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If Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion, Jon Jones, is sticking around at 205 pounds for the foreseeable future, then I think we can all agree there’s a pretty good chance he’s going to cross paths with Dominick Reyes for a second time.
And that could be bad news for “Bones.”
According to UFC color commentator, Joe Rogan, Reyes will be even more prepared for their championship rematch. Particularly now that “Devastator” has been able to last all five rounds with Jones in the UFC 247 main event earlier this month in Houston.
“I’m excited to see that rematch,” Rogan said (transcribed by MMA Fighting). “I think Dominick Reyes will be even better in the rematch. I think Dominick Reyes realizes now that it’s all about having the energy in that third, fourth, and fifth round, and having now been to the top of the mountain and faced the dragon, I think he’s gonna come back better than ever.”
Against who and when, remains to be seen.
As of this writing, it looks as if Jones will be making his next 205-pound title defense against surging contender, Jan Blachowicz, at some point later this summer. That leaves Reyes to fight Thiago Santos, assuming “Marreta” is willing to put pen to paper.
But even if Jones runs through Blachowicz, there’s a strong chance he’ll be motivated to make that oft-teased jump to heavyweight, where bigger opponents — and bigger paychecks — await. Or just take two years off while the 205-pound division plays catch up.