Dominick Reyes Hits Back: From Title Heartbreak to a Revival
On February 8, 2020, Dominick Reyes challenged Jon Jones for the UFC light heavyweight championship at UFC 247 in Houston. Jones retained the belt by unanimous decision, but the fight became a defining chapter in Reyes’ career—a championship opportunity followed by a punishing road back.
The Rise Meets a Hard Reset
Reyes had earned his shot with victories including a first-round knockout of former middleweight champion Chris Weidman in October 2019. Against Jones, he went the full five rounds before the judges returned scores of 48–47, 48–47 and 49–46 for the champion.
Another title opportunity followed against Jan Błachowicz at UFC 253. Reyes lost by second-round stoppage. Knockout defeats to Jiří Procházka in 2021 and Ryan Spann in 2022 extended the losing streak to four fights.
The Finishes That Rebuilt Momentum
Reyes broke that streak on June 8, 2024, knocking out Dustin Jacoby in the opening round. He then stopped Anthony Smith in the second round at UFC 310 on December 7, 2024, before knocking out Nikita Krylov in the first round at UFC 314 on April 12, 2025.
Those three consecutive finishes gave his comeback substance. The same fighter who had endured repeated setbacks was again ending bouts against established opponents. Reyes’ story through that rebuilding stretch captures both sides of elite MMA: how quickly a contender can fall, and how much a decisive response can matter.
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Dominick Reyes, Jon Jones, UFC 247, light heavyweight, MMA comeback
