MMAmania.com - UFC 247 results: Live stream updates, highlights, fight videos | ‘Jones vs Reyes’Best UFC website for news, UFC results, fight highlights and UFC schedule, including live streaming updates, breaking MMA news and much more!https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49461/mania-f.png2022-08-08T13:55:32-04:00http://www.mmamania.com/rss/stream/208936782022-08-08T13:55:32-04:002022-08-08T13:55:32-04:00Reyes Eyes Oct. Return To UFC
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<img alt="UFC Fight Night: Reyes v Prochazka" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RqWVV3fXEJ9XKypDBTGi6dVqYJU=/0x0:4799x3199/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71221142/1315769691.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC</figcaption>
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<p id="71zuLc">Dominick Reyes nearly defeated Jon Jones for the light heavyweight title when they went to war across five rounds in the UFC 247 main event back in early 2020. In fact, several media outlets (including this one) — <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/2/9/21130106/dana-white-had-reyes-beating-jones-on-scorecards-criticizes-ufc-247-judging">along with promotion president Dana White</a> — scored their 25-minute contest in favor of “The Devastator.”</p>
<p id="kTruQa">The <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/2/9/21130059/controversial-check-out-the-official-jones-vs-reyes-ufc-247-scorecard-ppv-mma-espn-houston-results">official scorecard</a> said otherwise.</p>
<p id="rEelJb">Following that controversial outcome, Reyes went on to lose his next two fights to former champion Jan Blachowicz and current light heavyweight titleholder Jiri Prochazka, both by way of second-round knockout. That led to an extended absence and rumors of a potential retirement for the <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/9/27/21458101/jon-jones-buries-dominick-reyes-following-ufc-253-loss-demands-apple-valley-memes-mma">Apple Valley All Star</a>.</p>
<aside id="sVXCL8"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Rematch?! No Way! Jones Went To Heavyweight Because Of Reyes","url":"https://www.mmamania.com/2022/6/13/23166590/dominick-reyes-jon-jones-declined-immediate-rematch-wanted-pay-increase-i-wouldve-had-closure-ufc"}]}'></div></aside><p id="qlMk3X">“I never considered not fighting, not ever,” Reyes told <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/8/7/23166210/dominick-reyes-provides-career-update-following-long-layoff-i-had-to-figure-my-own-s-out">The MMA Hour</a>. “It was just needing to stop messing around, stop messing around on the streets and just get my shit together. I never considered not fighting — I did take some time off, but look at Jiri, he didn’t fight until [UFC 275]. Over a year later, he’s barely fought as well. He didn’t get knocked out, I did, but he just stayed out. I’m looking to take a little bit more time and I’m looking to come back around October.”</p>
<p id="h0tJjC">Despite his consecutive losses, the 32 year-old Reyes remains <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2022/8/2/23288663/latest-ufc-277-rankings-update-sergei-pavlovich-boots-derrick-lewis-from-heavyweight-top-5-mma">ranked No. 7 at 205 pounds</a>, sandwiched between former light heavyweight title challengers Thiago Santos (No. 6) and Volkan Oezdemir (No. 8), though we’re likely to have a shake up at 205 pounds after Santos went down in flames <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2022/8/8/23296023/thiago-santos-next-fight-jamahal-hill-loss-ufc-vegas-59-espn-mma">against Jamahal Hill at UFC Vegas 59</a>.</p>
<aside id="P9jPeD"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"‘Robbery Rewind:’ Jon Jones Vs. Dominick Reyes","url":"https://www.mmamania.com/2020/4/14/21218966/robbery-rewind-jon-jones-dominick-reyes-controversial-decision-judges-scorecards-ufc-247"}]}'></div></aside><p id="mDaOmF">“I didn’t do anything until [this past] October when I went to Vegas and went and tried out Xtreme Couture. I did a little bit of light sparring with Sean Strickland, which might’ve been his lightest sparring ever, but I went back there and I was the heaviest I had ever been. I was like 245, pretty out of shape, but they were cool, man — good people over there. They helped me get my mind back on the game. From then on, I’ve just been training and enjoying it, really.”</p>
<p id="PgY0rL">UFC currently has one PPV and two “Fight Night” events <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/pages/ufc-mma-schedule">on tap for October</a>.</p>
https://www.mmamania.com/2022/8/8/23297029/what-happened-dominick-reyes-former-ufc-title-challenger-reveals-mma-futureJesse Holland2022-06-13T18:10:00-04:002022-06-13T18:10:00-04:00Rematch?! No Way! Jones Went To Heavyweight Because Of Reyes
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<img alt="UFC 247 Jones v Reyes" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VZqzKp2ZAI-GAPE5fYNwcTBtRig=/0x0:3659x2439/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70972699/1205067540.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="GMGs9d">Jon Jones hasn’t fought since Feb. 2020 in what many consider his most controversial fight to date.</p>
<p id="sU21HP">Tasked with a then-surging undefeated Dominick Reyes (12-0), Jones skated by in a closely contested unanimous decision in front of the Houston, Texas, crowd that night at UFC 247 (<a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/2/9/21129536/ufc-247-full-fight-video-highlights-jones-reyes-shevchenko-chookagian-results-mma-ppv-espn-houston">watch highlights</a>). Shortly afterward, “Bones” announced he was <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/5/31/21276307/bones-out-jon-jones-says-he-has-relinquished-his-ufc-light-heavyweight-title">vacating UFC’s Light Heavyweight title</a> to make a long-awaited jump to the Heavyweight division. While this has yet to come to fruition, Reyes revealed today (Mon., June 13, 2022) that the promotion had plans to run things back between the competitive pairing.</p>
<aside id="iZkUj3"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Jones Believes It’s His ‘Destiny’ To Become UFC Heavyweight Champion","url":"https://www.mmamania.com/2022/3/29/23002164/jon-jones-believes-its-his-destiny-to-become-ufc-heavyweight-champion-mma"}]}'></div></aside><p id="eZxqsL">“The whole thing was we were going to run it back,” Reyes said on <a href="https://youtu.be/2j2AQU5mLZw"><em>The MMA Hour</em></a> (h/t <a href="https://www.bjpenn.com/mma-news/ufc/dominick-reyes-claims-hes-the-reason-jon-jones-moved-up-to-heavyweight/">BJPenn.com</a>). “Then the pandemic started and I don’t know what he started doing at home and started feeling a different kind of way. All of the sudden it was, ‘No, I’m going to Heavyweight, screw that, there’s too much risk, I don’t get paid enough to fight him. I’m not going to fight him without double, you have to pay me double to fight that guy again.’ It was like, what, I was getting contender money, bro, screw you, I should be getting pay-per-views the next fight. It was weird how it all happened, he was down, everything was good, Dana [White] said we were going to do it ... then, nope.</p>
<p id="sfRGSN">“That is the reason why [he moved up to heavyweight],” he concluded. “I don’t take any solace in it, I mean if we would’ve rematched I would’ve had closure in the situation, it is what it is.”</p>
<aside id="AR5wyu"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Robbery Rewind: Jon Jones Vs. Dominick Reyes","url":"https://www.mmamania.com/2020/4/14/21218966/robbery-rewind-jon-jones-dominick-reyes-controversial-decision-judges-scorecards-ufc-247"}]}'></div></aside><p id="NX32TG">Unfortunately for Reyes, he’s still seeking a positive result following the Jones bout, having suffered back-to-back tough knockout losses to former and now-current champions, <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/9/27/21457611/ufc-253-full-fight-video-highlights-adesanya-costa-results-espn-island-ppv-mma-reyes-blachowicz">Jan Blachowicz</a> and <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2021/5/2/22414124/ufc-vegas-25-full-fight-video-highlights-reyes-prochazka-results-espn-prochazka-knockout-reyes-elbow">Jiri Prochazka</a>.</p>
https://www.mmamania.com/2022/6/13/23166590/dominick-reyes-jon-jones-declined-immediate-rematch-wanted-pay-increase-i-wouldve-had-closure-ufcDrake Riggs2021-10-08T10:23:39-04:002021-10-08T10:23:39-04:00Reyes: Keep Jones ‘So I Can Beat Him Up Again’
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<img alt="UFC 247 Jones v Reyes" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/LfTMCKQPLLLeMaloClaVQS8bmuk=/0x0:3247x2165/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69969293/1204970716.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="OBkdWM">Former UFC light heavyweight No. 1 title contender Dominick Reyes <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/2/9/21130273/ufc-247-reyes-wants-rematch-after-controversial-loss-to-jones-i-feel-like-im-the-peoples-champ">believes he’s the “People’s Champion”</a> after losing a questionable decision to Jon Jones at UFC 247, and continues to campaign for an eventual rematch against the embattled “Bones.”</p>
<p id="2vweDs">That’s why “The Devastator” wants the promotion to keep Jones on the roster in light of his latest run-in with Johnny Law. Jones was <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2021/9/24/22692021/former-ufc-champ-jon-jones-arrested-las-vegas-charged-with-domestic-violence-mma">arrested and charged with domestic battery</a> late last month after a night of drinking and debauchery in Las Vegas.</p>
<aside id="xGPANL"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Jones Chasing Ngannou To Escape Reyes Rematch","url":"https://www.mmamania.com/2020/5/15/21259920/ufc-jon-jones-chasing-francis-ngannou-escape-dangerous-rematch-against-dominick-reyes-mma"}]}'></div></aside><p id="erXab2">“It’s not a good look for anyone involved, whether it’s the organization, whether it’s Jon, or whether it’s his family,” Reyes told <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3d9Or2kCVA&list=PLIIdU3WTMW-ctXPWJED0mxOU8dc0zA-5U&index=2&ab_channel=CombatSportsonFanaticsView">Fanatics View</a> (transcribed by <a href="https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/10/dominick-reyes-hopes-ufc-keeps-jon-jones-after-latest-arrest-beat-him-up-again">Farah Hannoun</a>). “No matter what, it’s all bad. This isn’t his first offense, but that’s up to the organization to decide. Me personally, I have a little ‘keep this guy around so I can beat him up again’ kind of thing. Overall, not a lot of words on it, man. It’s just not a good look. Being one of the greatest of all time and doing all that, man, get over it. That chip on your shoulder, whatever it is, just get over it, man. You’re one of the best fighters in the world. I don’t understand why.”</p>
<p id="IyQWOZ">Jones, who plans to make the jump to heavyweight at some point in 2022, blamed alcohol for his misstep and recently <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2021/10/2/22705686/jon-jones-fiance-jessie-moses-assault-las-vegas-arrest-instagram-ufc-mma">posted a damage control video</a> featuring his longtime fiancé Jessie Moses — though nobody outside of <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2021/10/7/22715155/sean-omalley-feels-bad-jon-jones-blames-booze-bones-arrest-mma">this UFC fighter</a> seemed to have much empathy.</p>
<aside id="WIpQw5"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Not-Scared Jones Begs Reyes To Slap Himself ","url":"https://www.mmamania.com/2020/8/20/21377161/not-scared-jon-jones-isnt-running-light-heavyweight-begs-dominick-reyes-slap-himself-mma"}]}'></div></aside><p id="T0kB1v">As for Reyes, who turns 32 later this year, he’s got more important things to worry about than what the promotion plans to do with Jones. “The Devastator” is coming off back-to-back knockout losses to Jan Blachowicz and Jiri Prochazka and recently fell out of the Top 5 at 205 pounds. </p>
https://www.mmamania.com/2021/10/8/22716303/dominick-reyes-to-ufc-dont-cut-jon-jones-so-i-can-beat-him-up-again-mmaJesse Holland2021-05-17T16:08:46-04:002021-05-17T16:08:46-04:00‘Blessed’ Jones Content To Play UFC Waiting Game
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<img alt="UFC 235: Jones v Smith" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/p6G6dYzUDi478JMx34Rqt685INg=/0x0:3068x2045/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69300811/1128483529.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC</figcaption>
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<p>“My name will ring bells in the combat sports world until the day I die and after,” Jones wrote. “My first fight back is going to be huge no matter when it is.”</p> <p id="Arl9oi">UFC President Dana White <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2021/5/16/22439207/dana-white-ready-to-retire-jon-jones-he-can-never-fight-again-its-up-to-him">doesn’t care</a> if former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones ever makes his return to the Octagon, following <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/5/29/21275166/jon-jones-asks-for-ufc-release-following-financial-comments-by-dana-white-wilder-ngannou-mma-espn">failed negotiations</a> for a heavyweight title fight against reigning division kingpin Francis Ngannou.</p>
<p id="ygg9iS">It would appear the feeling is mutual.</p>
<aside id="7K10ZM"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Timeline: Jones, UFC Burn Down Their Relationship In 15 Days","url":"https://www.mmamania.com/2020/5/31/21276367/timeline-jones-ufc-dana-white-feud-walking-away-relinquished-belt-title"}]}'></div></aside><p id="OQvU5B">“I’m really not sure when I’ll be fighting next, but some downtime after a decade of wins is a nice little change up right now,” Jones wrote on <a href="https://twitter.com/JonnyBones">Twitter</a>. “Honestly I’m a blessed individual. My whole story is in God’s hands, I believe there’s huge things in my future. Things don’t always happen when we want them to. Sometimes I feel like my life is one big bonus, never imagine I would be in this position in life. I’m grateful even when things don’t go my way.”</p>
<p id="p1VObI">It’s easy to take time off when you’re <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2018/4/10/17220576/jon-jones-net-worth-bones-sitting-on-8-million-in-cash-leaked-texts-from-ufc-enemy-tyson-griffin-mma">sitting on $8 million in cash</a>.</p>
<aside id="wlyKFa"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Jones Chasing Ngannou To Escape Reyes Rematch","url":"https://www.mmamania.com/2020/5/15/21259920/ufc-jon-jones-chasing-francis-ngannou-escape-dangerous-rematch-against-dominick-reyes-mma"}]}'></div></aside><p id="HE67ew">Jones, who turns 34 in July, has not competed since squeaking past Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 back in Feb. 2020, the third straight fight in which “Bones” went to a decision. During his absence, the former champ has been <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/8/30/21407778/jon-jones-hits-the-weight-room-as-heavyweight-preparations-begin">bulking up inside the gym</a>.</p>
<p id="Gt8w9Z">Whether or not he’ll ever get to use that extra mass remains to be seen, but at this rate it might be time to reconsider that <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2017/3/12/14898178/ufc-fortaleza-the-morning-after-belfort-suggests-league-of-legends-for-aging-ufc-stars">Legends League</a>.</p>
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https://www.mmamania.com/2021/5/17/22440878/jon-jones-content-play-dana-whites-waiting-game-turns-negotiations-over-god-mmaJesse Holland2020-08-14T16:01:00-04:002020-08-14T16:01:00-04:00White On Jones: Rematch Reyes Or Go To Heavyweight
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<img alt="UFC 200 New York Press Event" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rOb1ifdC5RfFGKSO_SBbfioq4KA=/0x0:4389x2926/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67205974/525010134.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="lzxN3f">If Jon Jones wants to stay at light heavyweight and defend his 205-pound title, then he needs to forget about “<a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/4/18/21226115/jon-jones-passes-on-dominick-reyes-rematch-popping-some-cherries-in-poland-blachowicz-mma-ufc-espn">popping some cherries in Poland</a>” and instead gear up for a five-round rematch against division No. 1 contender Dominick Reyes.</p>
<p id="p79i7U">That's according to UFC President Dana White.</p>
<aside id="9tdYU5"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data="{"stories":[{"title":"All about Jon 'Bones' Jones","url":"https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqaeN0J5wv5laU-HV60TJ0WdnpXzsk6rR"}]}"></div></aside><p id="DVc5mB">If not, then Jones will be forced to move up in weight, where he can participate in “fun” fights against the likes of Stipe Miocic or Francis Ngannou, or perhaps even Daniel Cormier, depending on who wins <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/8/14/21368979/stipe-miocic-vs-daniel-cormier-staredown-video-ufc-252-weigh-ins-mma">the UFC 252 main event</a>.</p>
<aside id="r4Bqr3"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"No ‘Bones’ About It, ‘DC’ Retiring After Miocic Trilogy","url":"https://www.mmamania.com/2019/9/23/20880526/daniel-cormier-closes-door-on-jon-jones-trilogy-will-retire-following-stipe-miocic-rubber-match-ufc"},{"title":"Who is the Heavyweight GOAT? | UFC 252","url":"https://youtu.be/PpBf16ADvzo"}]}'></div></aside><p id="TZrZVQ">“If he stays at light heavyweight, he’s got to fight Reyes again,” White told <a href="https://youtu.be/KHeVTRrg4h8">The Schmo</a>. “You have to see the Reyes fight again. And if he moves up to heavyweight, there’s a lot of interesting fights. He could fight Cormier, he could fight Stipe depending on who wins on Saturday. He could fight Francis Ngannou. There are a lot of fun fights for him at heavyweight.”</p>
<p id="JT2Wz2">Fun ... <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/5/29/21274475/dana-white-reveals-that-jon-jones-wanted-deontay-wilder-money-for-ngannou-superfight-ufc-mma-espn">and expensive</a>.</p>
<p id="SrqqUE">It’s a bit surprising to hear White talking about potential fights at heavyweight considering how badly the discussions went the first time around. Not just from Jones, <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/5/28/21273204/francis-ngannou-best-reaction-ufc-cheapskate-matchmaking-jon-jones-video">but also from Ngannou</a>, who wants to be paid accordingly for promotional super fights.</p>
<aside id="emvFXF"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"One King To Rule Them All","url":"https://www.mmamania.com/2019/1/4/18168667/ufc-daniel-cormier-brock-lesnar-stipe-miocic-betting-underdogs-against-jon-jones-heavyweight-mma"}]}'></div></aside><p id="1QcWvi">As for Reyes, he’s been <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/2/9/21130273/ufc-247-reyes-wants-rematch-after-controversial-loss-to-jones-i-feel-like-im-the-peoples-champ">campaigning for a light heavyweight rematch</a> after taking “Bones” to the limit at UFC 247 last February. Unfortunately for “The Devastator,” Jones seems content with <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/6/25/21303593/jon-jones-doubles-down-on-ufc-exit-willing-sit-out-two-years-three-years-mma">riding the pine</a> until UFC can meet his new championship asking price.</p>
https://www.mmamania.com/2020/8/14/21369253/ufc-dana-white-just-gave-jon-jones-ultimatum-rematch-dominick-reyes-go-heavyweight-mmaJesse Holland2020-07-15T13:00:10-04:002020-07-15T13:00:10-04:00Frustrated Reyes Wants UFC To Strip Jones
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<img alt="UFC 247 Jones v Reyes" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/YyDdj4T750RqwbljBszWsZRYsr0=/0x0:5472x3648/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67061656/1205068774.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="1z9ZbX">Current Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion Jon Jones insists he’s done competing for the foreseeable future and will <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/6/25/21303593/jon-jones-doubles-down-on-ufc-exit-willing-sit-out-two-years-three-years-mma">spend the next two years</a> concentrating on his endeavors outside the mixed martial arts (MMA) industry.</p>
<p id="nPNXY9">That’s just fine with top contender Dominick Reyes, so long as the promotion reclaims the crown from <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/5/29/21274475/dana-white-reveals-that-jon-jones-wanted-deontay-wilder-money-for-ngannou-superfight-ufc-mma-espn">bitter “Bones.”</a> But unfortunately for “The Devastator,” UFC President Dana White is convinced he’ll (eventually) <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/6/3/21279930/ufc-dana-white-jon-jones-eventually-get-tired-of-fighting-figure-it-out-beef-mma">patch things up with Jones</a> at some point later this year.</p>
<p id="ANTzWS">Reyes has other ideas.</p>
<aside id="TamwcG"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Reyes: Jones Is A ‘Habitual Line-Stepper’ ","url":"https://www.mmamania.com/2020/4/1/21203861/ufc-dominick-reyes-habitual-line-stepper-jon-jones-needs-serious-help-arrest-dwi-mma"}]}'></div></aside><p id="fpZY4Q">“If he’s not gonna fight, then you’re done,” Reyes told <a href="https://twitter.com/MMAonSiriusXM/status/1283179419658588162">SiriusXM</a>. “You’re done, you’re stripped, it’s over because he retired. I mean I guess it’s not stripped, it’s more retired. He said he’d walk away ... I don’t know, he’s trying to twist and make it so he can get more fans, ‘I’m a champion for the fighters, I’m doing all these other things.’ He should have just fought me. You can’t sit out two years with a new champion and then be like, ‘Well, I’m the undisputed champ.’ You quit.”</p>
<p id="x7lQ4b">Jones is no stranger to <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2015/4/28/8512265/ufc-strips-title-champion-jon-jones-suspended-indefinitely-anthony-johnson-daniel-cormier">being stripped</a>.</p>
<p id="A2OIcG">Reyes took Jones to the limit in their five-round war at UFC 247 back in February; however, “Bones” <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/2/12/21135228/jon-jones-message-whiny-young-boys-dont-blame-judges-blame-reyes-conditioning-coach-ufc-247-mma">did enough to convince the Texas judges</a> that he was the better man, sneaking out of “The Lone Star State” with a razor-thin split decision victory and more importantly, his 205-pound title.</p>
<aside id="xmzK1F"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Jones Chasing Ngannou To Escape Reyes Rematch","url":"https://www.mmamania.com/2020/5/15/21259920/ufc-jon-jones-chasing-francis-ngannou-escape-dangerous-rematch-against-dominick-reyes-mma"}]}'></div></aside><p id="EbYlIe">There was talk of an immediate rematch — <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/2/9/21130273/ufc-247-reyes-wants-rematch-after-controversial-loss-to-jones-i-feel-like-im-the-peoples-champ">mostly from Reyes</a> — but Jones was more interested in cashing in his chips at heavyweight. Then <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/6/8/21284433/jon-jones-rallies-young-fighters-against-greedy-dana-white-getting-ripped-off-ufc-youre-welcome">White got “greedy”</a> and Jones, <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/5/28/21273204/francis-ngannou-best-reaction-ufc-cheapskate-matchmaking-jon-jones-video">as well as potential rival Francis Ngannou</a>, abandoned their “super fight” plans over lack of pay.</p>
<p id="VxdjBY">The belt, it would seem, is in White’s court.</p>
https://www.mmamania.com/2020/7/15/21325712/frustrated-dominick-reyes-wants-ufc-yank-belt-from-jon-jones-youre-done-youre-stripped-mmaJesse Holland2020-06-11T17:02:31-04:002020-06-11T17:02:31-04:00Jones Concocted Money Drama To Escape Reyes Rematch
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<img alt="UFC 247 Jones v Reyes" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/QbK9M5WHdoc1qaWuEPMLcT13eaw=/0x0:3247x2165/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66924045/1204970716.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="dxQmwK">Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has decided to <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/5/31/21276307/bones-out-jon-jones-says-he-has-relinquished-his-ufc-light-heavyweight-title">vacate his title</a> and take an extended break from mixed martial arts (MMA) after promotion president Dana White <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/5/21/21266987/jon-jones-back-in-year-two-ufc-fails-to-show-money-francis-ngannou-fight-mma">failed to cough up the money required</a> for a Francis Ngannou super fight in the 265-pound weight class.</p>
<p id="D2f5vk">But despite his insistence that UFC <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/6/8/21284433/jon-jones-rallies-young-fighters-against-greedy-dana-white-getting-ripped-off-ufc-youre-welcome">screwed him out of millions of dollars</a>, 205-pound contender Dominick Reyes believes this is nothing more than a carefully constructed strategy to avoid a “Devastator” rematch at some point in early summer or late fall, which may explain why “Bones” is <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/4/18/21226115/jon-jones-passes-on-dominick-reyes-rematch-popping-some-cherries-in-poland-blachowicz-mma-ufc-espn">now playing light heavyweight matchmaker</a>.</p>
<aside id="C191BC"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Is Jones Just Playing Games? ","url":"https://www.mmamania.com/2020/6/2/21278667/ufc-jan-blachowicz-jon-jones-vacating-ufc-title-just-playing-games-mma"}]}'></div></aside><p id="urJXU0">“It was obvious man, that last fight was a dog fight and I took it to him,” Reyes told former UFC title contender <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfYmCUc0rzk">Chael Sonnen</a>. “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.”</p>
<p id="6yx3DU">Jones and Reyes battled to a five-round decision in the UFC 247 pay-per-view (PPV) main event back in February, one that ended in favor of “Bones.” There was some <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/2/12/21135228/jon-jones-message-whiny-young-boys-dont-blame-judges-blame-reyes-conditioning-coach-ufc-247-mma">mild controversy</a> surrounding the judges’ decision and “The Devastator” is convinced that he not only beat Jones, but that he should be <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/2/9/21130273/ufc-247-reyes-wants-rematch-after-controversial-loss-to-jones-i-feel-like-im-the-peoples-champ">given an immediate rematch</a>.</p>
<aside id="mJNSSU"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Rogan Has Bad News For Jon Jones Fanboys","url":"https://www.mmamania.com/2020/2/24/21150688/ufc-joe-rogan-has-bad-news-jon-jones-fanboys-dominick-reyes-will-be-even-better-in-the-rematch-mma"}]}'></div></aside><p id="LlQXT6">“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 continued. “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 okay now I can make a run at the heavyweight title.”</p>
<p id="aWJ82M">As of this writing, the promotion has yet to make a decision on the future of the light heavyweight title, but White — who once called Jones an “<a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2017/11/1/16590180/ufc-dana-white-jon-jones-unfixable-party-animal-who-couldnt-control-himself-mma">unfixable party animal</a>” — believes he’ll (eventually) <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/6/3/21279930/ufc-dana-white-jon-jones-eventually-get-tired-of-fighting-figure-it-out-beef-mma">work out his differences with “Bones.”</a></p>
https://www.mmamania.com/2020/6/11/21288425/jon-jones-doesnt-want-more-money-ufc-he-wants-avoid-dominick-reyes-rematch-mmaJesse Holland2020-06-01T13:05:52-04:002020-06-01T13:05:52-04:00Bader Eyes Jones Rematch For Bellator MMA
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<img alt="UFC 126: Jones vs Bader" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7mtt6Rh6uy1Xc-3iWX0iLF-J_UQ=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66881122/108853850.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>We wanted <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/5/21/21266987/jon-jones-back-in-year-two-ufc-fails-to-show-money-francis-ngannou-fight-mma">Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou</a> ... might we end up with Jon Jones vs. Ryan Bader 2 instead?</p> <p id="f9hrbK">Jon Jones may or may not be Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion after <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/5/31/21276307/bones-out-jon-jones-says-he-has-relinquished-his-ufc-light-heavyweight-title">claiming to have vacated the belt last weekend</a>. I don’t know what his contractual obligations are at this stage of his career, but as we learned with <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2007/10/30/dana-white-and-lorenzo-fertitta-press-conference-on-resignation-of-ufcs-randy-couture">the Randy Couture debacle</a>, walking away is not as easy as it sounds.</p>
<p id="Pc59Yv">Quitting is not the same as retiring.</p>
<p id="jWfXfY">That means Jones can’t compete for any other mixed martial arts (MMA) promotions until he completes the remaining fights on his current deal. Unless, of course, UFC terminates his contract. Fat chance, because Dana White and Co. aren’t going to let the competition profit from a fighter they helped create.</p>
<aside id="kKJuWm"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Timeline: Jones, UFC Burn Down Their Relationship In 15 Days","url":"https://www.mmamania.com/2020/5/31/21276367/timeline-jones-ufc-dana-white-feud-walking-away-relinquished-belt-title"}]}'></div></aside><p id="DhJ6UT">Ryan Bader, ever the optimist, remains hopeful.</p>
<p id="r1cUY6">“Gotta do what’s best for you Jon Jones,” Bader <a href="https://twitter.com/ryanbader/status/1267210359846301696">tweeted</a>. “There is always another option though, Bellator MMA. Would love to run it back. Respect.”</p>
<p id="41p2ej">Jones submitted Bader during their UFC 126 showdown back in early 2011. Both combatants were undefeated at the time and “Bones” would follow that up with his destruction of Mauricio Rua to capture the 205-pound crown.</p>
<p id="BbF2nV">“Darth” has since transitioned to Bellator MMA, where he secured the heavyweight and light heavyweight titles. During his 7-0 (1 NC) run, Bader has defeated the likes of Phil Davis, Matt Mitrione, and Fedor Emelianenko, among others.</p>
<aside id="BjXeht"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Bader, NOT Miocic, Is The World’s Best Heavyweight","url":"https://www.mmamania.com/2019/8/19/20812721/jon-jones-declares-stipe-miocic-worlds-best-heavyweight-actually-ryan-bader-mma"}]}'></div></aside><p id="yq3Xvy">One fighter not feeling as hopeful as Bader is UFC light heavyweight contender Dominick Reyes, who <a href="https://www.mmamania.com/2020/2/9/21130273/ufc-247-reyes-wants-rematch-after-controversial-loss-to-jones-i-feel-like-im-the-peoples-champ">believes he defeated Jones</a> in the UFC 247 pay-per-view (PPV) main event, despite losing by way of split decision after five rounds of back-and-forth action.</p>
<p id="kCbLMX">“Disappointing if it is true and he is serious, but the show must go on,” Reyes wrote on <a href="https://twitter.com/DomReyes/status/1267202353347747840">Twitter</a>.</p>
https://www.mmamania.com/2020/6/1/21277053/dominick-reyes-disappointed-jon-jones-ufc-departure-but-ryan-bader-hoping-bellator-mma-rematchJesse Holland