Jon Jones and Dominick Reyes will have to agree to disagree on the result of their infamous UFC 247 clash in February 2020.
The last fight for Jones in the Light Heavyweight division was arguably his most controversial. “Bones” battled to a decision against Reyes in Houston, Texas, winning via a unanimous decision that many believed should have gone the other way.
Reyes, 34, picked up his first victory since he defeated Chris Weidman in 2019 when he knocked out Dustin Jacoby (watch highlights) at UFC Louisville this past weekend (June 8, 2024). Now UFC’s Heavyweight champion, Jones caught wind of some recent comments Reyes made about their fight and how he still feels he won, and that Jones knows it, he publicly let it be known that he wasn’t flattered.
“What a claim to fame, almost beat John Jones,” Jones tweeted. “Got full of myself and literally couldn’t win another fight.
“Dominic, when you look back at our fight, I don’t want you to ever question me or those judges,” he added. “Look at your own heart, your own endurance, you didn’t do enough. The sooner you accept that, the better athlete you’ll become.”
Jones has only fought once since his move to Heavyweight when he won the vacant title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023 (watch highlights). Reyes has claimed over the years that an instant rematch was offered to Jones but he ultimately declined to pursue Heavyweight. His first title defense is expected to be against Stipe Miocic in November 2024.
“Now I vacated because everyone wanted the rematch?” Jones tweeted. “I love you guys with your narratives. I poke people in the eyes, my arms are longer, I’m bigger than everyone else, I must pay the judge, i’m ducking, no one‘s in their prime when they fight me. Keep em coming.”