UFC APEX – UFC featherweight Damon Jackson gets a short-notice fight with Chepe Mariscal in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 95 on Saturday night as he continues to try and make his way to the rankings.
“I think staying relevant trying to break into that top 15, top 10, you have to stay busy,” Jackson told reporters on Wednesday.
“There’s no time off and I just feel like at this point in my career…I’m one to push it everyday because I don’t know how much longer this is going to happen.”
Jackson (23-6-1) isn’t saying he’s almost done with fighting. If anything he’s extended his career in a way.
“I just feel so healthy, I feel so good, so I’m going to push it as hard as I can for as long as I can. It makes me happy to get the opportunity,” Jackson said.
“I have plenty more now than I have in ages man. Just getting past all these hurdles this past year opening my own business, getting my gym running, it’s given me so much more confidence.”
Even with Mariscal in front of him this Saturday Jackson made sure to let everybody know he’d be willing to step in on short-notice for another fight. Specifically for Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes bout rebooked for UFC 306.
“He (Ortega) doesn’t want that fight. I’ll take that fight all day. I don’t care who it is. I’m game to fight and I think that Sean (Shelby) knows that. I think the UFC knows that,” he said.
“All the fans that kind of caught on to that. I was ready to fight Chepe on July 20th, and now I’m even more ready to fight him August 10th. I’ll be here ready to go.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Damon Jackson above. He takes on Chepe Mariscal at UFC Vegas 95 on Saturday night.
