Dustin Jacoby, despite nearly losing his toe in a freak training injury just weeks before UFC Tampa, managed to compete and secure a third-round knockout victory, maintaining his 14-year streak of never withdrawing from a fight.
Dustin Jacoby takes immense pride in a remarkable streak—he’s never pulled out of a fight in his 14-year career. But UFC Tampa almost changed that.
Less than a month before facing Vitor Petrino, Jacoby was sparring when disaster struck. A freak injury sent him straight to the ER, leaving a bloody trail and a daunting decision looming.
“Three weeks prior to the fight, I completely ripped my right big toe off my foot,” Jacoby revealed to MMA Fighting. “I couldn’t run, walk, train—nothing for an entire week. For the first time, I thought I might not make it to the octagon.”
He drew parallels to Jon Jones‘ infamous injury against Chael Sonnen. Just like Jones, Jacoby’s toe was hanging by a thread.
Back in 2013, Jones managed a TKO win despite his gruesome injury. Had the fight gone longer, doctors likely would’ve stopped it.
Jacoby’s injury mirrored Jones’. At first, he thought he’d simply stubbed his toe. But reality hit harder when he inspected the damage.
“I was posted, felt something, thought I rolled or stubbed it,” Jacoby recounted. “Finished the round, then saw blood everywhere. My toe had a huge cut—like where did that come from?”
In disbelief, he grabbed his toe and watched it detach like a door hinge. Panic ensued. “I need medical attention now,” he thought.
A hospital visit revealed unexpected news: the toe wasn’t broken but dislocated. After reattachment and stitches, doctors gave him hope.
“They said I could still fight,” Jacoby shared. “With discomfort for a week or two—it seemed possible.” And so, he made that walk.
Not only did he fight; he delivered a spectacular third-round knockout, earning a $50,000 bonus. The risk paid off handsomely.
Remarkably, the toe didn’t bother him during the fight. Maybe that’s why he wasn’t kicking much?
“Adrenaline is wild,” Jacoby laughed. “I didn’t feel it once during the fight. It’s insane what our bodies can do!”
The knockout itself was picture-perfect—a career highlight for Jacoby. “It’s probably No. 1,” he mused about ranking it among his finishes.
“One of the sickest knockouts of my career and—I’ll be a fan here—even in UFC history!” Jacoby exclaimed with pride.
Despite nearly losing a toe just weeks before, Jacoby has zero regrets and cherishes keeping his streak alive.
“I’ve never pulled out of a fight,” Jacoby stated proudly. “Never said no—that’s how I roll in this career.”