Mike Jackson explains background details of beef with Jake Shields that lead to the assault at UFC PI

Mike Jackson recently discussed what led to his physical altercation with Jake Shields.

The MMA community was shocked when a short video showing Shields mounting Jackson at the UFC Performance Institute surfaced on social media. The disagreement between the two fighters originated from an online argument where 'The Truth' continuously called the former Strikeforce champion racist.

During an interview with MMA Junkie, the 37-year-old UFC fighter provided some background details by saying:

"We live in an American culture and an American society right now, the foundation of it is built on white supremacy and systematic oppression. That's not debatable... For me, I look at life like racists. vs. anti-racists... My way of thinking, if you're on this middle line, anywhere on the middle line, on the fence to the extreme Hitler, David Duke, Leopold-type people, you're a nazi, you're a white supremacist, you're a white nationalist, and everywhere in between..."

Jackson's explanation provided details as to why he calls Shields a Nazi and other harsh allegations. The 43-year-old retired fighter believes 'The Truth' is racist for these types of views, which led to their altercation at the UFC PI. During the same interview, the current UFC welterweight had this to say:

“The summation of everything he said for this five minutes, from the time he walked up until the time I left, all he did was say, ‘Mike Jackson, you a piece of s**t racist. Fight me’... Also, it’s Jake Shields, Dewey Cooper, and he got like five of his boys with him… So, I come back around the cage where my bag is, he’s kinda in the same area, I turn to get my bag, and this dude pulls me and grabs me down to the ground...”

‘The Truth’ also detailed how Shields allegedly spit on him twice while continuing to harass him physically and verbally. The former Strikeforce champion then took down Jackson, who claimed to be trying to leave without an altercation. He believes he was assaulted.

Watch Mike Jackson break down the altercation with Jake Shields below:

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Mike Jackson is pressing assault charges against Jake Shields

Mike Jackson claims he did everything possible to avoid an altercation other than call the aggressor a Nazi. Therefore, ‘The Truth’ believes Jake Shields assaulted him. During the same interview with MMA Junkie, Jackson had this to say when asked if he’s pressing charges:

“Yeah, well, I’m gonna follow up with the PI. I told them, 'Hey, press charges.' They said ok, so now I gotta follow up to see what actually happened. That’s what I’m saying, thugs. You can’t just walk around assaulting people and think there’s no consequences for your actions.”

Mike Jackson had a wacky year with the UFC. He won his first pro-MMA fight by disqualification against Dean Barry in March. ‘The Truth’ returned in October and was brutally knocked out by Pete Rodriguez. The 37-year-old has now ended 2022 in a lose-lose situation with Shields.