I am the future
Nelson targeting UFC call-up in 2022 Makes plans to further local industry
Published:Thursday | March 3, 2022 | 12:06 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
MIXED MARTIAL artist Damion Nelson has always been about his craft, while slowly building his reputation in the featherweight division.
With his undefeated professional record intact, he says he is focused on making his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) dream come true this year with the corporate support of his country behind him.
Nelson, 28, remained unbeaten as a professional, defeating featherweight James Lyons via knockout in his first fight of the year at the Cage Fury Fighting Championship (CFFC) on January 29 in Philadelphia.
The CFFC promotion has been the launchpad for several UFC fighters, including bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, who was born to Jamaican parents. Nelson says that the first knockout since making his professional debut was a game changer as he wanted to leave nothing to chance, especially in a hostile environment.
“The mentality going into that fight? (Lyons) was fighting in his home town. I felt like my first two fights, I got a split decision win in both and I clearly demolished those guys. So I wanted to get the stoppage, especially because it was his home,” Nelson told The Gleaner. “That platform that I fought on is a big platform. They have a lot of sponsors and they are supported by the UFC so that knockout was a good look for me and I’m just planning to propel from here, keep going, keep training hard, keep staying disciplined.”
With eyes on him after the fight, Nelson said that he is targeting his UFC call-up by the end of the year and believes that he has every chance of making it happen, given the momentum he has picked up.
“That is the ultimate goal. To get on the UFC platform because that is the highest level of mixed martial arts. I feel good about everything so far. My coaches and my team are putting in the necessary work to make sure that everything goes as planned,” Nelson said.
IDEAL CANDIDATE
Nelson, who migrated to the United States in 2010, says he believes his authentic upbringing compared to fighters that are of Jamaican heritage makes him an ideal candidate to help promote a wave of local-born talent in the sport. The fighter is in Jamaica, with plans to help restart the local programme and to make Jamaica a permanent training base.
“I would like to make Jamaica my training base. I would like to come back and have a proper facility, so we can bring in other fighters from overseas so they can experience Jamaica, the culture. I have a lot of guys who would love to spend a month. But the finances are not quite there. So we are working on that right now,” Nelson said.
“Even though I train overseas, I still have a lot of support back here. I’m just getting involved with the community, with MMA Jamaica, being involved trying to get things in line so that local fighters can get back out there because COVID-19 has slowed everything down. So it is good to know that I can help the community and the guys out here.”
Nelson is hoping corporate Jamaica also gets behind the sport’s future.
“I am the future of combat sport. I feel like it’s not only taking a chance, I am offering something,” Nelson said.