Preview: UFC Fight Night 203 Prelims

Featherweights

NR | Damon Jackson (19-4-1, 1 N/C) vs. NR | Kamuela Kirk (12-4)
Odds: Kirk (-115), Jackson (-105)

This should be a fun scrap between featherweights looking to separate themselves in a deep featherweight division. Damon Jackson's second UFC stint has gone much better than his first, a forgettable campaign that saw "The Leech" record a loss, no contest and draw over three bouts. Jackson then returned to his winning ways on the regional scene, which led to a 2020 late-notice debut that Jackson won in impressive fashion, surviving for two rounds against Mirsad Bektic before landing a guillotine choke for a third-round finish. A sophomore effort against top prospect Ilia Topuria didn't go particularly well, but Jackson rebounded by once again showing off the best parts of his game in a dominant win over Charles Rosa this past October. Jackson looks to keep his momentum against Kamuela Kirk, who's still a bit hard to peg at this point. Kirk seems to be at his best when given time to work as a pressuring striker, but he didn't show that off much in an impressive UFC debut, neutralizing the wrestling game of Makwan Amirkhani and outpacing the Finn en route to a clear decision win. That well-roundedness of skill makes for an even fight here; Kirk's clearly the harder hitter and looks to be more durable, but a lot of this fight figures to be a grappling-heavy affair that could go either way. Jackson doesn't have the cardio issues of Amirkhani and figures to be more aggressive in pressing things, so he gets the narrow nod here, particularly since he's sneakily quite large for the division, despite Kirk typically reading as the much longer fighter. This is a coin flip, but the pick is Jackson via decision.

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