[autotag]Dustin Jacoby[/autotag]’s long road back to the UFC finally paid off Saturday when he got his first win inside the octagon at UFC on ESPN+ 39.
After going 0-2 with the promotion in 2011-2012, Jacoby (12-5 MMA, 1-2 UFC) was cut from the roster. It set up a scattered run in MMA, as well as a move over to kickboxing, where he worked well. He needed to win a fight on Dana White’s Contender Series to get back, but it finally happened.
Jacoby wasn’t content with simply returning to the big stage, though. He delivered, completely destroying [autotag]Justin Ledet[/autotag] (9-4 MMA, 3-4 UFC) in a one-sided light heavyweight fight, which took place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas and streamed on ESPN+.
After some leg kicks ruined Ledet’s ability to stay upright, Jacoby pounced on his foe and landed a brutal pair of right hands that ended the fight by TKO at the 2:38 mark of Round 1.
Watch the highlight of the finish below (via Twitter):
GUESS WHO'S BACK @TheHanyakdj sets up the TKO with BRUTAL leg kicks!
[ Action continues on #ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/fzgk5Mb9ki
— UFC (@ufc) October 31, 2020
It took nine years to the weekend from the time Jacoby first stepped foot in the octagon (Oct. 29, 2011) to become a UFC winner. Naturally, he was filled with emotion afterward.
“I’m one of the best strikers in the world, and I’m so happy,” Jacoby said during his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping. “Nine years: It was a long road back.”