UFC lightweight backtracks on retirement despite leaving gloves in the Octagon after UFC 309 loss
12/31/2024 06:48 PM
UFC lightweight Damon Jackson isn’t walking away from fighting after taking his gloves off following his most recent defeat.
Damon Jackson seemed destined for retirement after a loss to Jim Miller on the UFC 309 undercard. After taking his gloves off in the Octagon, without any post-fight remarks, fans and pundits assumed Jackson was done competing in the cage.
Not so fast, says Jackson.
Jackson made the full-time move to lightweight after an up-and-down tenure at featherweight during his UFC career. He’s earned wins over the likes of Alexander Hernandez, Dan Argueta, and Pat Sabatini during his promotional tenure.
Despite taking off the gloves at Madison Square Garden, Jackson is plotting a UFC comeback instead of walking away from fighting.
Damon Jackson wants to resume UFC career despite retirement tease
During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Jackson clarified his stance on retirement after taking off the gloves at UFC 309.
“I’m still in it 100%. Mentally, I just checked out that night,” Jackson admitted. “Just giving my body a break is not a bad idea so I can focus on other things. But I’m not done. Just overload…
“I just have to figure out the path to what I want to do next but I’m not done fighting. I have a lot going on, I love fighting and everything about it…I just think that I need to focus on other things financially, mentally, physically.”
Jackson is looking to get back on track, when he returns to the Octagon, following losses in four of his last five fights. His last win came against Hernandez by split decision in April.
Damon Jackson is the latest UFC fighter to reverse course on retirement
Jackson went on to clarify that while he isn’t in the UFC’s drug testing pool, as of today, he refuses to fight for any other promotions. He intends to take an extended break before contacting the UFC matchmakers for another potential fight in the Octagon.
The 36-year-old Jackson has some time to right the ship in his fighting career and seems content in his decision to press forward. He possesses a dangerous style for potential opponents, including elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and submission grappling.
Jackson isn’t the only UFC fighter to reverse course on retirement in 2024. Former UFC welterweight title challenger Jorge Masvidal, who walked away following a loss at UFC 287, wants to return to the Octagon in 2025 and resume his career.
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones, after teasing retirement leading up to his win at UFC 309, is in active negotiations to return to the Octagon in 2025. His likely opponent will be Tom Aspinall if Jones agrees to terms with the UFC brass.
As for Jackson, an exact timeframe for his UFC return is uncertain, as are the details surrounding his fighting future. But after a big setback at UFC 309, Jackson seems rejuvenated to end his career on the right note.
