“Make up your mind” – Dominick Reyes asks rival Jon Jones to either commit to a return or leave the sport of MMA

“Make up your mind” – Dominick Reyes asks rival Jon Jones to either commit to a return or leave the sport of MMA

Jon Jones (L), Dominick Reyes (R)

Fans have been eager for Jon Jones’ return to the sport for a very long time now – with his last fight coming in March 2020, every MMA fan sits in anticipation as to his potential homecoming.

It was reported that Jon Jones could make a comeback to the UFC in December, at UFC 282. As such, the Jiri Prochazka-Glover Teixeira title bout hadn’t been finalized as the main event till about a week or two back. Jones was stipulated to fight Stipe Miocic, but it seems as if any return of the American will have to wait till 2023 when a potential match-up against Francis Ngannou could on the cards.

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Now, his light heavyweight rival Dominick Reyes has spoken up about the situation. He said, “Dude, make up your mind. You know? It’s hard to say because I don’t know who he’s training with. I don’t know what’s going on. I don’t really care, to be honest. Either get on the sidelines permanently or get in the game. What are you going to do?”

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It is worth noting that one of the reasons for Jones’ lengthy absence is that he has been bulking up, and adjusting his fighting style to compete in the heavyweight division, instead of the light heavyweight division, where he made his name.

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Dominick Reyes has been itching for a rematch of his 2020 bout with Jon Jones

Dominick Reyes (L) and Jon Jones (R) in action in 2020
Dominick Reyes (L) and Jon Jones (R) in action in 2020

Jones’ wins in the 205 pound division have been nothing but exemplary – one need only hark back their memories to his infamous walk away choke of MMA legend Lyoto Machida, or his TKO win over Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.

One win, that wasn’t so clear cut was that over fellow American Dominick Reyes. The duo fought in 2020 – going into the fight, Jon Jones was a -440 favourite to swing the bout in his favour. The fight, however, looked anything but. With five close rounds, and many fans’ disagreement with it, Jones ran out the unanimous winner.

What many fans thought as undeserving, Jon Jones (L, in black and gold T-shirt) managed to get the judges' nod over Dominick Reyes (R)
In what many fans thought as undeserving, Jon Jones (L, in black and gold T-shirt) managed to get the judges’ nod over Dominick Reyes (R)

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Since, Reyes has been itching to get a rematch with “Bones”. He said, “Who’s to say, man? I mean, it’s been so long since he fought, since we fought… That whole literally ‘running from me’ thing, saying he doesn’t get paid enough to fight me again – the whole deal was a complete joke. Then getting arrested again, multiple times.”

There might be several hurdles for Reyes to cross before a fight can actualize against Jones. Firstly, Jon Jones has expressed no desire to return to the light heavyweight division. More pertinently, however, Reyes is on a three-fight losing streak. After the loss to Jon Jones, he lost consecutive fights to Jan Blachowicz and Jiri Prochazka. Hence, he has a little bit of work to do before he can claim to rematch the best 205-pound MMA fighter in history.

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