UFC lightweight Damon Jackson left his gloves in the Octagon after a submission loss to Jim Miller on the UFC 309 prelims.
Damon Jackson and UFC record-holder Jim Miller fought in an intriguing lightweight bout on the UFC 309 prelims. After Jackson appeared to land some hard low kicks in the opening minutes, Miller wisely pulled guard and forced Jackson to tap to a guillotine.
Just minutes after tapping, Jackson took off his gloves as the official decision was read by Bruce Buffer, declining a post-fight interview and leaving the cage. He left his gloves in the Octagon, prompting speculation that he was retiring after UFC 309.
If UFC 309 was truly the end of Jackson’s professional MMA career, it concluded after making his UFC lightweight debut. Before the loss to Miller, Jackson was a mainstay in the featherweight division, earning recent wins over Alexander Hernandez and Pat Sabatini.
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Damon Jackson takes off the gloves after UFC 309 loss to Jim Miller
Jackson made his UFC debut in Sept. 2020, earning a come-from-behind submission win over Mirsad Bektić. Before signing with the UFC, Jackson found success in promotions such as PFL and LFA.
A loss to current UFC featherweight titleholder Ilia Topuria preceded a solid win streak for Jackson. He defeated Charles Rosa, Kamuela Kirk, and Dan Argueta as he moved closer to a spot in the featherweight Top 15.
Just as Jackson was seeming to find his footing in the Octagon, he’s lost four of his last five fights. Back-to-back losses to Billy Quarantillo and Dan Ige came before a split decision victory over Hernandez.
Jim Miller turns back the clock in stunning first-round finish at UFC 309
As for Miller, UFC 309 was his 45th appearance in the Octagon, and he continues to be a force to be reckoned with at 155lbs. Before the win over Jackson, Miller suffered a brutal loss to Bobby Green at UFC 300.
Despite his lengthy track record, the 41-year-old Miller brushed aside retirement in his post-UFC 309 interview with Joe Rogan. He’s won three of his last four fights and has shown shades of his past physical prime.
Miller holds numerous UFC records, including most fights (45), wins (27), and lightweight fight time (6:50:31). He’ll look to return to the Octagon next year in hopes of moving closer to the lightweight Top 15.