Dominick Reyes Makes a Triumphant Comeback in the Light Heavyweight Division
Dominick Reyes has climbed his way out of the depths of the light heavyweight division with a stellar performance at UFC 314. Back in 2020, Reyes faced Jon Jones for the UFC light heavyweight title in a fight that ended in a controversial split decision loss. This defeat marked the beginning of a four-year losing streak for Reyes, with three brutal knockout losses in his record. However, fast forward to the present, and Reyes, now 35, is on a resurgent three-fight win streak after his impressive victory over Nikita Krylov in Miami.
Reyes expressed his satisfaction with his performance, stating, “I was heavily in a flow state on Saturday night. As soon as I walked in the Octagon, there was a point where I looked at the camera right before Nikita started walking out. I felt it. Let’s go.”
Looking ahead, Reyes is eyeing one more fight this year, with a potential title shot in 2026. His career turnaround began in 2024 after overcoming a near-fatal blood clot, and since then, he has been unstoppable in the octagon.
His recent wins over Dustin Jacoby and Anthony Smith were impressive, but his victory over Krylov was exceptional. Reyes managed to floor Krylov with a powerful left hand, a feat that had not been accomplished in Krylov’s previous 39 fights.
Reflecting on his performance, Reyes highlighted his athleticism and strategic approach, stating, “I think the biggest difference between me and everybody else, it’s my athleticism, man. He couldn’t keep up with my angles, my footwork.”
Despite past title fight setbacks against Jones and Jan Blachowicz, Reyes remains determined to secure a title shot and solidify his legacy in the sport. He emphasized his goal of being remembered as one of the greats in UFC history, stating, “My whole goal with my whole UFC career is to just be cemented in the rafters as one of the greats.”
With his career resurgence and unwavering determination, Dominick Reyes is on track to achieve his goal of becoming a UFC champion and solidifying his name among the all-time greats in the sport.