Reyes has ‘no interest in going up to heavyweight’ to fight Jones
“I’m a light heavyweight, I’ve always been a light heavyweight, and I’m not going anywhere.”
Dominick Reyes won’t be chasing Jon Jones up to heavyweight, as ‘The Devastator’ already feels he’s 1-0 over the former UFC light heavyweight champion.
Reyes actually lost to Jones via unanimous decision earlier this year but, now that ‘Bones’ has vacated his light heavyweight title, the 30-year-old has no interest in running it back with the JacksonWink standout.
Speaking to the media ahead of his light heavyweight title bout against Jan Blachowicz at UFC 253 next week, Reyes revealed that he plans to rule the light heavyweight division for a long time to come.
“I got no interest in going up to heavyweight,” Reyes said at the UFC 253 virtual media day on Tuesday (h/t Alexander K. Lee of MMA Fighting). “If anyone wants to come down or up, I’m all for it. But I’m a light heavyweight, I’ve always been a light heavyweight, and I’m not going anywhere.”
“It’ll be my title reign, so it won’t matter what anybody else says or thinks about really anything, to be honest.”
Although Reyes has no plans to move up to heavyweight, the top-ranked light heavyweight contender has no problem with others fighters moving up — or down — in weight to challenge him for the LHW title.
“I’ll face whoever wants to come to 205 and fight,” Reyes said when asked about a potential fight with reigning middleweight champ Israel Adesanya. “If they want to come down from heavyweight, if they want to come up from middleweight, I’ll fight ‘em. Light heavyweight’s my division, and I’m about to prove it for a long time.”
UFC 253, which will feature Reyes vs. Blachowicz in the co-main event, takes place on Sept. 27 at UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.