Damon Jackson had not scored a knockout in five years. That changed on Friday in Dallas.
The 30-year-old Jackson (16-2-1) headlined LFA 47 and exploded with one of the best knockouts of the year in the second round. “The Leech” dominated Nate Jennerman from the start and then closed the show in spectacular fashion to capture the interim Legacy Fighting Alliance featherweight championship at The Bomb Factor.
Jackson nearly took out “Nasty Nate” in the first round with punches to the face but opted to take the Roufusport product to the ground. From there, the Fortis MMA standout mauled his counterpart with elbows from top position while threatening with a key lock, brabo choke and a rear-naked choke. Jennerman survived it all, until a loopy overhand right detonated on his jaw almost as soon as the second round began. The end came 33 seconds into Round 2.
The win was Jackson’s fifth straight. Jennerman, meanwhile, fell to 12-4.
Featherweight contenders Levi Mowles and Charles Cheeks III took turns landing some hard punches to the head in the first round, but it was Mowles who prevailed in the second. As soon as the round began, Mowles dropped “Mister” Cheeks with a straight right to the jaw. Cheeks could not regroup, as Mowles (10-3) immediately pounced on his back and cinched a rear-naked choke. Cheeks (13-7) bowed out just 17 seconds into the middle stanza.
After suffering his first professional loss, Bronx, New York, native Ramiz Brahimaj scored a thrilling technical submission of Brazil’s William Macario. Brahimaj (7-1) shook off a shaky first round to dominate the Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran in the second. Brahimaj latched a textbook standing guillotine when “Patolino” stumbled trying to take him down; and once he dropped to his guard, Brahimaj yelled at referee Aaron Menard that Macario (9-4) had gone to sleep. Macario’s motionless body slumped when Brahimaj released the choke, officially ending the contest at 2:34 of the second round.
Bilal Williams had lost four in a row and five of six entering his battle with Sean Spencer, and it looked grim early. “Black Magic” picked apart Williams on the feet in the first and executed a takedown toward the end of the frame. Even so, “The Tiger” never doubted his skills. Moments into the second round, Williams (9-7) dropped Spencer with a perfect counter left jab to the jaw. Spencer, a UFC vet, stumbled to his feet, but Williams chased after him and dished out a steady diet of punches. Spencer (12-7) was felled again, and with Williams in Terminator mode, referee Don Turnage had no choice but to intervene. The end came officially just 58 ticks into the second round.
Strawweight Valerie Soto was victorious in her professional debut, as she outpointed follow debutant Cristina Crist (0-1) over three rounds. Soto largely controlled the action in the clinch and outstruck Crist on the feet. Soto (1-0) carried 30-27 tallies across the board.
Oklahoma-based Eddie Brown survived a knockdown in the first round and a failing gas tank to rally down the stretch, as he edged Elijah Johns by split decision over three rounds. Johns was in control of the action early but inexplicably let his featherweight opponent off the hook by backing off in the latter stages. “Downtown” Brown tagged Johns (2-1) with moderate punches and kicks in the third round, perhaps swaying two of the three judges. Scores were 29-28 on all three cards, two of them cast in favor of Brown (5-1).
In the opening bout, bantamweight prospect Evers Anderson eked out a split decision — 29-28, 29-28, 28-29 — over Devin Miller. Anderson landed timely punches to the head throughout the contest and scored a pair of takedowns, which tilted the scales in his favor. “The Mauler” improved to 2-0, while Miller dipped to 3-1.