Sports Interaction
Promotions
Sports Interaction
Promotions

UFC Vegas 67 Odds: Dan Ige vs. Damon Jackson Prediction

Add Sports Interacton as Your Preferred News Source

The inaugural UFC event the year is set for Saturday in Las Vegas as the Octagon opens up for the first time in 2023 for UFC Vegas 67.  The penultimate event on the main card features a pair of featherweight fighters headed in opposite directions as No. 13 ranked Dan Ige looks to end a losing streak, while unranked Damn Jackson seeks to extend a winning streak.

Ige is a slim -135 favourite to win on the MMA odds, while Jackson is a +105 underdog.

UFC Fight Night - Damon Jackson v Dan Ige

  • Dan Ige -130
  • Damon Jackson +100

Dan Ige UFC Vegas 67

Ige is 15-6 in a professional MMA career that began in 2014.  In addition to the UFC, the 31-year-old from Hawaii has competed for the Legacy Fighting Championship, Pancrase, the RFA and Titan FC.  He made the jump to the UFC in January 2018 and has compiled a 7-5 record in the Octagon.

“50K” rattled off six straight wins between 2018 and 2020, but has managed just one win in five fights since.  He is currently riding a three-fight losing streak, all by unanimous decision.  Ige has six career wins by decision, five by submission and four by knockout.  His last win was a first-round KO against Gavin Tucker that earned him a Performance of the Night bonus in March 2021.  He last fought in June against Movsar Evloev, losing by unanimous decision as mentioned.

Ige comes into this fight two inches shorter than Jackson, but both fighters have an identical 71-inch reach.  Ige is considered the better striker.  He averages 3.8 significant strikes landed per minute with 45 per cent accuracy.  He also averages 1.23 takedowns per 15 minutes with 25 per cent accuracy and 51 per cent takedown defence.

Ige has been known as a jack of all trades throughout his career, but his best strategy in this fight is likely an aggressive attack.  Jackson is more comfortable fighting from distance, so Ige will need to make him uncomfortable with his heavy right hand and follow up with powerful takedown attempts.  If Ige can punish Jackson standing up before moving things to the ground, he’ll have a great shot at ending this fight early along with ending his losing streak.

Damon Jackson UFC Vegas 67

Jackson first competed professionally in 2012 and since then has put together a 22-4 record with one draw and one no contest.  The 34-year-old from Oklahoma has also competed for Bellator, King of the Cage and he is a former Legacy Fighting Alliance interim featherweight champion.

“Action” fought three times in the Octagon between 2014 and 2016, resulting in his first career loss, a no decision result and a no contest.  He then moved to the Legacy Fighting Alliance before returning to the UFC in 2020.  Jackson is 5-1 since his return to the Octagon, including his current four-fight win streak.  His last fight was a first-round TKO win over Pat Sabatini that resulted in a Performance of the Night bonus last September.

Jackson is a natural finisher.  He has 15 career wins by submission, four by knockout and three by decision.  Grappling has been a big part of Jackson’s recent success.  He averages 2.62 significant strikes landed per 15 minutes with 40 per cent accuracy and 42 per cent takedown defence.  He can also handle himself on his feet, averaging 2.65 significant strikes landed per minute with 41 per cent accuracy.

Jackson has vastly improved his kickboxing since his original UFC debut in 2014 and with a 3.5-inch leg reach advantage, keeping this fight at distance is likely his plan early on.  He has a powerful leg attack, so wearing Ige down early before going in for a punishing takedown could end this fight inside the distance.

Ige vs. Jackson UFC Vegas 67 Prediction

Both fighters are riding streaks that can’t go on forever and we’re expecting both to end on Saturday.  Ige wins by unanimous decision.