Dominick Reyes’ comeback story had been well documented, but it was put to a brutal halt Saturday in Australia.
Dominick Reyes’ push toward another UFC title shot came crashing down Saturday “Down Under.”
Reyes (15-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) brought a three-fight winning streak of knockouts into the UFC Fight Night 260 main event in Perth, Australia. But Carlos Ulberg (13-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) and his eight-fight winning streak had something to say about that.
Ulberg knocked Reyes out with 33 seconds left in the opening round and became the presumptive next in line for a shot at the light heavyweight title. He’ll now take his nine straight wins to Las Vegas, where he says he’ll be a backup fighter for the UFC 320 205-pound title fight between champ Magomed Ankalaev and former champ Alex Pereira on Saturday this week.
Reyes’ comeback story had been well documented. In early 2020, he had a title shot against then-light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. He came up short in a unanimous decision, but the vast majority of MMA analysts and fans think Reyes was the rightful winner of the fight.
That loss, though, set in motion four straight setbacks – the final three of which were knockouts. Over an 18-month period until he knocked out Dustin Jacoby in June 2024, Reyes had been written off – until his three-fight KO streak had him on the cusp of contention again.
Ulberg ended that, and after the fight Reyes had a very short, very simple message on social media.
“Congratulations to Carlos, just wasn’t my night,” Reyes posted. “God is good always. 🙏”
Going into the headliner in Perth, Ulberg was the No. 3 light heavyweight in the UFC’s official rankings. Champ Ankalaev and No. 1 contender Pereira headliner UFC 320. No. 2 Jiri Prochazka, an ex-champ, and No. 4 Khalil Rountree Jr. also are on the card in Las Vegas and are vying for a chance to be next for the main event winner.
Now Ulberg is smack-dab in the middle of that conversation. Reyes, who had climbed back into the rankings and had reached No. 7 before UFC Fight Night 260, is likely to fall back in the pack.
