TAMPA, Fla. – Dustin Jacoby’s proper hand has made him an additional $50,000 a 12 months every of the previous three years.
Because of that fist, Jacoby put away Da Woon Jung in 2022 and picked up a post-fight bonus. He took out Kennedy Nzechukwu within the first spherical in 2023 for an additional $50K. And this previous Saturday, Jacoby (20-9-1 MMA, 8-6-1 UFC) knocked out Vitor Petrino (11-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) within the third spherical at UFC on ESPN 63.
This time, the bonus that got here at Amalie Enviornment in Tampa, Fla., was of main significance as a result of it got here on the heels of a two-fight skid to former gentle heavyweight title challenger Dominick Reyes and Alonzo Menifield. The win over Nzechukwu got here after back-to-back losses to Azamat Murzakanov and up to date title challenger Khalil Rountree.
The bonus Jacoby picked up this time was within the wake of some uncommon displeasure from the Tampa followers, who had been susceptible to matches of booing throughout Jacoby’s battle – together with a hardcore spherical of panning of the battle simply earlier than Jacoby’s highlight-reel end.
“We put in plenty of work, and one thing we preached the entire time was endurance,” Jacoby mentioned throughout his post-fight information convention. “I’m the kind of fighter, I hate sitting again. I wish to be thrilling. I might hear the followers booing, nevertheless it was all a part of the sport plan. I cherished how I fought that first (spherical). My coaches cherished how I fought that first spherical. And the second spherical was the identical approach. I used to be actually making an attempt to bait it out of him, making an attempt to get him to throw onerous and catch him.
“After the second spherical, coach advised me, ‘I like what you’re doing – simply acquired to choose it up a bit bit. Now we’ve acquired to choose it up. I can see it being 1-1, and also you don’t need this going to the judges’ choice.’ So within the third spherical, I knew I simply needed to pull the set off sooner or later. I used to be simply ready for that second, and I discovered it completely. I couldn’t be happier.”
Sadly for Jacoby, one thing large like a win over Petrino additionally offers a reminder of the varieties of fights he’s misplaced lately that would simply have gone the opposite approach. Specifically, his break up choice loss to Rountree a bit greater than two years in the past is one that also stings.
Jacoby thinks he received that battle, and had yet one more choose agreed on yet one more spherical, he would’ve had a 10-fight unbeaten streak, would’ve been 6-0-1 in his second UFC stint, and who is aware of – he would possibly’ve been on a unique path.
Rountree received two extra fights after he beat Jacoby and acquired a title shot at UFC 307 towards champ Alex Pereira. May Jacoby have been there, as a substitute, if that battle had gone his approach? Perhaps. However even a rematch at this level looks like an train in futility since a minimum of Jacoby is aware of what he felt within the cage.
“It doesn’t actually matter to me. On the finish of day, I don’t actually lose sleep over it,” Jacoby advised MMA Junkie. “The Rountree battle, I’m nonetheless actually, actually, actually bitter about that – and it’s nothing towards him. He’s an important fighter, nice competitor, nice warrior. It simply took plenty of wind out of the sail. It ruined (and) killed plenty of momentum, and I simply actually consider (I received that battle). I regarded that man within the eyes after the battle – we checked out one another. We each knew, and I used to be simply shocked as might be when (he acquired the choice).
“However that’s greater than two years in the past, and I’ve simply acquired to give attention to what’s subsequent. I’m the one which went by way of these fires. Everyone can discuss from the skin, however I used to be the one contained in the octagon. I do know what I felt, and I do know I’m among the best with what I carry to the desk.”
Take a look at Jacoby’s full post-fight interview above.
Gallery
Dustin Jacoby def. Vitor Petrino at UFC Tampa: Greatest images
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