Dominick Reyes was the man behind perhaps the most emotional moment at UFC on ESPN 57 .
Reyes ended a nearly five-year winless streak with a first-round knockout of Dustin Jacoby in the co-main event bout at the KFC Yum Center in Louisville on Saturday.
“It was a relief, really,” Reyes said in his post-fight press conference. “When he hit me, I was relieved. I was like, ‘I’m still here.’ I had a lot of doubts. I was doubting myself. And then I saw my performance and I felt it. I was like, ‘I really love this and I’m not going anywhere.'”
It was Reyes’ first appearance since November 2022 and his first win since his first-round knockout of Chris Weidman on Oct. 18, 2019. It would have been hard to imagine the Victoril, California native enduring such a long-lasting slump after coming so close to defeating Jon Jones at UFC 247. As his winning moment unfolded, it was clear there were more than a few people rooting for Reyes to succeed.
For Reyes, the win meant more than just reclaiming his place in the UFC light heavyweight division — it was about proving something to himself and others.
“It’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of since I was a little kid dreaming of being a professional athlete,” he said. “The walk out, the reception from the crowd, the reception I’ve had from the fans, it’s just a dream come true. I was respected for what I do and my tenacity, not just as a fighter, but as a man.”
“I’ve been knocked down, but it doesn’t matter. I’m still fighting. I’m still here. I can still beat anybody. Jacoby has never lost in my weight class, but I beat him tonight. … Relief. Gratitude. Everything. Think of everyone who’s been through something and feels like it’s never over. If you keep working and you keep working, it will come to an end. And you will be on top again.”
Reyes will still have some work to do before he becomes a true force at 205 pounds, but he’s in a division where it won’t take long for him to become noticed. His first goal was to get back on track, and he accomplished that goal by beating Jacoby.
“In my weight class, if you put in a couple of good performances, show the world who you are and do what you have to do, you’re right back in the conversation,” Reyes said. “So I’ve never thought, ‘Oh, I’m not going to get back to the title,’ because I know who I am and I know what I’m capable of.”
“I didn’t believe in myself, I doubted everything I was doing. How can I win fights like that? How can I compete for titles if I’m not winning fights? If I don’t win, I’m not going to be myself again. I never thought, ‘I’m never going to be back.’ If I focus on the present, everything will be fine.”
For now, Reyes doesn’t have a specific opponent in mind. He’s getting married soon, which is his top priority. If all goes well, he’d like to fight at The Sphere as part of UFC 306, but nothing has been finalized yet.
“I’m a fan of the sport as well and I keep an eye on it. The timing with the opponents is important,” he said. “Obviously, I want to climb the ranks and try to win the title again. I don’t have anyone in particular in mind, but if someone wants to nominate me, that’s fine, it gives me more options.”
