Damon Jackson could also be retired – kinda/sorta. Or, possibly like in “Pals,” he’s simply on a break. Let’s go together with that.
Jackson just lately instructed MMA Junkie Radio the phrase of his retirement from the UFC might have been a bit of untimely. He’s on a deliberate hiatus away from issues, however expects it to be quick – so quick, actually, that he’d take a return to the cage mid-year.
Jackson (23-8-1 MMA, 6-6-1 UFC) took his gloves off and left them in the course of the octagon following his first-round submission loss to Jim Miller at UFC 309 in November. However he instructed MMA Junkie Radio that loss was within the wake of all types of points exterior the cage, and he thinks with these moderately far sufficient within the rearview mirror, he’ll be again to his higher type.
He even is aware of whom he’d prefer to struggle: King Inexperienced.
“I’ve obtained a reputation proper now, (although I’m not formally again),” Jackson instructed MMA Junkie Radio. “I wished to win that struggle so dangerous (in opposition to Miller) after which I wished to freaking name out Bobby Inexperienced – King Inexperienced. That was my purpose, was to win that struggle in opposition to Jim after which to go on the market and struggle Bobby.”
Inexperienced (32-16-1 MMA, 13-11-1 UFC) beat Miller in April 2024 just a few months earlier than Jackson misplaced to him, so Jackson mentioned he watched loads of footage of Inexperienced making ready for that struggle. And within the course of, he turned a fan.
Inexperienced’s win over Miller was a bounce-back from a first-round knockout loss to Jalin Turner, however after the Miller win, he was submitted by Paddy Pimblett at UFC 304. With Inexperienced and Jackson each coming off losses, the timing may work.
“He’s such a ‘G,’ man. He fights so exhausting each struggle – powerful dude,” Jackson mentioned. “I’m a little bit of a fan of him watching him for a very long time. (He’s) simply powerful as hell. After watching his struggle with Jim again and again and over – as a result of clearly I watch movie on folks – I simply noticed his fashion. Then I watched just a few of his different fights and I used to be like, ‘Man, that may be a superb struggle.’
“I hoped to win that struggle after which to name him out, and I simply obtained caught up within the second (and misplaced).”
Jackson mentioned he has three fights left on his UFC contract, and although he’s not within the drug-testing pool, he mentioned he solely plans to struggle for the UFC.
Make sure to go to the MMA Junkie Instagram web page and YouTube channel to debate this and extra content material with followers of blended martial arts.
