At UFC Louisville this Saturday, Dustin Jacoby finds himself in a co-main event with former light heavyweight title challenger Dominick Reyes— and Jacoby knows just what he’s signed up for.
“I love the match-up, man. I’m very well aware, Dominick Reyes is a big name, one of the best guys in the division. He’s on a little bit of a skid right now but this is not an easy job. He’s fought a murder’s row of individuals,” Jacoby said during this week’s UFC Louisville media day. “I know I have my hands full, I know Dom’s going to be dangerous, and I look forward to taking out a so-called legend and building my legacy.”
Jacoby is on his second stint with the UFC, winning his way back on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020. And while he’s 1-3 in his last four, he’s found a lot of success in this second run, starting it undefeated through his first seven fights back.
It’s a very different Dustin Jacoby from his first run, and he appears to be having fun, loving the team atmosphere in the gym. Despite that, he has no problem going into the cage looking to hurt opponents.
“When the moment comes that I’m not ready to go in there and hurt the guy and take the guy out, that’s when I know it’s time to give it up,” explained Jacoby on that front. “At the end of the day you can play football, you can play basketball, you can’t really play fighting. You have to be all in, or otherwise you can get really hurt. It’s one thing to go play a game, but you can’t really play fighting. You’re talking about getting knocked out, you’re talking about physically hurting your body, hurting yourself.”
“In the gym it’s one thing, I can go in there and train and not want to get after it on certain days,” continued Jacoby. “But when it’s time to step into that octagon, it’s time to fight, there’s never a doubt in my mind that I’ve got to do what I signed up to do. That hasn’t left me yet. I’m sure some day it will, and I’m sure that’s when I’ll know that it’s time, we’re not playing this game anymore. But as of right now I still have that burning desire to climb this ladder, to get into the top 10.”
Watch the full UFC Louisville media day appearance by Dustin Jacoby above.
