Veteran light heavyweight Dustin Jacoby didn’t just add another win to his resume at UFC Vegas 113, he offered a candid snapshot of a fighter redefining what success looks like late in a long career.
After earning his 18th UFC appearance against Julius Walker, the 37-year-old spoke less about victories or rankings and more about health, longevity, and the perspective gained from more than 50 professional fights across combat sports.
“I’m getting too old for this sh*t. I said it walking up here. That was my biggest thing before this fight. I was praying over and over again that I got out of there safely with no injuries,” Jacoby told Cageside Press among other reporters at his post-fight scrum.
“It’s been a long road. 53 pro fights between kickboxing and MMA, and one professional boxing match. I never used to think about that when I was younger. (Now) that’s the only thing that crosses my mind. The wins, the losses don’t matter. I just trust the preparation, I just pray I’m healthy getting out of there.”
Jacoby (22-9-1) made his 18th UFC appearance on Saturday when he shared the octagon with Walker. Now 37, Jacoby understands he is firmly viewed as a veteran in the light heavyweight division, a distinction that often places him squarely in the crosshairs of younger, hungry contenders.
“I’m here for it. I relish in the moment, but my like my coach always says, I am no stepping stone. They keep feeding me these young guys waiting for me to fall off the cliff and I just keep proving that I’m not going anywhere man. I’m going to keep doing this till the wheels fall off. Hopefully just finish this career strong and actually have something to show for it when I’m done,” he said.
Jacoby’s performance didn’t just catch the eyes of the fans. UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira took to Instagram to give his former Glory kickboxing opponent praise following the finish.
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“Incredible work, @thehanyakdj put some respect on his name and place him in the rankings! Nostalgia from the Glory days, would love to see him in the rankings to show the evolution that has occurred in a different Sport! Chama.”
Jacoby was absolutely touched by gesture, and
Jacoby also reflected on the respect he’s earned from peers who have shared the cage and ring with him over the years. That sense of mutual appreciation, he explained, carries added weight at this stage of his career, especially when it comes from fighters he admires.
“Man that means the world to me. I saw King Mo in the back before I went out. That’s another former opponent of mine, and I told him, ‘hey man whenever I fight, I fight for all of my past opponents.’,” he said.
“Every single one of them. I’ve always left a piece of myself in that octagon or in that ring. I take a piece of them as well. To hear that from a guy like Alex Pereira, man, that really makes me feel good. I’ve got nothing but respect for him. Somebody I really look up to. It’s been so cool watching him rise through the ranks and do his thing. To get that respect from him means the world to me.”
Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Dustin Jacoby above.
