Tag: Dominick Reyes

Carlos Ulberg gets wish, meets skidding Dominick Reyes at UFC 297 on Jan. 20

Dominick Reyes will aim to snap his losing skid against rising contender Carlos Ulberg.

[autotag]Dominick Reyes[/autotag] will aim to snap his losing skid against rising contender [autotag]Carlos Ulberg[/autotag].

Reyes (12-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) takes on Ulberg (9-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) in a light heavyweight bout at UFC 297 on Jan. 20 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. The bout was announced during the UFC 295 broadcast this past Saturday.

Since pushing Jon Jones to the brink in their title fight at UFC 247 in February 2020, Reyes has struggled in the octagon. The 33-year-old has lost four straight – including stoppage losses to Jan Blachowicz, Jiri Prochazka, and most recently Ryan Spann in November 2022.

Meanwhile, Ulberg is experiencing an opposite career trajectory. The City Kickboxing standout rebounded from his UFC debut loss to Kennedy Nzechukwu with five-straights wins, most recently a third-round submission of Da-Un Jung at UFC 293. Ulberg called Reyes out after his win, and got his wish.

With the addition, the current UFC 297 lineup includes:

  • Sean Strickland vs. Dricus Du Plessis – for middleweight title
  • Raquel Pennington vs. Mayra Bueno Silva – for vacant women’s bantamweight title
  • Neil Magny vs. Mike Malott
  • Jan Blachowicz vs. Aleksandar Rakic
  • Arnold Allen vs. Movsar Evloev
  • Dominick Reyes vs. Carlos Ulberg
  • Garrett Armfield vs. Brad Katona
  • Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Chris Curtis
  • Charles Jourdain vs. Sean Woodson
  • Gillian Robertson vs. Polyana Viana
  • Serhiy Sidey vs. Ramon Taveras
  • Jimmy Flick vs. Malcolm Gordon
  • Yohan Lainesse vs. Sam Patterson

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 297.

Carlos Ulberg explains UFC 293 callout of Dominick Reyes: ‘He’s been in there with Jon Jones’

Carlos Ulberg’s UFC 293 callout of Dominick Reyes was met with mixed reactions, but to him, it makes all the sense in the world.

SYDNEY – [autotag]Carlos Ulberg[/autotag] is on a roll and he told the world Saturday exactly who he wants next.

Following his UFC 293 win over Da Woon Jung by submission, Ulberg (9-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) name-dropped former UFC title challenger [autotag]Dominick Reyes[/autotag] as his in-cage callout. The ask was met with mixed reactions from fans online, but Ulberg later said the matchmaking would make all the sense in the world.

“I like it because he’s been in there,” Ulberg told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “He’s been in there with Jon Jones. Five rounds with Jon Jones, we know went, huh. I think that would be a step up big time. He’s No. 13 right now. That’s a spot that I want.”

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Reyes (12-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) has not competed since November when he was knocked out by Ryan Spann. The defeat was his fourth loss in a row. Reyes, 33, has largely remained out of the public spotlight in recent months outside of social media posts in which he’s expressed optimism about his career.

Ulberg, 32, has yet to fight a promotion-ranked opponent, though that may change if he finds a number next to his name when the UFC rankings update Tuesday. His win over Jung (15-5-1 MMA, 4-3-1 UFC) was his fifth in a row and his fourth finish in that stretch.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 293.

Jon Jones def. Dominick Reyes at UFC 247: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Jon Jones’ unanimous decision win over Dominick Reyes at UFC 247

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag]’ unanimous decision win over [autotag]Dominick Reyes[/autotag] at UFC 247 at Toyota Center in Houston. (Photos by Thomas Shea, USA TODAY Sports)

Daniel Cormier questions if it’s ‘time for Dominick Reyes to be done’ with MMA after UFC 281

Is it fair for Daniel Cormier to share these thoughts on Dominick Reyes’ career?

[autotag]Dominick Reyes[/autotag]’ current skid has [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] wondering if he should retire.

Reyes (12-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) lost his fourth fight in a row this past Saturday at UFC 281 when he was brutally knocked out by Ryan Spann in the first round. Since losing a narrow decision to Jon Jones at UFC 247 in February 2020, things have gone downhill for the former title challenger, who went on to suffer knockout losses to ex-champ Jan Blachowicz, current champ Jiri Prochazka, and now Spann.

With the fashion in which Reyes is losing, Cormier thinks he might have to consider hanging up his gloves.

“Is it time for Dominick Reyes to walk away after what Ryan Spann did to him?” Cormier asked on his “DC & RC” ESPN show. “Because we got a guy that was super close to becoming the champion against Jones, to now he got knocked out by Jiri who’s the champ, he got knocked out by Jan Blachowicz who was the champ. Now he’s not fighting champions, he lost to a guy in Ryan Spann, who has now won two in a row. Is it time for Dominick Reyes to be done?”

He continued, “Dominick Reyes was so close to being the champion. When it starts to turn in the way that it has, it’s time for him to walk away.”

However, Reyes thinks otherwise.

Following his knockout loss to Spann, Reyes released a positive statement in which he said he’ll be back. UFC president Dana White was asked about Reyes in the post-fight news conference but was unsure of the former title challenger’s future.

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UFC 281 medical suspensions: Frankie Edgar, Dominick Reyes among longest from card with 11 finishes

UFC 281 proved to be a brutal event, and the medical suspensions handed out by the New York State Athletic Commission speak to that.

UFC 281 proved to be a brutal event, and the medical suspensions handed out by the New York State Athletic Commission speak to that.

On Monday, MMA Junkie received the full list from the NYSAC, which oversaw UFC 281 at Madison Square Garden in New York. It showed 19 fighters suspended indefinitely on a card that featured 11 finishes, which means those fighters will need doctor’s clearance before returning to the cage.

Among the 19 indefinite suspensions, five fighters – [autotag]Frankie Edgar[/autotag], [autotag]Dominick Reyes[/autotag], [autotag]Nicolae Negumereanu[/autotag], [autotag]Seung Woo Choi[/autotag], and [autotag]Ottman Azaitar[/autotag] – received the longest mandatory minimum of 90 days.

Former lightweight champion Edgar was knocked out by Chris Gutierrez in his retirement fight; Reyes was knocked out by Ryan Spann; Azaitar lost by knockout to Matt Frevola; Choi lost by TKO to Michael Trizano; and Negumereanu was knocked out by Carlos Ulberg.

Both fighters in the main event, [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] and [autotag]Israel Adesanya,[/autotag] received indefinite suspensions as a result of Pereira’s fifth-round TKO win to claim the middleweight title. Pereira was suspended 30 days and Adesanya 60 days.

Scroll below to see the medical suspensions handed out to each fighter. It’s important to note that fighters can return to competition sooner than the allotted suspension if they are cleared by a doctor.

Dana White: It’s almost like Dominick Reyes ‘hasn’t been the same since that Jon Jones fight’

Dana White weighed in on the future of former title challenger Dominick Reyes after another brutal knockout at UFC 281.

NEW YORK – [autotag]Dana White[/autotag] isn’t sure what’s next for [autotag]Dominick Reyes[/autotag] after UFC 281.

Reyes (12-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) dropped his fourth straight bout when he was viciously knocked out by Ryan Spann in just 80 seconds this past Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

Reyes’ skid started when he lost a controversial split decision to [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) at UFC 247 in February 2020, which White thinks played a role in his downfall.

“Yeah, it’s almost like he hasn’t been the same since that Jon Jones fight,” White told reporters and MMA Junkie at the UFC 281 post-fight news conference.

Three of Reyes’ four losses amid this stretch have came by knockout. After losing to Jones, he was knocked out by Jan Blachowicz in a vacant title bout, halted by current champ Jiri Prochazka in a 2021 Fight of the Year contender.

Reyes took 18 months off and switched camps to train with former champ Glover Teixeira prior to the encounter with Spann, but was unable to get back on track.

As for what’s next for Reyes, White wasn’t ready to decide on the 32-year-old’s future just yet. However, Reyes indicated in the aftermath of UFC 281 that he’s motivated to get back in the win column.

“I don’t know, I don’t know right now,” White added. “I think, first and foremost, I would see what he wants to do. What does he want to do? And where’s he at mentally? And what’s he thinking.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 281.

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Jon Jones ‘concerned’ for Dominick Reyes’ health after UFC 281 knockout loss

Jon Jones couldn’t help but take jabs at Dominick Reyes after his rival suffered another brutal knockout at UFC 281.

[autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] couldn’t help but take a jab at [autotag]Dominick Reyes[/autotag] following UFC 281.

Reyes (12-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) dropped his fourth-straight bout this past Saturday at Madison Square Garden when he was knocked out by Ryan Spann in Round 1. Reyes started out his octagon run unbeaten, until he ran into then light heavyweight champion Jones at UFC 247. He was edged out in a controversial decision loss, but things would go downhill for the 32-year-old from there.

After losing to Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC), Reyes suffered back-to-back knockout losses to Jan Blachowicz and current champ Jiri Prochazka. He took some time off, changed camps, but his comeback was spoiled when he was on the receiving end of another knockout courtesy of Spann.

Jones thinks the way Reyes handled the loss to him is what led to this skid.

“I didn’t take his confidence, in his mind he beat me. Maybe that’s his problem.”

“I don’t know if feel bad are the words, I would say more like concerned for his health.”

Prior to his return against Spann, Reyes was asked about Jones in a recent interview, where he questioned whether or not the 205-pound great was ever going to make his heavyweight debut.

So in response to Reyes, Jones mocked him by posting the same quote he said about him.

‘Get on the sidelines permanently or get in the game’

“That was his message to me in one of his last interviews, now that’s my message back to him.”

Jones hasn’t competed since his narrow win over Reyes nearly the years. “Bones” vacated his light heavyweight title over two years ago to chase after heavyweight gold, but is yet to make his divisional debut.

UFC president Dana White said at UFC 281 that he expects to see Jones back in the octagon in the first quarter of 2023, likely fighting for the heavyweight championship.

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Dominick Reyes optimistic despite UFC 281 KO loss: ‘I’ll be back’

Dominick Reyes reflects on his knockout loss to Ryan Spann at UFC 281, which was his fourth straight setback.

[autotag]Dominick Reyes[/autotag] is staying positive despite going through a rough patch in his career.

The former UFC title challenger suffered a first-round knockout loss in his return to the octagon Saturday at UFC 281. Reyes (12-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) was knocked out in vicious fashion just 80 seconds into his light heavyweight bout with Ryan Spann (21-7 MMA, 7-2 UFC).

The KO loss put Reyes on a four-fight skid. The most recent three defeats have come by stoppage. But the 32-year-old is keeping positive and vows to come back.

“I was hungry to get my hand raised and rushed the fight,” Reyes wrote on Instagram. “I’m OK, I live to fight another day. Another lesson learned. Congrats to (Alex Pereira), what an incredible performance to become the middleweight champion. God is good always. Thank you to my friends and family who support me, to my management (Tiki Ghosn, Upgrade Management). … I’ll be back to shake it off and get back in there. Big thank you to the (UFC, Dana White, The Garden) for the opportunity. The energy was amazing last night, and it felt great to be in the arena again.”

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Reyes’ most recent UFC win came in October 2019 when he knocked out former middleweight champion Chris Weidman. The win earned him a shot at then-light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. He lost that title shot in a controversial decision.

UFC president Dana White was surprised to see Reyes in this form since not long ago he was championship material. He’s unsure of what may come next for Reyes.

“I don’t know right now,” White said. “I think first and foremost, we have to see what he wants to do. What does he want to do and where is he at mentally and what is he thinking?”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 281.

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UFC 281 post-event facts: Alex Pereira makes history with title win in 8th career fight

Check out the numbers to come out of an insane UFC 281, where Alex Pereira’s title win put him in the record books alongside Brock Lesnar.

UFC 281 took place Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York, and with 11 finishes in 14 fights, including two title changes, it proved to be among the best cards of the year.

The main event saw [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] (7-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) earn another combat victory over [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] (23-2 MMA, 12-2 UFC), but this time with the highest stakes imaginable when he claimed the middleweight title with a fifth-round TKO.

The co-headliner saw [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] (23-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) begin a second reign as women’s strawweight champion when she submitted [autotag]Carla Esparza[/autotag] (19-7 MMA, 10-5 UFC) with a choke in the second round.

For more on the numbers behind both title fights, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC 281.