MMANEWS.COM: How does it feel fighting on a card of this proportion? You're debuting on a card headlined by Georges St. Pierre versus Carlos Condit. Hell even Penn/Diaz is on this card. It's really an amazing event to make your debut in.

Dustin Jacoby: To be given the opportunity to compete in the same octagon as the competitors you just mentioned is simply amazing. I don't know what else to say other than I'm going to show why I belong in the same cage as those guys.

MMANEWS.COM: I know you're coming in as a late replacement. Were you training regularly prior to receiving the call, and if so, how has training been?

Dustin Jacoby: Yes. I have not stopped training since May of this year. Once I started my camp for my 5th pro fight, I have not left the gym. I was actually scheduled to fight Oct. 15 before I got the call. So, I was in the prime of my training camp anyway. I have a lot of good guys helping me at the gym and training is going as good as ever!

MMANEWS.COM: According to the UFC, is this a one-time "prove yourself" kind of offer, or have you signed a multi-fight contract?

Dustin Jacoby: The UFC has offered me a multi-fight contract. Of course their contracts are performance-based, and that contract can be stripped at any moment. The time is now to work even harder than I have been to get me to where I am at in my career.

MMANEWS.COM: Give me your prediction for this fight.

Dustin Jacoby: Obviously I see myself getting my hand raised at the end of the night. I've only been out of the 1st round once in my career, but I expect Tavares to bring it much harder than my previous opponents. I'm expecting a fight-night bonus performance from myself.

MMANEWS.COM: Anything you'd like to say to your fans or sponsors?

Dustin Jacoby: I want to say Thanks to my fans. I have a huge following and I'll actually have about 20 people or more making the trip to Vegas for this fight. My fans have always supported me and they give me the drive to keep competing and to be the best. To my sponsors, I want to let them know I will do my absolute best to represent them, as well as myself, with the utmost class and respect. They have made a wise choice by choosing to sponsor me, I can promise you that!

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