Dominick Reyes returns in the co-main event of UFC on ESPN 57 from KFC Yum! Center in Louisville. The fan-favorite light-heavyweight contender meets Dustin Jacoby in the penultimate fight of the night. Ahead of his match, though, Reyes opened up about the blood clot jumpscare and what the turmoil meant for him.
‘The Devastator’ surged through the 205-pound class with his stylistic clash with G.O.A.T Jon Jones. He gave ‘Bones’ one of the toughest fights in his storied career. However, Reyes hasn’t tasted victory in the octagon since sending Chris Weidman to the shadow realm back in 2019. He is on a straight 0-4 roll, the last three all by stoppage. His recent medical scare had him fearing not waking up, let alone competing.
Having blood clots is no joke, but with God’s grace…I got through it….After I got the diagnosis [thrombosis], it was like ‘You’re day to day for four weeks’… I was like ‘What does that mean?’… He’s [my doctor] like ‘You’re day to day, if you wake up then you’re good, if not then you’re not good.’…I’m like ‘Okay so you’re just going to be nonchalant about it?’ and he’s like ‘Yeah, it’s pretty serious man’.
Dominick Reyes to coach Shawn 🇨🇦/🇺🇸 (@ogshawnymack) for Full Send MMA
Reyes suffered from DVT, with four separate blood clots formed in his circulatory system, lodging in the veins of his left leg. The serious case of Venous thrombosis left him unable to walk. He even withdrew from his UFC on ESPN 54 matchup vs. Carlos Ulberg.
Ranked #11 Ulberg has now shot ahead, facing Jamahal Hill for the International Fight Week PPV card. The scrap can result in some serious title contention debates ahead.
Dominick Reyes’ doctor told him his chances of living were day to day after being diagnosed with blood clots in his leg.
He’s since made a full recovery and returns Saturday at #UFCLouisville 🙏
🎥 YT / FULL SEND MMA #UFC #MMA 🔹 pic.twitter.com/JOJGiQm2Nc
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) June 8, 2024
There’s no denying his love for fighting – but Dominick Reyes ran the risk of damaging all the capillaries if he exerted pressure. Not akin to Weidman’s gruesome leg-break or that of Conor McGregor, his case was much more serious. However, he quickly rectified the chances of lifelong immobility through the use of blood thinners. Now, he remains open to all challenges.
Dominick Reyes believes he has the ‘pedigree’ to get back to winning ways
Reyes (12-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) meets Dustin Jacoby in this weekend’s feature co-mains. The former title challenger, who once had Jones on the ropes, looks to end a four-fight losing streak at UFC on ESPN 57. Rebounding from a two-year layoff, he knows the road ahead will be hard. However, he means to start resetting the light heavyweight picture by any means necessary.
Dustin Jacoby and Dominick Reyes meet at UFC on ESPN 57 (Source: UFC.go.com/Pinterest)Jacoby will also search for a rebound after three losses in his last four outings. Reyes knows he has to watch out for one main trend in Jacoby’s game — his durability. However, Reyes knows he has the mettle to be durable as well, putting on constant pressure.
The UFC’s light heavyweight division is very performance-based, I have the pedigree to get me back to the top. Pretty much anyone in the division has the opportunity to put a couple [wins] together…but it’s one of the hardest divisions in terms of, one punch and it’s over… I was thinking about this the other day actually. I was like, ‘Man, I put together six in a row in the UFC’s light heavyweight division…I’m right back to that style of fighter.
Dominick Reyes during UFC on ESPN 57 Fight Week Media Day interviews
“I get to keep living my dream.”
After a serious health scare, Dominick Reyes (@DomReyes) is grateful to do what he loves to do, and he hopes that translates into a big performance. #UFCLouisville
— UFC News (@UFCNews) June 4, 2024
During his segment at UFC on ESPN 57 Fight Week Media Day interviews, Dustin Jacoby said he expects the best version of the former title challenger. Jan Blachowicz and Jiri Prochazka are ahead in the fold, both looking for title shots again. Old rival Jon Jones is ahead in the pecking order, having squabbles at the heavyweight division.
Weidman is in the middleweight class; hence, Jacoby is it. The 205lber knows he must be wary of similar athleticism and skills, but Reyes thinks he can get the job done. When it happens, he aims to shoot for the top spot gradually.
