Jason Knight (fighter)
Jason Thomas Knight (born July 14, 1992) is an American bare knuckle boxer and a professional mixed martial artist. He has previously competed in the UFC and Titan FC. Background. Reared in D'Iberville, Mississippi, Knight began training at the age of 14 to stay out of trouble and street fighting. He attended George County High School before dropping out at the age of 16, and began training with UFC veteran Alan Belcher. Mixed martial arts career. Early career. Knight began competing as an amateur at the age of 14, and fought ten times before turning professional in  2009 at age 17. He then compiled a record of 16–1 before being signed by the UFC. Ultimate Fighting Championship. Knight made his promotional debut against Tatsuya Kawajiri on December 11, 2015 at , replacing Mirsad Bektić on two weeks' notice. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. Knight faced Jim Alers on July 23, 2016 at UFC on Fox 20. He won the fight via split decision. The combat was awarded the "Fight of the Night" bonus. Knight next faced Dan Hooker on November 26, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 101. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Knight faced  Alex Caceres on January 28, 2017 at UFC on Fox 23. He won the fight via submission in the second round, winning his first "Performance of the Night" bonus. Knight faced Chas Skelly on May 13, 2017 at UFC 211. He won the fight via TKO in the third round. The win also earned Knight his second consecutive "Performance of the Night" bonus award. Knight faced Ricardo Lamas on July 29, 2017 at UFC 214. He lost the fight via TKO in the first round. Knight faced Gabriel Benítez on December 9, 2017 at UFC Fight Night 123. He lost  the fight via unanimous decision. Knight faced Makwan Amirkhani on May 27, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 130. Despite four successful knockdowns during the three-round fight, Knight lost via a contentious split decision. Knight faced Jordan Rinaldi on November 3, 2018 at UFC 230. He lost the fight via unanimous decision and was subsequently released by the organization. Post-UFC career. Following the stint in bare-knuckle boxing, Knight was expected to make his return to mixed martial arts against Christopher Ramírez at iKon Fighting Federation 5 on March 5, 2021. However, Ramírez had to withdraw from the fight  due to problems getting into the United States and was replaced by Taurean Bogguess. In turn, Bogguess withdrew during the fight week and was replaced by Cliff Wright. Knight won the bout via second-round submission. On May 29, 2021, it was announced that Knight is scheduled to headline the inaugural event of Jorge Masvidal's Gamebred Fighting Championship against Charles Bennett on June 18, 2021. The bout had typical mixed martial arts rules, but was contested without gloves. Knight was knocked down early on, but went on to win the fight via rear-naked choke submission in round one . Professional Fighters League. Following the successful bout in Gamebred FC, Knight signed with the Professional Fighters League and faced Bobby Moffett at PFL 9 on August 27, 2021. At weigh-ins, Moffett weighed in at 148.2 pounds, missing weight by 2.2 pounds. The bout proceeded at catchweight and Moffett was fined a percentage of his purse, which went to Knight. He lost the bout via unanimous decision. Bare knuckle boxing. Following his UFC release, Knight signed a one-fight contract with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. He faced Artem Lobov in the main event of Bare Knuckle FC 5 on April  6, 2019. Knight lost the bout and several of his teeth. Knight was expected to headline Bare Knuckle FC 7 on August 10, 2019 against Leonard Garcia. However on July 15, 2019, Knight revealed on his social media that he was forced to withdraw from the bout due to a rib injury. Knight defeated Artem Lobov in a rematch headlining on November 16, 2019, earning the victory by TKO in the fifth round. Personal life. In 2012, Knight was arrested and charged with grand larceny. Knight runs his own gym, Jason Knight Mixed Martial Arts & Fitness in Lucedale, Mississippi. Jason