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As a title contender, Dominick Reyes isn’t at all short on confidence.
While skill and toughness form the backbone of a fighter’s ability in the cage, much of combat sports runs on confidence. In the heat of the moment, fighters have no time to think over options, puzzle out solutions, or second guess themselves. For most, their confidence in their ability to handle any situation, adjust on the fly, and make the right decision in a split second is key to their success.
Count title contender Dominick Reyes among the extremely confident then. ‘The Devastator’ is scheduled to take on light heavyweight all-time great Jon Jones in February of 2020, at UFC 247. Reyes is just twelve bouts into his pro-career (Jones had thirteen fights when he took on Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua), one that started in 2014. But, while he may not have a wealth of experience under his belt, he sounds ready to walk out of Houston with the belt around his waist.
“I look forward to the rematch,” Reyes told MMA Fighting. “I’m already planning the rematch in Cowboy Stadium. That’s already in the works.
“I already know what’s going to happen. I’m going to beat him, it’s not going to be enough. Perfect, let’s do it in Cowboy Stadium except this time it’s my pay-per-view.”
“It’s almost like I designed this. Everything I said was going to happen, happened,” Reyes added. “Everything I planned has happened. I know exactly what I need to be successful and now I’m doing it.”
Of course, those are all words that Jones has heard before. The Jackson-Wink talent stands with a nearly unblemished record of 25-1. That lone loss? A DQ in an otherwise one-sided ass kicking of Matt Hamill. Whether Reyes can turn positive thinking into action, remains to be seen.
UFC 247 takes place on February 8th, at the Toyota Center, in Houston, TX. The card is expected to be co-mained by a women’s flyweight title fight between Valentina Shevchenko and Katlyn Chookagian.