Dustin Jacoby made a statement at UFC Vegas 113, and it was heard all the way at the top of the division. The FactoryX Muay Thai team member secured a second-round stoppage win over Julius Walker. However, he has earned more than just a win—he earned respect and, more importantly, the backing of the UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, the man who once knocked him out during their GLORY days.

It might be why Pereira was watching his former rival intently from his home as the fight unfolded. And when the American light heavyweight finally got his hands raised after the victory, the Brazilian kickboxer didn’t miss a beat. He jumped in to congratulate him and back him passionately.

What does Dustin Jacoby want & what did Alex Pereira say?

Following his win, Dustin Jacoby asked for the one thing that has become gold in the MMA world—a spot on the UFC White House card, scheduled for June 14. “I would love nothing more than to get an opportunity to fight at the White House in June,” Jacoby said in his post-fight interview. “I know everybody’s going to want to be on that card, but that’s three big knockouts in a row.”

‘The Hanyak’ has indeed been on a three-fight knockout streak. Before the one tonight, he knocked out Vitor Petrino and Bruno Lopes, while bouncing back from his back-to-back losses to Alonzo Menifield and Dominick Reyes in 2023 and 2024. Yet, securing a spot on the card might be difficult for the light heavyweight, as it seems like the entire UFC roster is vying for a slot. 

Not to mention, President Donald Trump has claimed that there will be “eight to nine” title fights on the card. And without a title or a top 15 ranking, Jacoby is already at a disadvantage. But that didn’t matter to ‘Poatan,’ who immediately took to Instagram to praise and back his former rival. “Incredible work, Dustin Jacoby,” Alex Pereira’s post read. “Put some respect on his name and place him in the rankings!”

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Neither Jacoby nor Walker is in UFC’s light heavyweight rankings, but with three back-to-back knockouts, it’s not out of the realm of possibility. Regardless, Pereira added, “Nostalgia from the Glory days – would love to see him in the rankings to show the evolution that has occurred in a different sport! Chama.”

Pereira himself has been making a case for a fight against Jon Jones on the UFC White House card. However, Jones recently announced his full and final retirement from the sport, leaving Pereira’s spot on the White House card in the air. Nonetheless, Pereira’s backing for Jacoby appears to have prompted a response from Julius Walker.

Julius Walker reflects on Pereira’s backing of Jacoby?

Walker was just two fights into his UFC career when he accepted the challenge to face Jacoby at UFC Vegas 113 on Saturday night. His promotional debut ended in a split decision loss to Alonzo Menifield in February last year. 

However, he managed to bounce back with a decision win over Rafael Cerqueira in August. This brought him to the opposite corner of Jacoby. Despite his best efforts, Jacoby got the best of him. And in the aftermath, when he discovered Pereira’s praise for his opponent, he wasn’t too upset.

“Haha so Alex Pereira watched me get fucked up tonight,” he wrote on X.

That being said, Dustin Jacoby may have backing from Alex Pereira, but it might take a lot more to secure a spot on the UFC White House card. Do you think he will get it?