3. Jared Cannonier at UFC Fight Night 129
Reyes’ TKO victory over Jared Cannonier on May 19, 2018, was a standout moment in his early UFC career. Using his height and reach advantage, Reyes dominated the bout, landing a knee to the body and following up with a series of devastating uppercuts. The referee stopped the fight at 2:55 of the first round, extending Reyes’ undefeated streak to nine wins and solidifying his position as a rising contender in the light heavyweight division.
2. Chris Weidman at UFC on ESPN 6
On October 18, 2019, Reyes faced former middleweight champion Chris Weidman in the main event at UFC on ESPN 6. After countering an early takedown attempt, Reyes landed a perfectly timed left hand that dropped Weidman. He quickly followed up with ground-and-pound, forcing the referee to stop the fight just 1:43 into the first round. This emphatic victory improved Reyes’ record to 12-0 and cemented his position as one of the top contenders in the division.
1. Jon Jones at UFC 247
Reyes’ most defining fight came on February 8, 2020, when he challenged Jon Jones for the UFC light heavyweight title at UFC 247. In a thrilling five-round battle, Reyes started strong, using his striking and relentless pressure to secure the early rounds. However, Jones relied on his experience and cardio to rally in the later rounds, using increased pressure and takedowns to edge out a unanimous decision victory (48-47, 48-47, 49-46). Despite the loss, the closely contested nature of the bout sparked significant debate among fans and analysts, elevating Reyes’ reputation as one of the division’s elite fighters.
