UFC Long Island: Dustin Jacoby ready to defend rankings spot against “very tough challenge” Da Un Jung

Earlier in his career, Dustin Jacoby had stumbled out of MMA, embarking on a new journey in a new sport. Today, he’s blazing through the division, set on the gold prize at the top.

This Saturday, “Hanyak” will face Da Un Jung, a fellow light heavyweight at a similar place as Jacoby. Both are on lengthy win streaks and receive plenty of talk from fans and media as future contenders. The major difference on paper, however, is the ranked spot that Jacoby holds, while Jung is yet to experience a number next to his name.

In an interview with The AllStar, Dustin Jacoby previewed his clash with Jung and reflected on his MMA career revival. “This second run’s been really nice to me, it’s went really well, I’ve worked really hard for this, but I’ve always pictured this. I’ve always pictured myself in the position I’m in right now, it just took a little time to get there. Experience is everything man, I had to go through the trials and tribulations for a long time to finally get where I’m at, but I’m here now, and I’m enjoying every second”.

Jacoby’s current UFC run includes five wins and a draw with Ion Cutelaba. In his last fight, a decision win over Michal Oleksiejczuk, the 34-year-old entered the fight with a painful foot injury suffered five weeks prior and gutted out the win.

Now proud to be coming into this weekend’s fight completely healthy, Jacoby described the training culture of the highly successful Factory X team in Colorado: “Everybody’s fired up, everybody brings it every day, you know we’re working on that same prize…We all inspire each other, we all just build off each other, and we pick each other up when we’re down”.

Going into the weekend’s fight with Jung, Jacoby had nothing but praise for the Korean powerhouse. He recognized the unique qualities that Jung possesses compared to his countrymen, who are generally smaller and scrappier. However, he sees the same innate warrior spirit in Jung that characterizes many Korean MMA fighters.

That’s not to say he wasn’t completely resolved in his ability to take Jung out. Of the fight, Jacoby said, “I think he’s a really good fighter, I think he’s a really good prospect. He’s surging, as am I. He’s a little bit younger, he’s got the Korean background and nation behind him so I think the UFC’s really wanting to push him…He’s a very tough challenge, but like I said I’m in the top 15 and I gotta defend my spot man. That’s how I look at this fight. I know he’s a very worthy opponent and I look at it as defending my place in the rankings”.

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Fighter profile

Dustin “The Hanyak” Jacoby is a 34-year-old male fighter from the United States with 17 pro wins and 5 losses. Jacoby is scheduled to fight Da Un Jung at UFC Fight Night: Ortega vs. Rodriguez on Saturday, July 16, 2022.

Dustin Jacoby’s recent form coming into this matchup

Dustin Jacoby has gone 4-0-1 in the last 5 professional MMA fights.

• Win vs Michał Oleksiejczuk • Decision R3 5:00 • 2022-03-05
• Win vs John Allan • Decision R3 5:00 • 2021-11-06
• Win vs Darren Stewart • KO/TKO R1 3:04 • 2021-08-28
• Draw vs Ion Cutelaba • Decision R3 5:00 • 2021-05-01
• Win vs Maxim Grishin • Decision R3 5:00 • 2021-02-27

Dustin Jacoby’s next opponent: Da Un “Sseda” Jung

Da Un “Sseda” Jung’s recent form coming into this matchup

Da Un “Sseda” Jung is a 28-year-old male fighter from South Korea with 15 pro wins and 2 losses. Jung is scheduled to fight Dustin Jacoby at UFC Fight Night: Ortega vs. Rodriguez on Saturday, July 16, 2022.

Da Un Jung has gone 4-0-1 in the last 5 professional MMA fights.

• Win vs Kennedy Nzechukwu • KO/TKO R1 3:04 • 2021-11-13
• Win vs William Knight • Decision R3 5:00 • 2021-04-10
• Draw vs Sam Alvey • Decision R3 5:00 • 2020-10-24
• Win vs Mike Rodriguez • KO/TKO R1 1:04 • 2019-12-21
• Win vs Khadis Ibragimov • Submission R3 2:00 • 2019-08-31

How to watch and bet on Dustin Jacoby vs Da Un Jung

Keep track of all the latest odds and line-movements at our bout page for this matchup.