Jon Jones retains title
USA - Jon Jones is still the UFC light heavyweight champion. Just barely.
In the toughest defense of his title since he engaged in a war with Alexander Gustafsson back in 2013, Jones had to survive an onslaught from a game challenger in Dominick Reyes to ultimately win a decision after five rounds.
The judges all sided with Jones with the scorecards reading 48-47, 48-47 and 4946.
Even Jones was astonished by Reyes’ performance but he felt the final five minutes is what helped him hold onto his title for another night. “I knew it was a really close right and I turned it on in the fifth round,” Jones said following the win. “That fifth round won me the fight. Those takedowns won me the fight.”
Perhaps for the first time in his career, Jones had to sweat out a decision with Reyes giving him everything he could handle for all 25 minutes. There was no fear from 30-year-old light heavyweight contender during the opening exchanges as he came out guns blazing as soon as the fighters were released from their corners. Reyes was constantly targeting Jones with his best punch — a left hand that came at his head like a heat-seeking missile.
Reyes’ ability to come forward with combinations put Jones on his back foot while attacking the entire body. Reyes chopped at the legs and then went back up top to the head and while Jones seemed to settle into a better rhythm, he was still struggling to mount any truly effective offense through two rounds.
In the toughest defense of his title since he engaged in a war with Alexander Gustafsson back in 2013, Jones had to survive an onslaught from a game challenger in Dominick Reyes to ultimately win a decision after five rounds. The judges all sided with Jones with the scorecards reading 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46. As the final horn sounded, Jones and Reyes both threw their hands in the air but only one man could walk out of the Octagon as champion. On Saturday night that man was Jon Jones.
Afterwards, Reyes explained why he felt he should have taken home the title but stopped short of shouting robbery after losing the five round decision.
(SB Nation)