Why I’ll be rooting for Dominick Reyes on September 27th

Rooting for Dominick Reyes

Five years ago, Dominick Reyes came within inches of becoming the only fighter to dethrone Jon Jones. Since then, he’s fallen harder than almost any contender in UFC history. But this Saturday, Reyes has a chance to rewrite his story. For a fighter who’s lived through the highest highs and the lowest lows, this fight could be a turning point in his ultimate comeback.

The UFC light heavyweight division has had some of the most iconic fighters in UFC history. Frank Shamrock, Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell, Mauricio Rua, Forrest Griffin, Lyoto Machida, Daniel Cormier, and arguably the greatest fighter of all time, Jon Jones.

This division is also home to great fighters that never won UFC gold. Chael Sonnen, Dan Henderson, Alexander Gustafsson, Anthony Johnson, and the subject of this piece, Dominick Reyes. Reyes’s career has seen one of the most dramatic arcs in light heavyweight history, from near glory to adversity, and now, a shot at redemption. The fight this weekend will be must-watch TV as he takes on Carlos Ulberg.

Before joining the UFC, Dominick Reyes had five first round wins across six professional fights. He continued this winning streak in the UFC, earning six straight wins including four first-round finishes. Reyes looked like a champion in the making and was given a chance to prove that in 2020 when he challenged Jon Jones for the light heavyweight title at UFC 247. Here’s where things get interesting.

Reyes opened the fight against Jones, a +375 underdog. Reyes started the fight aggressively, coming forward and even sitting Jones down early with a straight left to the body.

Through the first three rounds, Reyes had outstruck Jones, stuffed takedowns, and looked like the sharper fighter.

In the championship rounds, Jones started to regain ground. He landed 2 of his 9 takedown attempts and outstruck Reyes. But, his takedowns didn’t result in anything and Reyes ultimately outstruck him in total strikes.

Seeing Reyes fight for the title was a special moment for me. Reyes displays the Mexican flag alongside the US flag for all his fights. A symbol of our shared Mexican-American heritage. The kinship doesn’t end there. Reyes also fights out of Victorville, CA. Growing up, I spent most of my summers in Victorville visiting my grandparents. I was born in Lancaster, CA and spent the first 12 years of my life in Littlerock, CA., just under an hour west of Victorville. Victorville and the surrounding high desert were a harsh and unforgiving place. The 47-mile stretch to my grandparents’ house was long, bumpy, and lined with Joshua trees and dirt. To see someone rise from such a harsh environment to challenge the greatest MMA fighter of all time was inspiring.

Reyes fought with his whole heart and put up a fantastic performance against one of the greatest fighters of all time. Even though I thought Reyes did enough to win, the fight should have, at the very least, been a majority draw.

Unfortunately, Reyes lost the fight via a controversial unanimous decision. It was a hard pill to swallow. Many media outlets scored the fight for Reyes. Despite his loss, Reyes showed that he had championship caliber talent and looked like he was on a path to holding up UFC gold. But, if you know his story like I do, you know that was not the case.

Later that same year, Jones vacated the light heavyweight title and in September 2020 Reyes would have his second shot at the title against Jan Blachowicz at UFC 253. Reyes entered the fight a -260 favorite. He landed strong inside leg kicks early, but Blachowicz caught him in round 2 with a counter hook and finished the fight with ground and pound.

This began the downfall of Dominick Reyes. Two more KO losses followed, one against Jiri Prochazka in 2021 and another against Ryan Spann in 2022. Health problems also plagued Dominick Reyes. He was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and had to be put on blood thinners. His UFC title prospects were beginning to look like a mirage in the Victorville sun, fading and moving further away with every step.

Then in 2024, Reyes finished Dustin Jacoby by KO in the first round. He followed that up with two more KO victories over Anthony Smith and Nikita Krylov. Dominick Reyes has been openly honest about the self-doubt his losses and injuries had developed within him. But now he says he has matured into his best self and is ready to make another run at the title.

Standing in his way is Carlos Ulberg. Ulberg has only 1 loss in the UFC and is currently on an eight fight win streak. If Reyes can secure a win over Ulberg, he’ll add another great chapter to his storybook career and could make a case for himself to have a third shot at the light heavyweight title. With a dominant win over Ulberg, Reyes could add his name to the short list of challengers ready to face the winner of UFC 320, Ankalaev vs. Pereira.

Reyes’s career has had sharp peaks and hard valleys. As a fan, there’s something inspiring about someone who doesn’t quit, even when everything seems stacked against them. He’s not the same fighter he was in 2020, and that’s a good thing. He’s had time to learn, to fix holes, and to build mental resilience. A win this weekend would show that the adversity made him stronger, that he is a champion, and that he deserves another chance to take back what should have been his five years ago. For Reyes, this isn’t just another fight. It’s proof that he’s still here, still dangerous, and still chasing gold. That’s why, when Reyes steps into the cage this weekend, I won’t just be watching, I’ll be rooting for him every step of the way.