Dustin Jacoby is not too thrilled with the circumstances around his return to the octagon.
After delivering a knockout that won a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus in front of a sold-out arena in Tampa, Fla., this past December, Jacoby finds himself making a return at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas against newcomer Bruno Lopes at UFC on ESPN 68 on May 31.
It’s a matchup that Jacoby isn’t necessarily a big fan of, for many reasons.
“When they first came to this matchup, they didn’t know where it was going to be,” Jacoby told MMA Junkie Radio. “They thought it was going to be in Las Vegas, but they didn’t know it would be at the Apex. Of course, I’m where I’m at in my career because I’ve never said no. So when they came with Bruno Lopes, we saw he was 14-1, we saw he was an up-and-coming guy. I didn’t love the matchup. I didn’t love his style. I didn’t love where he was at in the division. But at the end of the day, it’s another matchup the UFC wanted to see, and like I said, I never say no. I’ve never given a reason or an excuse to find a way out.
“So I accepted it. Then I found out it was at the Apex, and I was pretty bummed. (But) again, I have to control what I can control and get the job done.”
Jacoby has three UFC Performance of the Night bonuses and five knockouts in his UFC career. In his last five UFC outings, Jacoby fought on the round, competing in front of fans in arenas. He was hoping to continue that run, especially after delivering in his last outing, which is why returning to The Apex didn’t make him too happy.
“To be honest with you, it does sting a little bit,” Jacoby said. “I was on a good run with even when I fought (Kennedy) Nzechukwu, a big crowd in Nashville – that was a performance bonus and to hear the crowd go nuts. In Tampa, that knockout was electrifying, one of the best knockouts. It was just a pure home run punch and a home run feel, and the crowd went absolutely nuts. The crowd lives for those moments and us as fighters, we live for those moments. So it does sting a little bit.
“I thought for sure I’d be going to another packed arena, but unfortunately that’s not what the UFC had in mind and here we are at the Apex, limited crowd. It is tough to get pumped up for those fights, but at the same time it is a fight that you have to be dialed in for, and you have to be laser light focused. Regardless of the Apex or a big crowd, I have to go in there and be focused and do my job. The knockout still feels great when you do it. It’s just more exhilarating when you see the crowd erupt, and you can hear it. That experience in Tampa was definitely a highlight moment in my career, and something I’ll never forget. That’s what we live for.”
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