HDNET'S 'FIGHTING WORDS WITH MIKE STRAKA' TO FEATURE GREG JACKSON

Jackson tells Straka: "The Octagon is nothing but a laboratory" - airing this Friday, September 3 at 8:30 p.m. ET on HDNet

(PRESS RELEASE) -- MMA coach Greg Jackson is the featured guest on "Fighting Words with Mike Straka," this Friday, September 3 at 8:30 p.m. ET on HDNet, Your Home for MMA.

Jackson, who trains some of the biggest names in MMA, from UFC Welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre, to Light Heavyweight contender Rashad Evans to rising star Jon Jones, tells Straka that even though he is one of the best known coaches in the sport, it's never about him.

"I'm there to help these guys achieve their dreams and come to their potential as fighters," said Jackson. "The Octagon to me is nothing but a laboratory where I can test my ideas. You're in this arms race against people...basically it's a place where I get to evolve, get to figure things out and get to be a true artist."

Jackson, known by many in MMA as "Yoda" or "The Maestro," has been criticized recently for being too strategic, with some MMA observers pointing to Georges St. Pierre's decision victory over Dan Hardy at UFC 112 and Rashad Evans' decision over Rampage Jackson as examples of Jackson's fighters fighting not to lose.

Jackson discusses his strategies for fighters with Straka, but also goes into his philosophy. "It's not all about pragmatism," says Jackson. "It's not all 'if I do A, B, C and D I'm going to win the fight.' You have to have heart, you have to have fire... sometimes you have a broken hand, well, you have to have heart. This is a fight. You have to hit him with the hand," said Jackson.

Also on this week's episode, British fighter Ross Pearson, who takes on Cole Miller at UFC Fight Night 22 on September 15 talks about the evolution of Mixed Martial Arts in England, and his journey through the ranks of the UFC Lightweight division.

"Fighting Words with Mike Straka" airs this Friday night, September 3, 2010 at 8:30 p.m. ET on HDNet.

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