Athletes
Dustin Jacoby Remains Focused On The Positive
Light Heavyweight Steps In The Co-Main Event Spotlight Looking For A Chance To Jump Back In The Rankings
At 36, Dustin Jacoby has been at this fighting game for a while, and he’s figured more than a few things out along the way. So when some look at his 1-3 record in his last four and wonder if “The Hanyak” is slipping, he sees matters quite differently as he approaches his Saturday co-main event against Dominick Reyes.
“Ever since I had gotten to the Top 15, I was always defending the spot,” said Jacoby. “I was always fighting down behind me. I never had the opportunity to fight up in front of me. Obviously, now I've dropped out of the Top 15 and all these new guys are coming in there, and now I get an opportunity to fight ahead and get back in the Top 15. So, I'm very excited. I thought it was a great opportunity.”
Saturday's Full Fight Card Preview
It is, with Reyes a big name at 205 pounds, and one many believe deserved to get the decision over Jon Jones in their 2020 title fight. Since then, it’s been a rough road for the Californian, and he’s got to be feeling the pressure to snap a four-fight losing streak against Jacoby. But if “The Devastator” is desperate, Jacoby isn’t counting on that being his key to victory.
Dustin Jacoby KOs Da Un Jung In Round 1 | UFC Fight Night: Ortega vs Rodriguez
Unlock MORE of your inner combat sports fan with UFC Fight Pass! Fighting is what we live for. And no one brings you MORE live fights, new shows, and events across multiple combat sports from around the world. With a never-ending supply of fighting in every discipline, there’s always something new to watch. Leave it to the world’s authority in MMA to bring you the Ultimate 24/7 platform for MORE combat sports, UFC Fight Pass!
Dustin Jacoby KOs Da Un Jung In Round 1 | UFC Fight Night: Ortega vs Rodriguez
/
“I try not to focus on that too much,” he said. “I see a dangerous man and I know what it feels like to have my back against the wall and have everybody count me out. It just gives me more confidence and it gives me more focus. I'm anticipating the same thing from Reyes. Let's not forget, he's big, he's strong, he's athletic, and he's just had a tough run against the best guys in our division, the best guys in the world. It's a very difficult job and very unforgiving in a sense that he goes in there, he fights Jon Jones, he thinks he wins, several people watching that fight thought he won, and to come out of there the loser, he definitely left pieces of himself in there. And then to have all of that wind knocked out of your sails and go in there and then fight the next baddest guy and then the next baddest guy and then the next baddest guy. That's tough to do, man. So I'm expecting the best Dominick Reyes and I certainly don't think he's past his prime. I think he's just ran into a wall of top contenders and it's tough to get wins in there over the best guys in the world.”
TUF 32: Episode 1 Recap | How To Watch
That’s where that knowledge and experience comes in, because Jacoby knows exactly what it’s like to be in Reyes’ shoes. And at the top level of the sport in the Top 15, five fights against fellow contenders can easily turn into five losses as quickly as they could be five wins.
“When you get into the Top 15, there are no easy fights when you’re fighting the best in the world,” said Jacoby, who found his way into the rankings after starting his second UFC stint at 6-0-1. Then came a controversial decision loss to Khalil Rountree Jr. in October of 2022.
“It all started with the Khalil Rountree matchup that I certainly thought that I won,” said Jacoby. “And looking into his eyes inside that Octagon, I think that he thought that I won. The judges saw it a different way. And then you get a lot of wind taken out of the sails and you go into the Azamat Murzakanov fight. He's a dark horse in the division and nobody's been able to solve that puzzle. He’s a very good fighter. We haven't seen him since he fought me, but I finished that fight really strong. I did lose but finished that third round strong. And I feel like if there were another couple of rounds, I could have got him. Then I took that momentum into the Kennedy Nzechukwu fight and I had a great night. And then look at the Alonzo Menifield fight. I don't think the better fighter won that night. I think it's a fight that I was winning pretty handily all the way until I got dropped by a big punch. And that unfortunately ended that.”
Coming To Manchester For UFC 304? Get Your Tickets!
Jacoby makes a solid case in explaining a skid that would have broken some fighters’ spirit. But the Coloradan wouldn’t have made it here without being strong in mind, body, and attitude.
“Something that I think I've done a really good job in my entire life is looking at the glass half full, being optimistic, being positive,” he said. “Stick to the task until it sticks to you, just to see things through. There's been times throughout my career where I thought this was it or I should have hung it up or I'm contemplating hanging it up. And every time I do that, something great happens. I just continue to work hard and another barrier is knocked down, another door opens. And if you can continue putting one foot in front of the other and give a max effort daily, good things will come to you.”
Dustin Jacoby Fight Week Interview | UFC Louisville
Unlock MORE of your inner combat sports fan with UFC Fight Pass! Fighting is what we live for. And no one brings you MORE live fights, new shows, and events across multiple combat sports from around the world. With a never-ending supply of fighting in every discipline, there’s always something new to watch. Leave it to the world’s authority in MMA to bring you the Ultimate 24/7 platform for MORE combat sports, UFC Fight Pass!
Dustin Jacoby Fight Week Interview | UFC Louisville
/
Well, he is in a co-main event against a former world title challenger, and he’s got a new four-fight contract to break in, so maybe there is some power to positive thinking.
“I’m just blessed to be in this position,” Jacoby said. “I signed a new deal with the UFC, and I got one of the toughest guys in the division with one of the biggest names in Dominick Reyes. So I think if it's not broken, don't fix it. We’ve just got to continue working hard and let the cards fall where they might.”
UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs Imavov took place live from KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky on June 8, 2024. See the final Prelims & Main Card Results, Official Scorecards and Who Won Bonuses - and relive the action on UFC Fight Pass!