A potential Fight of the Night candidate awaited in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 67, as Dan Ige took on Damon Jackson in a highly anticipated featherweight match-up.
For Hawaii’s Ige, it was a chance to snap a three-fight skid and start the new year off on the right foot. Jackson, winner of four straight, was looking at one of the biggest fights of his career, with a chance to crack the top 15 with a victory over #13-ranked Ige.
Both men came out firing, with Ige landing a right hook that sent Jackson stumbling backwards to the cage. Ige pressed the action early on, mixing in body shots before going upstairs with a variety of hooks. An accidental eye poke from Ige halted the fight momentarily, though action continued shortly thereafter. Ige finished the round in top control after securing a strong double-leg takedown in the waning seconds of the first frame.
Ige continued to work the body as the fight continued, slowing his opponent’s lateral movement and helping to keep Jackson right where Ige wanted him. The Fortis MMA product began to find his range in the late stages of the second round, piecing together a series of combinations and earning the respect of Ige. Just as quickly as Jackson was beginning to gain momentum, Ige landed a ferocious check left hook, sending Jackson crashing to the mat and effectively ending the fight.
WHAT A WALK OFF BY @DYNAMITEDAN808 🤯 #UFCVegas67 pic.twitter.com/p2f5xUn34r
— UFC (@ufc) January 15, 2023
“50k” Ige returns to the win column in thunderous fashion, and is likely to receive a top 10 opponent in his next time out. As for Jackson, it’s back to the drawing board, where he’ll look to fill in some holes and learn from this agonizing defeat.
Official Result: Dan Ige def. Damon Jackson by KO (Left Hook) Round 2, 4:13
