"Super frustrated"- Damon Jackson reveals a confusion from the UFC led to his fight against Chepe Mariscal being rescheduled
UFC veteran Damon Jackson will need to wait a little longer to lock horns with Chepe Mariscal. Jackson is coming off a split-decision victory over Alexander Hernandez in a 147.5-pound catchweight bout in April 2024.
Jackson was scheduled to take on Mariscal on the UFC Vegas 94 showcase on July 20. However, the bout has now been pushed to the UFC Vegas 95 billing on August 10. 'Action' confirmed the reports in an Instagram video, stating:
"I got the news last night that they are officially moving me and Chepe to August 10. Not really sure what's going on. There was a little confusion with the dates [because] they were booked for the 20th and they needed to move something around for the 10th."
He added:
"Super frustrated because I'm ready to go now. It is what it is man! Just give me more time to prepare and be ready."
Check out the video below:
Jackson wields a 3-2 record in his last five octagon assignments with impressive victories over the likes of Hernandez and Pat Sabatini. The 35-year-old has earned the reputation of a war-forged veteran having held the Legacy FC featherweight gold and the interim LFA (Legacy Fighting Alliance) featherweight title.
As for his upcoming opponent, Mariscal has rattled off three straight victories in as many UFC outings since his promotional debut in June 2023. He carries the strength of a six-fight win streak to the clash against Jackson.
Chepe Mariscal was looking at alternatives before signing with the UFC
The road to UFC has been a long one for Chepe Mariscal with its fair share of trials and tribulations.
At 31, the Elevation Fight Team product already has 23 fights under his belt. He holds a 16-6 record with one no-contest, with notable victories over the likes of Pat Sabatini and Guilherme Faria de Souza. However, it's the range of adversaries he's faced that commands respect.
Losses in a brutal sport like MMA can be demoralizing. Those losses, for someone like Mariscal, who's too hard on himself, can be career-altering. Speaking in an interview with ufc.com, he said:
“It was tough, especially because I have losses. I was a little hard on myself, as well. I didn't really believe in it and I was already looking at different promotions and even different careers. I was like, maybe if I don't get in the UFC, I'll just go and do something else. But suddenly something changed. I had a teammate go to the UFC, he had a short notice call, he won by knockout, and it just drove me to keep going. And then suddenly two or three weeks later, I got the call, and finally I was in." [h/t ufc.com]