Shakiel Mahjouri for MMA Mania
Chris Weidman might just be the only thing standing in the way between Dominick Reyes and Jon Jones.
Dominick Reyes is confident he is knocking on the door of a title shot.
Reyes spoke with media backstage at UFC 241 in Anaheim on Saturday. The number four ranked light-heavyweight confirmed he will be receiving a title shot against Jon Jones should he beat Chris Weidman at UFC Boston. Reyes would not say whether it was his management or the promotion that promised him a championship fight, but said it was one of the two parties.
Weidman is moving up to light-heavyweight for the first time in his UFC career. “I’m not the guy you want to come up and fight your first fight [at 205]. That’s just it,” Reyes said. “I’m not the guy. I don’t know whether to be honored that I got him or disrespected. So I’m just pissed. That’s just how I feel, I’m pissed.”
Reyes is coming off a closely contested split decision win over Volkan Oezdemir. It seems some were ready to write off Oezdemir after three consecutive losses, but “No Time” made a statement with a second-round knockout of Ilir Latifi at UFC Urugay. “Volkan is a tremendous competitor,” Reyes assured. “He’s growing, he’s evolving, he’s only getting better. It’s awesome for me. I become champ and we can run it back. We’ll see what happens, but I see a rematch down the line for sure.”
Reyes vs. Weidman will serve as the main event of UFC Boston on Oct. 18. The card also features Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Calvin Kattar and Maycee Barber vs. Gillian Robertson.