The Professional: DJ Jackson's Days of Amateur Jiu-Jitsu Are Over

The Fight To Win black belt no-gi middleweight title holder is back for more submission-only fun, this time in the gi. Team Lloyd Irvin's DJ Jackson will be facing off against Soul Fighter's Vinicius Agudo in a 175lb gi match come March 31.

Mar 29, 2017 by Erin Herle

The Professional: DJ Jackson's Days of Amateur Jiu-Jitsu Are Over

The Fight To Win black belt no-gi middleweight title holder is back for more submission-only fun, this time in the gi. Team Lloyd Irvin's DJ Jackson will be facing off against Soul Fighter's Vinicius Agudo in a 175lb gi match come March 31.

A well-rounded black belt known for his takedown and pressure game, he has world titles at every lower belt in both gi and no-gi, plus two black belt no-gi world titles. He's one of the most prominent names on Team Lloyd Irvin and has lived the jiu-jitsu lifestyle for many years teaching and training in Camp Springs, Maryland.

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DJ Jackson being crowned Fight To Win Pro black belt no-g middleweight champion. Photo: Chase Smith

Lately, though, we haven't seen Jackson's name in the brackets of any IBJJF tournament. His focus has been on MMA, mixed with some professional jiu-jitsu events when he's not getting ready for a fight.

"I haven't been doing any of the major IBJJF tournaments because I've been focusing on my MMA career. I'm 4-0 as a pro and currently fighting For CFFC Promotion. I jump into the No-Gi Worlds if I don't have a fight coming up since I don't need points to qualify for the tournament, and with fighting MMA I do not like taking the time to go get the points for the worlds in the gi," explains Jackson.

Jackson has made the transition from amateur to pro in both MMA and jiu-jitsu, leaving behind amateur tournaments and now taking only superfights or appearing in events that pay. He doesn't feel as though he has anything left to prove in BJJ — MMA is a different story: "Most of my energy is going to proving I'm one of the best fighters in the world."

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Jackson putting the pressure on Leandro Lo at IBJJF No-Gi Worlds. Photo: Mike Calimbas

As for his opponent in Fight To Win 29 in Nashville, TN, Vinicius Agudo is a new face for Jackson and after watching his matches at the recent IBJJF Pans, he's looking forward to facing the "solid competitor."

To prepare, he's not changing his routine much. There's Muay Thai in the mornings, with jiu-jitsu on days he doesn't have MMA sparring. He trains boxing midday three days out of the week and spends his evenings teaching jiu-jitsu, and training thereafter. Saturdays are spent training from 11-3, while Sunday is his only day off.

When asked whether his motivation to participate in these professional jiu-jitsu was provided by the paycheck, he agreed that the money is a plus since fighting is what he does for a living but he also enjoys the Fight To Win promotion.

“Fight To Win is really well run and they treat their fighters well. That's why they are successful. Their production is great and the people who run the organization are genuinely good people."

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