LOS ANGELES – Jon Jones’ stature in mixed martial arts is such that it’s not a stretch to think whoever eventually hands the UFC light heavyweight champion his first legitimate defeat would value that accomplishment over winning the belt itself.
Dominick Reyes, however, does not hold such a viewpoint.
The undefeated Reyes (12-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) is next in line for Jones (25-1 MMA, 19-1 UFC). He’ll challenge the dominant titleholder next week in the main event of UFC 247.
While the challenger acknowledges Jones’ great accomplishments inside the octagon, he’s not about to lose focus on his main goal: He’s in this to become a UFC champion, and if beating Jones gets him there, that’s just an added bonus.
“(If) I win the belt, I’m in the record books forever – period,” Reyes told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at a Thursday media event promoting the bout. “I beat Jon, now it’s the cherry on top. Now it’s creeping into legendary status. But that’s just a nice little cherry on top. For me, winning the belt is everything.”
Reyes understands why Jones has such an aura. In a UFC career going back to 2008, Jones’ only blemish was a chintzy disqualification call in a bout he was handily winning against Matt Hamill in 2009. Otherwise, he’s lapped the field at 205 pounds.
But when they went face to face after their press conference during UFC 246 fight week, Reyes realized Jones is as human as the rest of us.
“I wasn’t intimidated at all,” Reyes said. “It was interesting. In the faceoffs, that was the first time I ever met Jon in my life, or even (got) near him. We came face to face, and my heart rate didn’t raise at all. I felt at home. I felt like, ‘This is it. This is Jon Jones.’ The allure of Jon Jones is a lot bigger than he actually is.
“I thought he was going to be glowing or some (expletive). My whole life, I grew up watching this guy and exuding all this different kind of energy, and when I saw him and I faced off this far away from him, I was like, ‘This guy is just a man with many insecurities.’ You can see it all over him.”
Reyes acknowledges others who have come before him have said the same about Jones going into their fights, only to sing a different song after Jones tuned them up. But he insists this time things are going to be different.
“Every single person is trying to tell you that, ‘Oh my God, you’re fighting Jon Jones. What are you going to do?’ I’m gonna fight. I’m gonna do what I’m great at. I’m gonna do what I love doing. People think it’s a lot more. It’s still a fight. It’s just a fight.”
Dominick Reyes: UFC title matters more than beating Jon Jones, 'just a man with many insecurities'