Jan Blachowicz and Dominick Reyes are set to face off for the light heavyweight championship at UFC 253 on Saturday after former champion Jon Jones vacated the title.
Reyes’ last fight actually came against Jones in a five-round thriller that went to the defending champion. Jones won the bout via unanimous decision, but a number of fans and analysts believe Reyes won the fight, including UFC president Dana White.
Blachowicz, however, does not believe Reyes did enough to beat Jones and win the title back in February.
The Polish fighter said Reyes fought well, but–after watching the fight–believed Jones still did enough to get the nod (via UFC.com):
“No,” Jan Blachowicz responded when asked if he thought Dominick Reyes beat Jon Jones ahead of UFC 253. “It was a really good fight but me and my whole team watched and thought Jones was a little better. But not by much.”
Of course, that fight is in the past with Jon Jones vacating the title and electing to move up to the heavyweight division.
Either Blachowicz or Reyes will be crowned the new, undisputed champion on Saturday night in a bout that should feature plenty of striking.
Blachowicz has no shortage of power, with two of his last three victories coming by KO/TKO. He sparked Luke Rockhold at UFC 239, and stopped rising star Corey Anderson his tracks at UFC Fight Night in February.
Reyes has not fought since losing the narrow decision to Jones, the first blemish on his record. But he has three KO/TKO victories on his UFC resume, utilizing his height and athleticism to get off powerful kicks and punches.
The two light heavyweights are set for an epic co-main event on Saturday on UFC Fight Island when UFC 253 goes down.
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