Damon Jackson

Damon Jackson (born August 8, 1988) is an American former professional mixed martial artist having previously competed in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2012, Jackson competed for Bellator MMA and King of the Cage and he is the former Legacy Fighting Alliance Interim Featherweight Champion.

Background Born in Oklahoma, Jackson began wrestling from a young age and was talented. In high school, Jackson also competed in baseball and ran cross-country and track. Jackson was a state runner-up before continuing his career at Missouri Valley College where he was an All-American and had a fifth-place finish at the national tournament in 2012. Shortly after, Jackson began pursuing mixed martial arts.

Mixed martial arts career Early career Jackson held an amateur MMA record of 6–1 before making his professional debut September 2012, winning via TKO in the first round. He would go on to win his next two bouts, both via submission.

Bellator MMA Jackson debuted for Bellator on January 24, 2013, at Bellator 86 against Zac Church. Jackson won the fight via rear-naked choke submission in the second round.

On June 19, 2013, Jackson defeated Keith Miner via TKO due to strikes in the first round at Bellator 96, improving his record to 6–0.

Legacy Fighting Championship In October 2013, Jackson fought and defeated Javier Obregon by submission in the second round at Legacy FC 24.

Jackson would win his next bout via rear-naked choke submission at Legacy FC 28 against Hunter Tucker on February 21, 2014.

Jackson then faced WEC and UFC veteran Leonard Garcia for the Legacy FC featherweight championship at Legacy FC 33 on July 18, 2014. Jackson won the fight via submission in the first round.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Stepping in as a late replacement for an injured Justin Edwards, Jackson faced Yancy Medeiros at UFC 177 on August 30, 2014. Jackson lost the fight via submission in the second round, suffering his first loss of his career.

Jackson faced Rony Jason on May 30, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 67. He lost the fight via triangle choke submission in the first round. On June 18, 2015, it was announced that Jason tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide, which is a banned diuretic, therefore his submission victory against Jackson was overturned and he received a nine-month suspension.

Jackson faced Levan Makashvili on January 30, 2016, at UFC on Fox 18. The bout was ruled a majority draw (28-28, 28-28, 29-27) after Makashvili was deducted one point in the third round due to an illegal knee and eye poke.

Legacy Fighting Alliance/PFL After going 6–1 fighting under the Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) banner, Jackson won the Featherweight Interim Legacy Fighting Alliance championship on August 10, 2018, against Nate Jennerman at Legacy Fighting Alliance 47 via knockout in round two.

He would sign with PFL to face Movlid Khaybulaev on May 23, 2019, at PFL 2, getting knocked out with a flying knee 10 seconds into the bout.

After the loss, Jackson returned to the LFA at LFA 83, submitting Mauro Chaulet in the first round via rear-naked choke.

Return to UFC Jackson returned to UFC to face Mirsad Bektić, replacing Luiz Eduardo Garagorri on September 19, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 178. He won the fight via a submission in round three. This win earned him a Performance of the Night bonus.

Jackson faced Ilia Topuria on December 5, 2020, at UFC on ESPN 19. He lost the fight via knockout in round one.

Jackson was scheduled to face T.J. Laramie on May 1, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 188. However in late March, Laramie pulled out of the fight for undisclosed reasons, and he was replaced by Luke Sanders. In turn, Jackson withdrew from the bout and was replaced by Felipe Colares who also lost his original opponent at the event.

Jackson faced Charles Rosa on October 9, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 194. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Jackson was scheduled to face Joshua Culibao on March 12, 2022 UFC Fight Night 203. However, Culibao was pulled from the event for undisclosed reasons and he was replaced by Kamuela Kirk. Jackson won the fight via an arm triangle submission in round two.

Jackson was scheduled to face Darrick Minner on June 4, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 207. However, for undisclosed reasons, Minner was pulled from the event and he was replaced by newcomer Daniel Argueta. Jackson won the bout via unanimous decision.

Jackson faced Pat Sabatini on September 17, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 210. He won the fight via technical knockout in round one. This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Jackson faced Dan Ige January 14, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 217. He lost the fight via knockout in the second round.

Jackson faced Billy Quarantillo on August 5, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 226. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Jackson faced Alexander Hernandez on April 6, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 240. At the weigh-ins, Hernandez weighed in at 147.5 pounds, one and a half pounds over the featherweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and Hernandez was fined 20% of his purse, which went to Jackson. Jackson won the bout by split decision.

Jackson faced Chepe Mariscal on August 10, 2024 at UFC on ESPN 61. At the weigh-ins, Mariscal weighed in at 149.5 pounds, three and a half pounds over the featherweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and Mariscal was fined 20 percent of his purse which went to Jackson.

Jackson faced Jim Miller on November 16, 2024 at UFC 309. He lost the fight via a guillotine choke submission in the first round. Jackson left his gloves in the octagon signaling his retirement from MMA competition.

Personal life Jackson is married and has four daughters. Legacy Fighting Championship Legacy FC Featherweight Championship

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Carlos Calderon Submission (rear-naked choke) Fury FC 119

Houston, Texas, United States Loss

Jim Miller Submission (guillotine choke) UFC 309

New York City, New York, United States Loss

Chepe Mariscal Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Tybura vs. Spivac 2

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Alexander Hernandez Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Curtis 2

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Billy Quarantillo Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Font

Nashville, Tennessee, United States Loss

Dan Ige KO (punch) UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Imavov

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Pat Sabatini TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Song

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Daniel Argueta Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Rozenstruik

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Kamuela Kirk Submission (arm-triangle choke) UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Ankalaev

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Charles Rosa Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Rodriguez

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Ilia Topuria KO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Hermansson vs. Vettori

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Mirsad Bektić Submission (guillotine choke) UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Woodley

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Mauro Chaulet Submission (rear-naked choke) LFA 83

Dallas, Texas, United States Loss

Movlid Khaybulaev KO (flying knee) PFL 2 (2019)

Uniondale, New York, United States Win

Nate Jennerman KO (punch) LFA 47

Dallas, Texas, United States Win

Jeremy Spoon Submission (rear-naked choke) LFA 40

Dallas, Texas, United States Win

Chris Pecero Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke) LFA 33

Dallas, Texas, United States Win

Luis Luna Submission (rear-naked choke) LFA 28

Dallas, Texas, United States Win

Eliazar Rodriguez Submission (rear-naked choke) LFA 16

Dallas, Texas, United States Loss

Kevin Aguilar KO (punch) LFA 4

Bossier City, Louisiana, United States Win

Charles Cheek III Submission (rear-naked choke) LFA 1

Dallas, Texas, United States Win

Levi Mowles Decision (unanimous) Legacy FC 61

Dallas, Texas, United States Draw

Levan Makashvili Draw (majority) UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Bader

Newark, New Jersey, United States NC

Rony Jason NC (overturned) UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Alves

Goiânia, Brazil Loss

Yancy Medeiros Submission (reverse bulldog choke) UFC 177

Sacramento, California, United States Win

Leonard Garcia Submission (arm-triangle choke) Legacy FC 33

Allen, Texas, United States Win

Hunter Tucker Submission (rear-naked choke) Legacy FC 28

Arlington, Texas, United States Win

Javier Obregon Submission (arm-triangle choke) Legacy FC 24

Dallas, Texas, United States Win

Keith Miner TKO (punches) Bellator 96

Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Win

Anselmo Luna Submission (armbar) 24/7 Entertainment 9: Enemy of the State

Odessa, Texas, United States Win

Zac Church Submission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 86

Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Win

Zac Church Submission (rear-naked choke) KOTC: Unification

Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States Win

Shelby Graham Submission (rear-naked choke) Tommy Tran Promotions

Branson, Missouri, United States Win

Jacob Salyer TKO (punches) War Sports 1

Springfield, Missouri, United States