Latest news with #DustinJacoby
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Dustin Jacoby wants big name after UFC on ESPN 68 KO: 'I'm no stepping stone'
Dustin Jacoby wants big name after UFC on ESPN 68 KO: 'I'm no stepping stone' UFC veteran Dustin Jacoby thinks it's time to get a step up in competition. Show Caption Hide Caption Dustin Jacoby hoping for bigger names after first-round knockout win UFC on ESPN 68 winner Dustin Jacoby talks to MMA Junkie and other reporters post-fight after his first-round knockout of Bruno Lopes in Las Vegas. LAS VEGAS — A big name: That's what Dustin Jacoby wants for his next trip to the octagon. The 37-year-old UFC light heavyweight veteran thinks he's deserving of such opportunity following his latest win. Jacoby (21-9-1 MMA, 9-6-1 UFC) defeated Bruno Lopes (14-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) on the main card of UFC on ESPN 68 this past Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It was his second finish of a Brazilian prospect since his last defeat – a KO loss to former UFC title challenger Dominick Reyes in June 2024. "I'm no stepping stone," Jacoby told reporters at the UFC on ESPN 68 post-fight press conference. "I got into the top 15, and I earned my way to the top 15, and I held it for a little bit. But I had a lot of wind taken out of my sails when I had that decision loss to Khalil Rountree. "I'll say it again, and I've said it before: It's no knock on Khalil Roundtree. The guy is a great warrior and a great fighter, but that says a lot about me. If you go back and look at that fight, after the fight was fought, I was like -650 on DraftKings to win that fight and I was declared the loser. That one stung. It took a lot of momentum (away from me)." Prior to Saturday's win, Jacoby had put away Vitor Petrino in brutal fashion this past December in front of 18,000 fans at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. He didn't expect to be fighting at the UFC Apex following that win, but saw it as an opportunity to make a statement and have a standout performance. "I felt like I got demoted after a big knockout in a packed house, but at the same time, perspective is everything, man," Jacoby said. "I've had a lot of success here at the UFC Apex. On this card, I thought it was a great opportunity to go out there and steal the show, and that's exactly what I told myself in the back: 'This is your show. This is your time. Go steal it.' I felt like the Apex needed a fighter like me and a fight like that – excitement. I was prepared to bring it." Despite the finish, Jacoby missed out on one of the four post-fight bonus awards.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC on ESPN 68 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Dustin Jacoby's $16,000 tops card
UFC on ESPN 68 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Dustin Jacoby's $16,000 tops card LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday's UFC on ESPN 68 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $121,500. The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy. UFC on ESPN 68 took place at the UFC Apex. The card aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+. The full UFC on ESPN 68 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included: Mateusz Gamrot: $11,000 def. Ludovit Klein: $11,000 Ramiz Brahimaj: $6,000 def. Billy Ray Goff: $4,000 Dustin Jacoby: $16,000 def. Bruno Lopes: $4,000 Ketlen Vieira: $11,000 def. Macy Chiasson: $11,000 Zachary Reese: $4,500 def. Dusko Todorovic: $6,000 Allan Nascimento: $4,500 def. Jafel Filho: $4,500 Jordan Leavitt: $6,000 def. Kurt Holobaugh: $6,000 Bolaji Oki: $4,000 def. Michael Aswell: $4,000 Alice Ardelean: $4,000 def. Rayanne dos Santos: $4,000 Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program's payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum's multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,680; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $32,000 while title challengers get $42,000. In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-68 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials. Full 2025 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts: Year-to-date total: $2,902,500 2024 total: $8,280,500 2023 total: $8,188,000 2022 total: $8,351,500 2021 total: $6,167,500 Program-to-date total: $33,920,000
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC on ESPN 68 video: Dustin Jacoby throws caution to wind, wildly knocks out Bruno Lopes
UFC on ESPN 68 video: Dustin Jacoby throws caution to wind, wildly knocks out Bruno Lopes Dustin Jacoby prioritized violence over technique at the UFC Apex on Saturday. On the UFC on ESPN 68 main card, Jacoby (21-9-1 MMA, 9-6-1 UFC) knocked out Bruno Lopes (14-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) with a swarming attack for a stoppage at : of Round 1. Jacoby, 37, has now won back-to-back fights inside the distance. The former Glory Kickboxing title challenger has 14 knockouts in 21 victories. Lopes, 32, has a three-fight winning steak snapped. Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 68 results:
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Dustin Jacoby vs. Bruno Lopes prediction, pick, start time for UFC on ESPN 68
Dustin Jacoby vs. Bruno Lopes prediction, pick, start time for UFC on ESPN 68 Dustin Jacoby has significanly more experience under the UFC lights than Bruno Lopes. Will that come into play in their UFC on ESPN 68 main card bout? Dustin Jacoby and Bruno Lopes meet Saturday on the main card of UFC on ESPN 68 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. Last event: 3-1 UFC main cards, 2025: 46-39-1 Dustin Jacoby vs. Bruno Lopes UFC on ESPN 68 preview Jacoby (20-9-1 MMA, 8-6-1 UFC) will look to keep the momentum rolling after a Performance of the Night knockout of Vitor Petrino in December. The result snapped a two-fight skid. Although he's gone 3-4 over his last seven, each victory was a bonus-earning finish. ... Lopes (14-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) enters his second UFC bout against an octagon veteran. In his debut in January, Lopes won a unanimous decision over Magomed Gadzhiyasulov. The Dana White's Contender Series veteran is currently on a three-fight winning streak. Dustin Jacoby vs. Bruno Lopes UFC on ESPN 68 expert pick, prediction Filling out the main card is a light heavyweight bout between Jacoby and Lopes. Although Lopes has a solid record on paper, the opponent and the setting are an undeniable (and undeserved) step down for Jacoby. However, if Jacoby can avoid the trap-fight sensibilities at hand, I think he should roll in this spot. The smaller octagon of the Apex will likely assist Lopes' cage-clinching efforts, but I'm not sure he has the speed, skill, or power to stop a guy like Jacoby. Aside from shoring up his takedown defense and getup abilities, Jacoby has the gas tank and composure to rally on tiring, lesser-experienced foes. I'll take Jacoby to pick up the proverbial pack once Lopes drops it, forcing a stoppage via strikes in Round 2. Dustin Jacoby vs. Bruno Lopes UFC on ESPN 68 odds The oddsmakers and the public favor the American fighter, listing Jacoby -210 and Lopes +168 via FanDuel. Dustin Jacoby vs. Bruno Lopes UFC on ESPN 68 start time, how to watch Jacoby and Lopes are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 10:40 p.m. ET. The fight broadcasts on ESPN+.
USA Today
24-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Dustin Jacoby not thrilled to be fighting at UFC Apex: 'I was pretty bummed'
Dustin Jacoby not thrilled to be fighting at UFC Apex: 'I was pretty bummed' 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."
