Renowned MMA Coach Greg Jackson Considering Congressional Run in New Mexico

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Greg Jackson, who has been one of the most respected mixed martial arts coaches in the sport for more than a decade, is considering a run for Congress in New Mexico.

Axios is reporting Jackson would run as an independent for the U.S. House seat in the state that is being vacated by Deb Haaland, who was chosen by newly elected President Joe Biden to lead the Department of the Interior. According to the report, Haaland’s impending departure “has set off a scramble by aspiring political stars who want the marquee seat representing Albuquerque.”

Jackson is the co-owner of Jackson-Wink MMA in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he has served as a primary trainer for a litany of UFC stars over the years such as Jon Jones, Georges St. Pierre, Holly Holm, Diego Sanchez, Rashad Evans, Carlos Condit, John Dodson and Michelle Waterson, to name a few.

A New Mexico native, Jackson is unaffiliated with any political party but leans Democratic. Jackson wants to work on teaching police officers MMA techniques so that they could avoid using deadly force in hostile situations. Jackson also told Axios he would push for early federal childcare programs to fight poverty in New Mexico.

"I'm exploring a run because I care about this community and I feel I can make a difference,” Jackson told Axios.

According to Axios, a potential Jackson campaign “could attract enough votes to throw off the carefully calibrated picks the Democrats and Republicans are expected to make in the special election to succeed Haaland.”