In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Dustin Jacoby revealed how a gruesome injury nearly stopped him from competing in Tampa.
The light heavyweight contender was in action at the final UFC card of the year where he produced one of the highlights of the night.
Jacoby snapped a two-fight skid by delivering a stunning one-punch knockout against Brazil's Vitor Petrino.
His decision to compete ended up being an incredibly profitable one after he left the Amalie Arena with a $50,000 bonus.
However, whether he was going to be able to make the walk or not was nearly taken out of his hands following an injury that he suffered in training:
“Three weeks prior to the fight, I completely ripped my right big toe off my foot,” Jacoby told MMA Fighting. “I could not run, walk, train, nothing the entire week. I was really nervous that I was not going to be able to make the walk to the octagon. In over 50 pro fights between MMA and kickboxing, I’ve never not once shown up on the day that I was going to when I sign the contract and I take a lot of pride in that.
“There was a lot of doubts, especially when I ripped that toe off. It was very reminiscent of when Jon Jones fought Chael Sonnen and his foot was posted out and his big toe just ripped off. That’s exactly what happened on my right foot.”
Jacoby said that despite his initial fears, he gained some confidence after having the injury looked at.
After going to the hospital to get his toe re-attached, the doctors were able to give him some encouraging words regarding the time frame of his recovery.
“I go and I get it X-rayed, and it wasn’t broke,” Jacoby said. “It was dislocated, and I put it back in place. They stitched it up and they told me right then and there, ‘I don’t see why you wouldn’t be able [to fight].’ With the stitches, it’s going to be uncomfortable for a week or two and I was like, I fight in three weeks. I guess if I can walk on it and move on it, I guess I’m going to make that walk. And I certainly did.”
