Dominick Reyes

Background Reyes was born in Hesperia, California, on December 26, 1989, and is Mexican American. After graduating from Hesperia High School, he moved to New York to attend Stony Brook University, where he earned his B.S. in Information Systems.

Reyes was the starting safety for the Stony Brook Seawolves from 2009 to 2012, eventually becoming captain. He twice made the All-Conference team, including being named First Team All-Big South in 2012. He intercepted a pass in the end zone with 54 seconds remaining in the first round of the 2011 FCS Playoffs to give Stony Brook a 31–28 win over in-state rivals Albany. Reyes graduated from Stony Brook as the program's all-time leader in solo tackles (158), recording 259 tackles in total. While he received attention from NFL teams, his speed was deemed 'average' and he ultimately went undrafted in the 2013 NFL draft.

Although Reyes attended tryouts for the Canadian Football League afterwards, he had no desire to play for a league that was not top-level. Depressed about the apparent end to his NFL dreams, Reyes returned home to California and worked in construction. He trained for MMA at Combat Cage Academy, his brother Alexander's gym, initially to stay in shape and vent frustration. Reyes started competing in amateur MMA fights shortly after. |author=Dominick Reyes|title=|source=

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Before signing with the UFC, Reyes amassed an amateur record of 5–0 and was twice the U of MMA champion during his amateur career.

Prior to entering the UFC, Reyes amassed a professional record of 6–0 including a victory that went viral on the internet against Jordan Powell who seemed to be showboating before being knocked out with a head kick.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Reyes made his promotional debut for the UFC on June 25, 2017, against Joachim Christensen at UFC Fight Night 112. He won the bout via technical knockout in the opening minute of the fight, and he earned the Performance of the Night bonus.

Reyes faced Jeremy Kimball on December 2, 2017, at UFC 218. Reyes won the fight via submission in the first round.

Reyes faced Jared Cannonier on May 19, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 129. He won the fight via TKO in the first round.

Reyes faced Ovince Saint Preux on October 6, 2018, at UFC 229. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Reyes faced Volkan Oezdemir on March 16, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 147. Reyes won the back-and-forth fight by split decision. 11 media outlets scored the fight in favor of Oezdemir while 8 media outlets scored it for Reyes.

Reyes faced Chris Weidman on October 18, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 6 in the main event. He won the fight via knockout in round one. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Reyes faced Jon Jones on February 8, 2020, for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship at UFC 247. He lost the fight via a controversial unanimous decision. 14 of 21 media outlets scored the contest for Reyes, with 7 scoring it for Jones.

Reyes faced Jan Błachowicz for the vacant UFC Light Heavyweight Championship on September 27, 2020, at UFC 253.

Reyes was expected to face the inaugural and former Rizin FF Light Heavyweight Champion Jiří Procházka on February 27, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 186 to serve as the event headliner. However, on late January, it was reported that Reyes was pulled from the fight, citing injury, and the bout was rescheduled for May 1 at UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Procházka. In a back and forth fight, Reyes managed to stun Procházka a few times, but was eventually overwhelmed by Procházka's volume, and was knocked out via a spinning back elbow in the second round. Reyes suffered multiple facial fractures in his knockout defeat to Procházka. This bout earned Reyes a Fight of the Night bonus award.

Reyes faced Ryan Spann on November 12, 2022, at UFC 281. At the weigh-ins, Spann weighed in at 206.6 pounds, six tenths of a pound over the light heavyweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at a catchweight with Spann fined 20% of his purse, which went to Reyes. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.

Reyes was scheduled to face Carlos Ulberg on January 20, 2024, at UFC 297. However, in late December 2023, it was announced that match was off due to an injury sustained by Ulberg. The pair was rescheduled to meet at UFC on ESPN 54 on March 30, 2024. However, on January 23, it was announced that Reyes had withdrawn from the fight and was replaced by Alonzo Menifield.

Reyes faced Dustin Jacoby on June 8, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 57. He won the fight by technical knockout in the first round from a knee and punches.

Reyes faced former UFC Light Heavyweight Championship title challenger Anthony Smith on December 7, 2024 at UFC 310. He won the fight by technical knockout via elbows and punches in the second round.

Reyes faced Nikita Krylov on April 12, 2025 at UFC 314. He won the fight by knockout in the first round after landing a left, straight punch.

Reyes faced Carlos Ulberg in the main event on September 28, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 260. He lost the fight via knockout in round one.

Reyes faced Johnny Walker on April 11, 2026 at UFC 327. He won the fight via split decision. 11 out of 16 media outlets scored the contest for Reyes.

Reyes is scheduled to face Azamat Murzakanov on October 24, 2026 at UFC 333.

Personal life Reyes was nicknamed "The Devastator" because of his kicks.

Reyes married on January 11, 2025. He became a father to a son on December 11, 2025.

Championships and accomplishments Ultimate Fighting Championship Performance of the Night (Two times) UFC Honors Awards 2021: President's Choice Fight of the Year Nominee UFC.com Awards 2017: Ranked #9 Newcomer of the Year 2020: Ranked #9 Fight of the Year 2021: Half-Year Awards: Best Fight of the 1HY & Ranked #5 Fight of the Year MMA Fighting 2024 Third Team MMA All-Star

Mixed martial arts record Win

Johnny Walker Decision (split) UFC 327

Miami, Florida, United States Loss

Carlos Ulberg KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Ulberg vs. Reyes

Perth, Australia Win

Nikita Krylov KO (punch) UFC 314

Miami, Florida, United States Win

Anthony Smith TKO (elbows and punches) UFC 310

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Dustin Jacoby KO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Imavov

Louisville, Kentucky, United States Loss

Ryan Spann KO (punches) UFC 281

New York City, New York, United States Catchweight (206.6 lb) bout; Spann missed weight. Loss

Jiří Procházka KO (spinning back elbow) UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Procházka

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Fight of the Night. Loss

Jan Błachowicz TKO (punches) UFC 253

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates For the vacant UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. Loss

Jon Jones Decision (unanimous) UFC 247

Houston, Texas, United States For the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. Win

Chris Weidman KO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Weidman

Boston, Massachusetts, United States Performance of the Night. Win

Volkan Oezdemir Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Till vs. Masvidal

London, England Win

Ovince Saint Preux Decision (unanimous) UFC 229

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Jared Cannonier TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Usman

Santiago, Chile Win

Jeremy Kimball Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 218

Detroit, Michigan, United States Win

Joachim Christensen TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Chiesa vs. Lee

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States Performance of the Night. Win

Jordan Powell KO (head kick) LFA 13

Burbank, California, United States Win

Marcus Govan KO (head kick) Hoosier Fight Club 32

Michigan City, Indiana, United States Win

Tyler Smith TKO (punches) KOTC: Martial Law

Ontario, California, United States Win

Kelly Gray Decision (unanimous) KOTC: Sinister Intentions

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Jessie Glass Submission (guillotine choke) Gladiator Challenge: Carnage

Rancho Mirage, California, United States Win

Jose Rivas Jr. TKO (punches) KOTC: Fisticuffs

Highland, California, United States Light Heavyweight debut.

Pay-per-view bouts