Tag: Dominick Reyes

Thiago Santos Wants Jon Jones Or Dominick Reyes In Return Fight

SantosThiago Santos is only targeting a big fight upon his return. Santos hasn’t competed since UFC 239 last July when he suffered a split decision loss to Jon Jones in their light heavyweight title fight. The fact that it was a decision, let alone a split verdict, was impressive considering Santos was compromised early on […]

Santos

Thiago Santos is only targeting a big fight upon his return.

Santos hasn’t competed since UFC 239 last July when he suffered a split decision loss to Jon Jones in their light heavyweight title fight.

The fact that it was a decision, let alone a split verdict, was impressive considering Santos was compromised early on in the fight after suffering multiple injuries to his left knee. He would later undergo surgery on both his knees as he has remained on the sidelines since.

However, he claims to be 100 percent now and is just waiting on the UFC to inform him of a potential opponent and location.

“(I am) 100 percent, man,” Santos told MMA Junkie. “I feel so good. I train everything. I train with some partners, I start to spar. I feel so good. I train everything: wrestling, jiu-jitsu and sparring. I feel great. I feel 100 percent, and I’m ready to fight again. I’m just waiting for the UFC to tell me where, against who, and that’s it.”

Santos: Light Heavyweight Division Needs To Move Forward

Of course, the Brazilian’s top choice is a rematch with Jones.

However, there is uncertainty in that regard mainly due to Jones claiming he was vacating his title amid his ongoing spat with the UFC over fighter pay. Should “Bones” actually walk away from the sport, “Marreta” believes the division should keep moving forward.

In that scenario, he would like to face Dominick Reyes next.

“If these things happen about Jon, if he really don’t want to fight, the light heavyweight division needs to go forward,” Santos said. “It needs to continue. It can’t stay stopped. I would like to go in line for the belt against Jones or against Dominick Reyes.

“We never know what UFC is going to do. I’m doing what I need to do. I keep training. I’m preparing for when the UFC tells me. I’m going to be 100 percent ready. I would like to fight for the belt or someone in the top five.”

That said, Santos doesn’t think Jones will retire anytime soon.

“I don’t believe Jon is retired,” Santos added. “He fights for what he deserves. I can’t say if he’s right or wrong, but he’s the champion for a long time, and he fights for what he believes he deserves. But I don’t believe he will retire or stop.

“Maybe he will stop for a few months or one year, but for sure not retirement. He is young. He has a lot of fights to do. I would like to know. I’m excited for news about (my next) fight and against who. I’m so excited.”

Who do you think Santos will fight next?

Glover Teixeira Wants To Fight Jan Blachowicz Next, Targeting Title

TeixeiraGlover Teixeira believes he and Jan Blachowicz should fight next. Teixeira is on a four-fight winning streak following his latest TKO victory over Anthony Smith at UFC Jacksonville last month. Blachowicz, meanwhile, has won seven of his last eight fights and has been campaigning to fight current light heavyweight champion Jon Jones next. However, there […]

Teixeira

Glover Teixeira believes he and Jan Blachowicz should fight next.

Teixeira is on a four-fight winning streak following his latest TKO victory over Anthony Smith at UFC Jacksonville last month.

Blachowicz, meanwhile, has won seven of his last eight fights and has been campaigning to fight current light heavyweight champion Jon Jones next.

However, there is uncertainty when it comes to Jones. “Bones” is currently embroiled in a spat with the UFC over fighter pay and even claimed he was vacating his title as he planned on taking time away from the sport.

There has been no real update since as to whether Jones has actually vacated his title. But in the meantime, Teixeira wants to face Blachowicz as he feels they are more deserving than anyone else to potentially face Jones next should he continue fighting.

“In my opinion, I’m looking forward to fighting for the title,” Teixeira told MMA Junkie. “I want to fight Jan Blachowicz because we’re both coming from – I mean, I come from four wins in a row, I believe he coming from four, five wins in a row something like that and who am I to say who’s going to fight next?”

Teixeira: Reyes, Santos Had Their Shot At Jones

Of course, Dominick Reyes was the last to fight Jones as he lost a close unanimous decision verdict back at UFC 247 in February. Many observers felt he did enough to win on the night as “The Devastator” has also since been campaigning to face Jones next in a rematch.

But as far as Teixeira is concerned, the likes of Reyes and Thiago Santos have already had their chance and should face each other to determine the next challenger after his fight with Blachowicz.

“Those guys had their chance,” Teixeira added. “They went in there, they fought for the title and they lost and they gotta come back and we fight to get back in there again. You don’t get rematches for a title unless you’re the champion.”

“I think me and Blachowicz, we should fight and those guys have to fight to get wins, maybe Thiago and Reyes have to fight to see who’s gonna win and who’s gonna fight for the title next.”

Do you agree with the Brazilian?

Dominick Reyes Maintains Jon Jones Doing Everything To Avoid Him

Reyes JonesDominick Reyes still believes Jon Jones is ducking him. Reyes last competed in February when he took Jones to his limit in their light heavyweight title fight at UFC 247. Many felt Reyes did enough to win on the night; however, the judges saw it differently with “Bones” getting the unanimous verdict. There were discussions […]

Reyes Jones

Dominick Reyes still believes Jon Jones is ducking him.

Reyes last competed in February when he took Jones to his limit in their light heavyweight title fight at UFC 247. Many felt Reyes did enough to win on the night; however, the judges saw it differently with “Bones” getting the unanimous verdict.

There were discussions for a rematch to be booked later this year according to Reyes only for the COVID-19 pandemic to put a halt to those plans. Jones, meanwhile, has talked of facing Jan Blachowicz instead while most recently, he was campaigning to move up and face Francis Ngannou in a heavyweight super fight.

Negotiations notably failed with Jones currently having a spat with UFC president Dana White over his pay. The light heavyweight champion went on to claim he was vacating his title and announced that Reyes should fight Blachowicz for the vacant strap going forward. He also told the UFC to call him when they were ready to compensate him properly.

Reyes: Jones Doing Whatever He Can To Avoid Fighting Me Again

For Reyes — who already believed the champion was avoiding him before talk of Ngannou came up — it’s even more obvious that Jones doesn’t want to run things back following recent events.

“It was obvious man, that last fight was a dog fight and I took it to him,” Reyes said in a recent interview with Chael Sonnen (via MMA Junkie). “I pushed him to his limits. I pushed him somewhere he’s never been. He’s never been outstruck, he’s never been hurt like that, he’s never had an opponent that wasn’t afraid of him at all.

“… He’s not willing to lose his belt for less than whatever million dollars. He knows that belt is close to being lost, so he’s doing whatever he can to avoid fighting me again.”

Reyes went on to speculate what Jones’ thinking was in moving up to heavyweight and facing someone like Ngannou.

“He’ll go to heavyweight, ‘I’ll take my first loss at heavyweight, are you guys happy now? You saw me get knocked out by Ngannou,’ I think that’s kinda what he’s thinking,” Reyes added. “Do everything he can to avoid that to keep his legacy, to keep his belt. Possibly go up to heavyweight and maybe beat Francis and now OK now I can make a run at the heavyweight title.”

Jones, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to fear Reyes, at least going by a recent tweet.

What do you make of Reyes’ comments?

Dominick Reyes Thinks It’s ‘Obvious’ Jon Jones Is Ducking UFC Rematch

Dominick Reyes is convinced that Jon Jones doesn’t want to fight him again. Back in February, Reyes challenged Jones for the UFC light heavyweight championship. “The Devastator” gave “Bones” all he could handle. The bout w…

Dominick Reyes is convinced that Jon Jones doesn’t want to fight him again. Back in February, Reyes challenged Jones for the UFC light heavyweight championship. “The Devastator” gave “Bones” all he could handle. The bout went the distance and Jones was awarded the controversial unanimous decision win. Many, including UFC president Dana White, thought Reyes […]

The post Dominick Reyes Thinks It’s ‘Obvious’ Jon Jones Is Ducking UFC Rematch appeared first on MMA News.

Dominick Reyes Responds To Jon Jones’ Supposed Title Vacating

Jones ReyesFor Dominick Reyes, the show must go on — with or without Jon Jones. Jones announced a bombshell Sunday as he claimed he was vacating his light heavyweight title and taking time off from the sport. He went on to announce that Reyes and Jan Blachowicz would fight for the vacant title in the meantime […]

Jones Reyes

For Dominick Reyes, the show must go on — with or without Jon Jones.

Jones announced a bombshell Sunday as he claimed he was vacating his light heavyweight title and taking time off from the sport. He went on to announce that Reyes and Jan Blachowicz would fight for the vacant title in the meantime as he felt he had nothing to gain from facing them.

The decision comes on the back of his recent back-and-forth interactions with UFC president Dana White over failed negotiations for a Francis Ngannou super fight at heavyweight. Jones claims he was shut down by the UFC when he asked for a pay increase to move up and didn’t even have a chance to mention a figure.

White, however, says otherwise as he claims Jones was asking for Deontay Wilder money which “Bones” vehemently denies. All in all, it looks like Jones has had enough of the situation which led to his decision.

Reyes: Jones Vacating Is Disappointing

For Reyes, it was disappointing to hear.

“The Devastator” was the last person to fight Jones as he took the champion to his limit in a close-fought decision defeat in February. Many observers felt Reyes did enough to win and have since called for a rematch.

However, that doesn’t look like that will be the case anymore. That said, Reyes is ready to move on.

“Disappointing if it is true and he is serious, but the show must go on.”

Although Reyes could be robbed of the chance of definitively defeating Jones, he has already spoken in the past of facing someone else like Blachowicz if that led to UFC gold.

“I don’t know if you guys know or remember, I called him out right after the fight [with Jared Cannonier],” Reyes said of Blachowicz last month. “This is a guy I’ve been wanting to fight for a minute, so if there’s an interim then yeah, hell yeah, let’s do it. But I think we’re gonna get that rematch first.”

Do you think we’ll see Reyes and Blachowicz battle for the vacant title?

Jon Jones Claims He’s Vacating Title, Announces Reyes vs. Blachowicz

JonesIt looks like Jon Jones is taking a stand. After going back-and-forth with UFC president Dana White over recent pay allegations, Jones has seemingly had enough. Having already hinted at taking time off from the sport, the light heavyweight champion announced Sunday that he would be vacating his title. In addition, he announced a light […]

Jones

It looks like Jon Jones is taking a stand.

After going back-and-forth with UFC president Dana White over recent pay allegations, Jones has seemingly had enough. Having already hinted at taking time off from the sport, the light heavyweight champion announced Sunday that he would be vacating his title.

In addition, he announced a light heavyweight title fight between Dominick Reyes and Jan Blachowicz — both of whom were contenders to face him next. He also told the promotion to call him when they’re ready to pay him his worth.

“ESPN Reyes vs Jan For the UFC light heavyweight championship of the world. As of right now, I got nothing to really gain fighting either of them. Let me know if you guys want to set up a day in 2021 for that Izzy fight. Hopefully you guys will be willing to pay by then.

“Bones out, when you see me in the streets just call me JJ ??

“To the light heavyweight title Veni, vidi, vici”

When a fan responded that Jones was hurting himself more than anyone with this decision, he felt otherwise.

“I hurt myself every time I walk out there and take a punch to the head and Not feel my pay is worth it anymore.”

Jones was recently campaigning for a super fight with Francis Ngannou. However, he claims he was shut down by the UFC when he asked for a pay increase before he could even come up with a figure.

White, on the other hand, has claimed Jones did mention a figure and was asking for Deontay Wilder money. Since then, the pair have stated conflicting versions of the truth.

What do you make of Jones’ tweets? Do you think he’s really leaving the sport?