Just as the commentary team was pleading for Dustin Jacoby and Vitor Petrino to close their fight strong at UFC Tampa | UFC on ESPN 63, a spectacular highlight arrived.
The crowd at Amalie Arena was chanting “boring” as the final 90 seconds in the third round of the light heavyweight bout ticked down. That’s when Jacoby (20-9-1 MMA, 8-6-1 UFC) lined up an absolutely massive straight right hand that instantly knocked Petrino (11-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) out cold and sent him folding to the canvas at the 3:44 mark of Round 3.
It was a finish that woke up everyone in the arena, and you can check out a replay of Jacoby’s handiwork below (via X):
A HOME RUN PUNCH FROM DUSTIN JACOBY 💥 #UFCTampa pic.twitter.com/n24Ea2RwUi
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 15, 2024
Jacoby came into the fight off a difficult stretch, with one win in his previous five fights. He made sure he got back on the right track and was thrilled to do so in the aftermath of the knockout.
“I heard you guys booing, but the game plan was to stay patient,” Jacoby said in his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping. “But when I got him, I knew I was going to get him, and here we are, baby. … I heard the boos, trust me. I wanted to go. But I had to stay patient.”
Jacoby then pitched for a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus to UFC CEO Dana White, whom the broadcast indicated had agreed from his cageside position.