“I remember thinking to myself, ‘F—k. You may have met your match, Jon.’ That’s what like a voice said to me right in the middle of the cage. It was like, ‘You may have met your match.’ As clear as day, I saw a door in the Octagon and it was just like, ‘Hey. You’ve had a great career. You’ve done a lot of great things. This kid, he wants it, he’s hungry for it, Jon. It’s okay if you come up short in this one.” Jon Jones admitted ahead of his heavyweight debut at UFC 285. Sounds pretty surreal right? Well, the GOAT contender was talking about none other than Dominick Reyes who faced ‘Bones’ at UFC 247 way back in 2019 for the light heavyweight championship.
It’s been over five years since the unforgettable yet controversial clash between Jones and Reyes inside the Toyota Center. The generational title fight was a fiercely contested battle—one where ‘Bones’ fought to preserve his legacy, while the underdog Reyes sought to dismantle it and achieve his dream of becoming the champion. The five-round war remains a major topic of debate, particularly the third round, which the judges controversially scored in favor of the champion. With that decision, Jones successfully defended his 205-pound title and then departed from the division thereafter.
However, journalists, spectators, fans, 14 out of the 21 media outlets scoring the bout, and even UFC head honcho Dana White believed Reyes had done enough to win. The judges’ “insane” decision, especially one highly questionable scorecard, turned what should have been a defining moment into one of the most notorious “robberies” in UFC history. While most have moved on, the ‘man who made Jones look like a man’ doesn’t seem ready to let go. Time and time again, Reyes has revisited the fight. Just last month, during an appearance on the Gypsy Tales Podcast, Reyes reflected on that fateful yet notorious February 8 night.
Despite praising Jones, Reyes once again expressed his frustration, stating, “That’s what people are like, ‘You can’t leave it in the judges’ hands.’ I’m like, ‘You don’t know what you’re talking about.” He lamented that his biggest mistake was not knocking ‘Bones’ out, instead leaving the outcome in the hands of judges. It is safe to say that ‘The Devastator‘s latest comments didn’t sit well with the reigning heavyweight champion.
In response to a clip of the podcast circulating on Instagram, Jon Jones took to the comments, urging Reyes to move on. With a sarcastic yet dismissive challenge, Jon Jones wrote, “Dominick, let’s play a game of rock paper scissors. Best two out of three. That way you can finally possibly beat me at something—so I don’t have to hear these stories 40 years from now.”
Moreover, this ongoing situation has only fueled the frustration surrounding Jones, who is currently facing heavy criticism for allegedly “ducking” interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, who has now held the title for over 500 days. Despite Dana White’s assertion that the fight is “100%” happening, there has yet to be any official announcement. In the meantime, Reyes has reopened a wound from five years ago, which has evidently irritated ‘Bones’.
However, this is not the first time Reyes has targeted the New Mexican, nor is it the first time Jon Jones has fired back. Ultimately, the reality of the situation is something ‘Bones’ cannot deny. Let’s hear it from the champ himself!
Jon Jones revealed almost ‘giving up’ against Dominick Reyes at UFC 247
After dominating the light heavyweight division for so long and dispatching top contenders, Jon Jones never imagined that his final fight at 205lbs would see him in so much trouble that he would have to “run for my money.” Throughout the fight, ‘The Devastator’ maintained his dominance, especially through the first two rounds.
But by the third, the title challenger began to fade, losing his “gas tank,” which allowed ‘Bones’ to take control and dominate the final two rounds. Many were shocked when the scorecards were read, as they didn’t align with popular belief that Jones had finally been dethroned. Nevertheless, Jones later admitted that his fight against Reyes at UFC 247 was one of his toughest challenges. Reflecting on the battle in a conversation with the ‘OverDogs’ podcast, ‘Bones’spoke candidly about nearly giving up against Reyes.
He recalled, “I was fighting Dominick Reyes and it was in round one. He hit me with like a spinning back kick to the face and then he punched me in the stomach and I hit the floor and it was technically a knockdown. Even the look that he had in his eyes and the way that he talked to me before the fight, telling me he was a multisport athlete and he wasn’t afraid of me and that he believed it was his destiny to beat me and all this types of stuff.”
MMA: UFC 247 Feb 8, 2020 Houston, Texas, USA Jone Jones red gloves fights Dominick Reyes blue gloves during a UFC championship fight at Toyota Center. Houston Toyota Center Texas USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xThomasxSheax 14039138
What’s your take on Jon Jones’ comments? Do you think his remarks are genuine? Should Dominick Reyes stop claiming he won that night against the New Mexican, or does he have a reason to keep bringing it up? Share your thoughts below.
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