MacDonald training in Albuquerque for Franklin

By Ray Hui

After just five months and two fights in the UFC, Jason "The Athlete" MacDonald has landed himself his first marquee fight: a bout with former UFC champion Rich Franklin.

MacDonald, understandably, has increased his training regimen significantly. In addition to his standard work at Mark Pavelich’s Pro Camp and Gracie Barra Calgary, MacDonald has begun training with one of the best teams in MMA: Greg Jackson’s Fight Team, the home of Joey Villasenor, Nathan Marquardt, Diego Sanchez, and Keith Jardine.

TRAINING WITH GREG JACKSON

During MacDonald’s previous fights with the UFC, he had the opportunity to meet Jackson and was already beginning to consider training with him. Once he was notified that the fight with Franklin would take place, MacDonald knew that training with Jackson was the next step in his career.

“Unfortunately, living where we do, in Alberta, we don’t have the quality and the number of training partners as I have down here at Greg Jackson’s. So I came down here to Greg Jackson’s, to broaden my horizons, learn some new skills, and train with some great athletes.”

MacDonald jumped back and forth between training with Jackson in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and training in his home state Alberta with Pro Camp and Gracie Barra. At the time of the interview, he was back down for a second stint with Jackson, to spend his last ten days training in high elevation.

(Read More)