559 Fights Champ Jonathan Powell: “I Want To Clear Out 135 Before I Go To The UFC”

Not every regional fighter is in a rush to get to the UFC.

Young prospect Jonathan Powell is quickly making a name for himself, earning the 559 Fights Bantamweight title in dramatic fashion earlier this month. He improved to 5-0 with a title win over Enoch McCottrell.

While most prospects rush to get to the big show, the undefeated 24-year-old spoke on his mindset as he looks deeper into his professional career.

“You know, for me to be in the UFC, I have to beat every guy on the regional scene,” Powell told MMA Island’s Michael Hernandez (MLH Media). “You know, so give me a guy, if I can’t beat them, then I don’t deserve to be in the UFC.”

Powell reflected not only on the performance in the cage that Sunday evening in Porterville, but on the people who pushed him to get to that point as well.

Recently making the move to Las Vegas with his training partners, “The Cobra Team,” the now Las Vegas-based Powell discussed how he has built a family away from his home in Los Angeles.

“We have Coach Mateus, we have our teammates. It’s a big, old family, and I really missed that.”

Born and raised in the inner Los Angeles area, the family ties for Jonathan Powell are what have grounded the undefeated prospect through his career so far.

Despite his dedication to fighting and his father’s support of the dream throughout the years, the 24-year-old stated that it’s his grandmother who still gets the most nervous before he steps into the cage.

“That’s why I like to come home to California, because it’s just — I don’t even associate myself with fighting. When I enter my house, it’s all love.”

Jonathan Powell looks to hop back into action on September 27th for 559 Fights #127 on UFC Fight Pass, airing at 7 P.M. PT, with an opponent yet to be determined.