Speak with Dallas-based bantamweight fighter Jason Sampson and it becomes abundantly clear that he is a starch proponent of the saying, “hard work pays off.” In fact, in general conversation he drops the phrase to point that it takes on what seems a self-guiding mantra. However, if you know Sampson, know his redemption story, and then it becomes obvious. For Sampson, hard work does in fact pay off.
Jason Sampson’s back story has oft been repeated. This is a man who battled personal demons and loss and overcame the grip of despair that is often associated with traumatic experiences to emerge as one of Texas’ most promising prospects. Dedication, perseverance, and hard work all helped shape Sampson to be the man and fighter that many within the fight game look up to.
Perhaps this universal love is based in the tangible quiet intensity that is ever-present with Sampson. You tend to get the feeling that he is not a man to cross but also, he’s exactly the type of man who will give you the shirt off his back if you ever need anything. In any respect you would be hard-pressed to find any one in the Texas combative sports scene who would have a negative opinion on the man nicknamed “Wild Thing.”
This Friday night Sampson will return to the cage when he takes on Joseph Sandoval in the co-main event at Legacy 38. The fight card will take place at the Allen Events Center in the Dallas suburb of Allen. For the Dallas native the prospect of fighting in his hometown was an opportunity Sampson could not pass up.
“Its awesome man,” states a visibly excited Sampson. “I grew up here. I went to Irving MacArthur High School. My family is around here. So, fighting in front of my hometown is going to be great. Fighting with all my teammates on the same card is going to be phenomenal.
Despite having fought for a plethora of fight promotions around the country, including Bellator, Sampson has not fought under the Legacy banner. Though, he does have roots with the Houston-based promotional powerhouse.
“Man, I fought for [Legacy founder and president Mick Maynard] before,” explains Sampson. “It was actually my last amateur fight for Lone Star Beatdown a long time ago. So, I’m very blessed to fight for Mick and fight on TV to show of my skill and take one step closer to making my dreams come true.”
Sampson did himself no favors in his Legacy debut making the decision to cut down to a career low weight of 125 lbs to throw his hat into the emerging flyweight division. Having spent most of his career as a 135 lbs bantamweight question immediately gravitate toward this new weight cut. Sampson seems undaunted by the task.
“Your first weight cut to a new division is always the toughest,” says Sampson. “But, with my hard work, my teammates, my coaches and my nutritionists, and my personal trainers, we all have a job to do and they are getting me to that weight class. All I do is listen to them and put in the work and I see the weight just come off. It’s not easy, but sh*t, this job ain’t easy. Ten pounds may not seem like a lot, but dropping from 135 to 125; I mean I haven’t been 125 in 13 years and that was when I wrestled in high school.”
Aiding in his weight cut, and brimming confidence, has been Sampson’s decision to base his recent training camps at Dallas’ Octagon MMA. Home to a number of top-flight talents, including a number of active UFC fighters, Octagon MMA has quickly established itself as one of the preeminent destinations for fighters looking to expand their craft. The decision for Sampson to join their ranks has so far paid dividends in the cage. Sampson is quick to credit his teammates for his maturation as a fighter. With a number of Octagon MMA fighters participating at Legacy 38 Sampson will be among friends on February 13.
“It’s a blessing to have so many alpha males, so many bad ass dudes on the same card,” beams Sampson. “I’m just blessed to be around these guys. Just the loyalty, I mean we are family and we are real tight. Us beating the sh*t out of each other every day with one thing on our mind, and that is to win on February 13 and we are all pushing each other to the next level.”
Sampson continues, “Nothing comes between us. I have Coach Sayif Saud and my jiu-jitsu coach, Coach Allen Mohler. I mean Coach Sayif runs a phenomenal team here as you can see. These guys here are hungry, and I’m hungry. So I’m happy to have a bunch of teammates on the card because everyone is in the zone. We have one thing on our mind, eat, sleep, and train and on February 13 we are going to shine.”
Standing in the way of that shine is one Joseph Sandoval. The West Texas based fighter is a UFC vet and stands as one of the toughest challenges in Sampson’s illustrious career. Sampson, to his credit, seems more than keenly aware of the challenge and danger Sandoval presents. However, despite the tough assignment Sandoval represents, Sampson is filled with confidence.
“You can expect the best Jason Sampson ever,” explains Sampson when asked what fans can expect from him on Friday. “I want to fight the best [Joseph Sandoval] there is, no buts about it. I know he’s a tough dude and this is just business and the best man is going to win, and that will be me.”
Sampson continues, “I’m going to put pressure on him and I’m going to break him and my hand will be raised at the end of the night. Then I’m going to take him out and buy him a beer.”
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