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Dominick Reyes may have locked down his next UFC light heavyweight title shot, but “Devastator” isn’t happy about only having six weeks to prepare for Jan Blachowicz.
After Jon Jones relinquished his 205-pound title earlier this month in order to make his long-awaited transition to the heavyweight division Reyes was immediately booked to fight Blachowicz for the vacant strap at UFC 253 next month. Reyes had been lobbying for a rematch with Jones before everything unraveled so the news should have been a welcomed sight.
While “Devastator” isn’t unhappy about his next trip to the Octagon being for the UFC light heavyweight title he would have liked to have a few more weeks to prepare.
“It’s a championship fight, and you’re gonna give me six weeks’ notice on a co-main?” Reyes told ESPN. “Come on, bro.”
Reyes, 30, has been one of the best light heavyweight fighters in the world since making his transition to UFC back in 2017. “Devastator” ended up winning his first six trips to the Octagon before coming up short against Jones at UFC 247 earlier this year. Given Reyes’ athletic capabilities, finish rate, and marketability, he’s one of the favorites to pick up where Jones left off and rule the light heavyweight division for years to come.
Of course, Reyes needs proper time to prepare for his 205-pound takeover and that starts with his title fight opposite Blachowicz next month.
“It takes time to prepare, man,” Reyes said. “I want to go out there and freaking put on a hell of a show for the fans. I want to do some dope shit. I want to sleep him, choke him out, whatever. I want to get an astonishing finish, and that takes film study, it takes time, it takes a little bit more than six weeks.”
Blachowicz, who has produced a 9-5 record since his UFC arrival six years ago, is coming off a knockout win over Corey Anderson back in February. Before that, the 37-year-old veteran defeated Ronaldo Souza via decision and scored another knockout over former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold. Blachowicz has become one of the more deadly finishers in the light heavyweight division and more than capable of giving Reyes a run for this money. That’s probably why Reyes wanted a few more weeks to prepare for the Polish contender.
UFC 253 will take place on Sept. 26 live on ESPN+ PPV from a location yet to be determined. The PPV main card will be headlined by a middleweight title fight between current champion Israel Adesanya and undefeated contender Paulo Costa. The vacant light heavyweight title fight between Reyes and Blachowicz will serve as the co-headliner.
For more UFC 253 fight card news click here.