LAS VEGAS – Damon Jackson has his sights set on cracking into the top 15 after an impressive submission victory on Saturday.
On the prelims of UFC Fight Night 203 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Jackson (20-4-1 MMA, 3-2 UFC) submitted Kamuela Kirk in the second round to pick up his second-straight victory. Kirk (11-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) was a game opponent, but Jackson leaned on his grappling game in the second round and ultimately found a way to lock in an arm triangle choke to force a tap.
“At this point in my life, I’m feeling pretty secure about where I’m at with my family, where I’m at with my job, my career, and then with the UFC it’s like things just kind of click,” Jackson told MMA Junkie and other reporters at the post-fight news conference. “I think every fighter cycles through your ups and downs. Like, one fight you’ll be on point, the next you don’t look as good.
“A lot of it is matchups. That’s why Sean (Shelby) and Mick (Maynard) have such a hard time making the right matchups. Because, it’ll be some fight that nobody talks about that’ll be the best fight of the year, and then they’ll get all this big hype behind a fight and then nothing happens. It’s just a matter of things clicking at the right time, and right now is my time.”
Jackson plans to keep the matchmakers busy for his next outing, as he hopes to steal the hype from a featherweight in the top 15. The Fortis MMA product doesn’t have a particular name in mind, but he definitely wants a challenge against someone with a number next to their name.
“Give me someone,” Jackson said. “I don’t know, do the Bryce Mitchell thing where you throw me at Edson Barboza. Not Edson, I’m not calling Edson out – don’t get all pissy about it, but I’m just saying. Like, give me someone that I’m supposed to lose to, and I guess we’ll see if I’m overhyped, underhyped, or whatever.”
Check out Jackson speak about his career progression while raising his four daughters and more in the video above.
Damon Jackson wants a top 15 challenge next: ‘Give me someone I’m supposed to lose to’