Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Jon Jones has no idea what Dominick Reyes is talking about when it comes to athleticism.
Reyes (12-0) has argued several times that his sports background, which includes college football, is unlikely anything Jones (25-1) has ever faced. Reyes, 30, was asked to elaborate on his next-level athleticism during UFC 247’s recent media conference call ahead of the ESPN+-streamed pay-per-view (PPV) that takes place this weekend (Sat., Feb. 8, 2020) inside Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
“Playing baseball, playing football, basketball, track-and-field, those sports are different than just being a martial artist, just wrestling or karate or whatever you’re doing. It requires a different amount of athleticism and overall focus. It’s different … it’s just different,” Reyes explained (before sighing). “There’s really nothing to say on that. If you don’t really understand it then you don’t understand it. That’s all there is to it.”
Typically, the conference call format works as a bit of a Q&A between media and the subjected fighter; however, in this instance Jones cut in.
“I definitely don’t understand it,” he said. “Yeah, I definitely don’t understand it. D.C. [Daniel Cormier] has been wrestling since he was a little boy. I’ve been wrestling since I was a little boy. Dominick doesn’t know what the guys I beat grew up doing. So to assume that because he plays sports growing up, that somehow no one else has?”
Reyes was quick to elaborate on his theory.
“It’s not just playing sports, it’s getting to a very high level of athletics. It’s learning the intricacies of movement. It’s really studying film,” Reyes rebutted. “Guys usually don’t study film until they get into the UFC and they really don’t understand what it is. There are so many intricacies of a high-level athlete that most people do not understand. That’s what I’m saying.”
Jones did not sound particularly impressed by Reyes’ analysis. The champion’s remarks come after he made fun of Reyes’ athleticism in a series of tweets on Super Bowl Sunday.
“He’s fought wrestlers he’s fought strikers but never athletes“ -DR
probably the dumbest thing I’ve heard in a while
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) February 3, 2020
DC competed in the NCAA finals and in the Olympics, OSP played Division I football, Bader the current double Champ of Bellator, Vitor crazy speed and explosive, Lyoto had been striking since age 5, Glover was on a 20 fight win streak but none of those guys are athletes I guess ??? https://t.co/EIH0FrQQSL
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) February 3, 2020
Dominick Reyes, one of the greatest athletes in Apple Valley history. Being a big fish in a small pond for so long has really gone to his head.
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) February 3, 2020
Beating up on cans has got him convinced he’s a better athlete than most of the world. If he was so badass he would’ve won the California state wrestling championships, he would’ve went division one, He would have at least made a practice squad for the NFL. This man is delusional
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) February 3, 2020
The Light Heavyweight championship showdown between Jones vs. Reyes will headline UFC 247, while a women’s Flyweight title fight featuring Valentina Shevchenko and Katlyn Chookagian serves as the co-main event.
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 247 fight card this weekend, starting with the Fight Pass/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET, then the remaining undercard balance on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 247: “Jones vs. Reyes” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.