BROOMFIELD, Colo.--Dustin Jacoby (9-7) was on an absolute tear before losing to Simon Marcus (44-3-2) by unanimous decision at GLORY 30 this past May. The defeat brought his five-fight win streak to a screeching halt, but now he gets a chance to right the wrong in the rematch later tonight at GLORY 34.
Jacoby, 28, was off his game that night and got knocked down twice during the bout.
"You know, last fight I went into the fight thinking of the knockout real big and trying to knock him out," Jacoby told MMAmania.com inside Dave and Busters after the weigh ins on Thursday in between bites of an orange and sips of pedialyte. The No.2-ranked GLORY Middleweight was rehydrating after making weight (186.5) for the co-main event. "This fight I need to go in and not be so focused on the knockout, just think of movement, speed and power and the knockout will come."
Meanwhile, Marcus lost the GLORY middleweight title to Jason Wilnis via technical knockout (TKO) at GLORY 33 on September 9, 2016. Wilnis scored three knockdowns in the third round to win the title. It is undoubtedly a quick turnaround--the fastest of his career following a defeat--for the former GLORY champion after enduring a loss like that. Not to mention, Jacoby is one of the heaviest hitters in the middleweight division.
"In my opinion, I think it is a quick turnaround regardless of who you are fighting," said Jacoby," who has endured his share of knockout losses. "I think with blows to the head we need to take caution with them and we need to take it slow. Only he knows how he is feeling. He knows how he felt that fight and how he feels right now. As long as he is cleared from the commission. He signed the contract and I'm going in to hurt him."
The loss to Marcus was a tough one, but it did nothing to take away all the Colorado native has accomplished since joining the promotion in 2013 after winning the "Road to GLORY" tournament. He's proven he can compete with the very best after once going on a five-fight losing streak inside the promotion. Jacoby feels strongly that he has proven himself over and over, but that being said, he wants to win badly because it would unequivocally be the biggest victory of his kickboxing career."
"I would agree completely [that he's proven himself], but a win would be a highlight for my career," Jacoby said. "I think having a win over Simon Marcus on my record would do wonders for my career and it's something that I can look back on and really hang my hat on and say 'hey, I faced the best in the world--the absolute best--and I came out on top. That is my goal for tomorrow night. He had his night the first night. I dreamed of beating him and maybe I just dreamed of a different night and it's tomorrow night."
1STBANK Center will be filled with friends, family and teammates on Friday night, who will all be screaming their heads off for their hometown boy, not to mention the high altitude, which will all be of great benefit to him.
"I have a lot of friends and family and I think fighting in the altitude as well will play a major advantage for me. It's a real thing, the Olympic training center is here. So I think it's going to be a good night. You know when I step into the ring the crowd will be rocking."