[autotag]Dominick Reyes[/autotag] is convinced he has a big role to play in [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag]’ decision to vacate the UFC light heavyweight title.
After numerous months of tension between Jones and the UFC, “Bones” announced on Monday that he officially relinquished his 205-pound title and that he plans on moving up to heavyweight for his next fight.
Jones (25-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) most recently competed at UFC 247 in February, where he narrowly edged out Reyes in a fight many scored for the challenger.
Since then, Reyes (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) has been campaigning for a rematch. But with Jones now out of the picture, “The Dominator” will face Jan Blachowicz for the vacant title on at UFC 253 on Sept. 26.
Before Jones vacated the title, UFC president Dana White said that if he stays at 205 pounds, he has to fight Reyes again.
Putting all those pieces together, Reyes thinks Jones let go of the belt to avoid having the rematch.
“I think his ego won’t let him admit that I’m the reason,” Reyes told ESPN. “I know he doesn’t want to rematch me. It’s obvious, he vacated the belt. You don’t give up something you’re proud of. I win the belt, I’m not gonna be like, ‘Oh I’m gonna give it up, I’m gonna go up to heavyweight.’ No man, you earned that (expletive). Like why would you just give it up unless you feel like you didn’t earn it?”
While Reyes won’t get the opportunity to dethrone the consensus greatest light heavyweight of all-time, the goal remains to become champion.
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“It doesn’t matter,” Reyes said. “None of this is in my control, I’m just doing what I can do. I’m fighting, fighting for the belt, I’m gonna be a great champion, and I’m gonna make my family, my friends and my people proud when I go out there and perform on Sept. 26.
“It doesn’t matter if I beat Jon, I beat Jan, whoever I beat to win the belt. I got the belt, that’s all that matters. That’s all that’s ever mattered the whole time.”
Jones’ rift with the UFC stemmed from the promotion’s unwillingness to increase his pay in a potential heavyweight fight vs. Francis Ngannou. Although White insists that Ngannou is next for UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic, he’s open to Jones getting an immediate title shot against the winner.
Jones’ past two fights have been close decision wins over Reyes and Thiago Santos, which Reyes believes is what prompted his decision to move up in weight.
“He’s moving to heavyweight because those guys are slow,” Reyes said. “You do realize that, right? He can’t keep up with us anymore. After what me and Thiago did to him, he’s like, ‘Man, I need to go up. These guys are getting too fast, they’re getting too athletic, they’re getting too good.’ The heavyweights are still slow.”
Jones caught wind of Reyes’ comments, and he bit back on social media (via Twitter):
I literally had to leave it all out there the night I beat Gus, my last fight I ended comfortably scoring points. Gus pushed me to a place I have still yet to see again
— BONY (@JonnyBones) August 20, 2020
Both DC and Gus faced fatalities in our rematches, now for the first time in my career I’m terrified to have a rematch? If you believe this narrative, slap yourself
— BONY (@JonnyBones) August 20, 2020
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