Legacy FC 61 results: Damon Jackson grinds past Levi Mowles, Mackenzie Dern pulls incredible submission

Three-time UFC veteran Damon Jackson (10-1-1) returned to the regional scene with a victory, but 21-year-old prospect Levi Mowles (4-1) made it an incredibly difficult affair.

The featherweight contest served as the main event of Friday’s Legacy FC 61 event, which took place at The Bomb Factory in Dallas and aired live on AXS TV.

Mowles came out looking to strike, moving in and out of range with strikes against a taller opponent. Jackson answered with a barrage of kicks to all levels. The two continued to trade strikes on the feet to open until Jackson drove forward for a takedown and took top position. However, Mowles proved capable, working back to the feet and again trading shots on the feet.

Mowles continued to gain steam in the standup department in the second, using slick movement to batter his opponent’s face. Jackson again brought the fight to the floor, but Mowles again scrambled to his feet, nearly taking his back in the process. However, Jackson stayed with the strategy and scored another takedown to shift the momentum. He wasn’t able to capitalize on the position, though, and the referee brought the fight back to the feet just before the bell.

Jackson’s nose was busted up badly in the third, but he continued to press through his opponent’s strikes and scored an early takedown. Once again, he didn’t do much on top, and they were brought to their feet, where they both teed off in the pocket.

Mowles slipped on a kick with a little more than a minute remaining, and Jackson seized the opportunity, diving on top and moving to mount before working in a guillotine in a scramble. Mowles twisted and turned to avoid the squeeze, but he ended the fight under his opponent’s control. It was enough to seal the win for Jackson, 29-28, 30-27 and 29-28 on the judges’ cards

In the night’s co-feature, Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Mackenzie Dern (2-0) got the finish she sought so desperately in her professional debut, overwhelming a gritty Montana Stewart (5-3) with an incredible grappling display.

Dern came out punching to start, and Stewart pushed her aside on a few clinch attempts. While Dern struggled on a few early tosses, she did eventually get the fight to the floor, landing directly in mount and looking for an armbar.

Stewart proved a tough adversary, rolling and transitioning as she escaped from multiple submission setups. However, Dern eventually locked in an omo plata that looked certain to finish the fight. Not content with one option, Dern also locked in a rear-naked choke as well, completely controlling her opponent and forcing an absolutely amazing submission at the 3:25 mark of the first frame.

Abdul Razak Alhassan stays perfect, Rashad Coulter devastates

In a catchweight contest necessitated by Jos Eichelberger (16-11) stepping in on less than 48 hours’ notice, welterweight prospect Abdul Razak Alhassan (6-0) kept his perfect record intact with his sixth consecutive first-round finish.

Eichelberger – who lost via submission to Dakota Cochrane just seven days ago – came out swinging to start, and he tagged Alhassan on a few occasions. However, Alhassan continued to press forward and eventually dropped his foe with a wild hook behind the ear. Sensing the opportunity to finish, Alhassan jumped on top and dropped big punches that forced the end of the fight in just 57 seconds.

In heavyweight action, Rashad Coulter (7-1) scored a devastating knockout of Jeremy Hardy (4-3). The two felt each other out on the feet to start, but it was Coulter who struck first. A left hook wobbled his foe, and a right hand saw him crash to the canvas, out cold 71 seconds after the fight began.

Melvin Jordan, Rob Butler score stoppage wins to start night

In a welterweight matchup, Melvin Jordan (5-2) scored a dramatic technical submission win over Bilal Williams (7-3).

After some back-and-forth on the feet, Williams took the fight to the floor. It didn’t pay off, with Jordan working to his back in the closing seconds and locking in a rear-naked choke. Williams tried to last until the bell but went to sleep just as the round came to a close.

Featherweight Rob Butler (1-0) picked up an impressive win in his professional debut, needing just 25 seconds to dispose of Takayuki Iijimi (9-7).

After an early Butler kick to the body, Iijimi shot for a takedown. However, Butler stuffed it, worked to top position and unleashed a flurry of shots to score the quick KO.

The evening’s main event was supposed to see a bantamweight title fight between current champ Steven Peterson (14-4) against undefeated contender Mark De La Rosa (7-0). However, De La Rosa reportedly expressed concerns at the legitimacy of Peterson’s Thursday weigh-in and declined to turn up for tonight’s fight.

Legacy FC 61 results included:

• Damon Jackson def. Levin Mowles via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
• Mackenzie Dern def. Montana Stewart via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:25
• Abdul Razak Alhassan def. Jos Eichelberger via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:57
• Rashad Coulter def. Jeremy Hardy via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:11
• Melvin Jordan def. Bilal Williams via technical submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:59
• Rob Butler def. Takayuki Iijima via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:25

For more on Legacy FC 61, check out the MMA Events section of the site.