5 Defining Moments: Damon Jackson

It’s fight week mode for Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight contender Damon Jackson, who is currently on his first two-fight losing skid in 30 bouts since he turned pro in 2012. “Action” is scheduled to take on Alexander Hernandez on April 6 at UFC Fight Night 240, which will go down at the Apex Facility in Las Vegas.

With a wealth of experience accrued through a career that has spanned over a decade, the 35-year-old stands as a seasoned veteran who has seemingly mastered the nuances of the fight game. Assuming the new role of a mentor at Fortis MMA, Jackson molds the trajectory of aspiring fighters while also laying the foundation for his post-fighting pursuits. Ahead of his co-main event duties against Hernandez this weekend, we take a look at the five defining moments of his career.

The Finisher’s Flair

Jackson turned professional in 2012 and made his debut against Jacob Salyer at War Sports 1. He won the fight by technical knockout in the first round. What followed was a phenomenal display of dominance as Jackson collected seven more victories, all finishes. The streak of victories included a Round 2 submission win over Zac Church at Bellator 86 and a Round 1 TKO triumph over Keith Miner at Bellator 96.

First Brush with Gold

Following the aforementioned eight-fight unblemished run, “Action” got his first taste at championship gold against Leonard Garcia at LFC 33. It took him under two minutes to lock in a decisive arm-triangle choke submission to claim Legacy Fighting Championshipfeatherweight glory. Following that win, Jackson would go on to challenge Yancy Medeiros at UFC 177 as a short-notice replacement for Justin Edwards. He lost the fight via a reverse bulldog choke submission in the second frame.

Forging New Paths and Venturing Forward

Following a brief stint in the UFC, which included one loss, one no-contest, and a draw, Jackson went on to compete under the Legacy Fighting Alliance banner after the merger of Legacy Fighting Championship and Resurrection Fighting Alliance. He collected signature victories over the likes of Chris Pecero and Jeremy Spoon before going on to challenge Nate Jennerman for the organization’s interim featherweight championship at LFA 47. He won the fight by knockout in the second round.

Second Time’s the Charm

Jackson secured his second opportunity to compete in the UFC under unexpected circumstances, stepping in on just three days’ notice to replace Eduard Garagorri to challenge Mirsad Bektic at UFC Fight Night 178. The American endured a grueling 10-minute battle, eventually executing a sublime mounted guillotine choke, seizing victory via submission in the third round. Interestingly, Jackson attempted another guillotine choke attempt in the opening round, but ultimately his opponent was able to break free from the attempt. As the fight progressed, it was evident that Bektic was fatigued while Jackson picked up the intensity exponentially.

A Steady Streak in the UFC

While “Action” has been struggling off late, between 2021 and 2022, he mounted a solid four-fight win streak against formidable names. Starting with a unanimous decision victory over Charles Rosa, Jackson went on to secure an arm-triangle choke submission victory over Kamuela Kirk, and another unanimous triumph against Daniel Argueta. His last victory inside the Octagon came against Pat Sabatini at UFC Fight Night 210. In the first frame of the fight, Jackson caught his foe right on the jaw with a front leg kick followed by a left hook. While successfully avoiding a desperate takedown attempt from Sabatini, Jackson followed his opponent to the ground and pounded out the finish at the 1:09 mark of the very first round.