson says he loves it. He has trained at Gator MMA regularly. He wants to go professional.

“I’m very aware that I’m good at physical things, and if I’m good at something, I stick with it,” he said.

Jackson also doesn’t want to do MMA for free any longer. He currently works at Harold Seltzer’s Steakhouse in the Gulf View Square Mall in Port Richey and at a local Winn-Dixie. He also says he has a third job lined up.

He says he plans on taking a few months off from MMA after the Saturday match unless he gets offered a chance to join a professional league.

“I want to be able to turn pro, and I’m not going back to amateur,” he said.

One alternative to a career in professional MMA that he has considered is a return to school.

Jackson said he’s often trained late into the night at Gator MMA. He praised the teamwork he’s found there.

“It’s like 30-40 people working toward one goal,” he said.

Gator MMA has also provided a roof over Jackson’s head. Daniel Blevins, the gym owner, has let Jackson sleep there.

Blevins said Jackson represents the gym well. Jackson is one of five fighters in the Saturday event.

Jackson’s instructor at Gator MMA, Brandon Watts, said Jackson makes the other fighters at strive to be better.

“He’s a good guy,” he said. “Loves his training. Loves his gym."

Other fights with Gator MMA gym members include:

•  135-pound Title Fight: Dean Stupar of Gator MMA vs.4-3-1 Jordan Pruitt of Hammer House MMA
•  125-pound Title Fight Abby Velazquez  vs. 3-1 Christian Reed of Lee Jacobs MMA

Want to see Gator MMA's Fighters in the WCFL event?

The event will be located at the Hilton Downtown Tampa Hotel, 211 N. Tampa St. on Saturday, March 30. The doors open at 5 p.m., but the fights start at 6 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the event website, or at the door for an extra $5.