Damon Jackson

Damon Jackson is a 36-year-old lightweight veteran who just retired from the UFC in November 2024, signing off with a first-round submission loss to Jim Miller at UFC 309. A former All-American wrestler at Missouri Valley College who turned to MMA in 2012, Jackson built his name as a submission specialist and gatekeeper in the 155-pound division. After winning regional titles in Bellator and Legacy FC, including the Legacy FC featherweight championship with a dominant first-round submission over UFC veteran Leonard Garcia, Jackson stepped into the UFC in 2014 and compiled a 23-8-1 record that was defined by high-volume submission hunting and grinding wrestling exchanges.

Jackson's fighting style was rooted in his wrestling background and complemented by a dangerous submission game that yielded 15 victories by choke (predominantly rear-naked chokes, guillotines, and arm triangles). He was never known as a striker, absorbing strikes at a higher rate than most to set up entries, but once in the clinch or on his back, he was a legitimate threat to finish. His UFC run was uneven: he suffered brutal first-round knockouts to rising strikers like Ilia Topuria and Dan Ige, but earned two Performance of the Night bonuses and a fan's choice comeback award for a 2020 return that helped rehabilitate his standing after earlier losses.

By his mid-thirties, Jackson had settled into the role of a reliable test for up-and-coming lightweights. He took fights on short notice, never ducked anyone, and competed at catchweight when opponents missed weight. His final victories included a gritty split-decision win over Alexander Hernandez in 2024, showing he could still grind out wins on the scorecards. When he stepped out of the octagon at UFC 309 and left his gloves behind, Jackson had earned the respect of his peers as a durable, submission-savvy veteran who fought the sport's way for over a decade.