Dominick Reyes’ Unprecedented Comeback: The Unexpected Turnaround

When Dominick Reyes faced Ryan Spann during the prelims of UFC 281 in 2022, it seemed like it might be the end of Reyes’ career. This was his third defeat in a row by way of knockout, against fighters he was expected to dominate. His losses were not just simple defeats, they were crushing knockouts. People were questioning his future in the ring, especially given that he had once been considered a worthy opponent for Jon Jones at UFC 247 about two-and-a-half years earlier. Reyes had been on the brink of being the lightweight champion of UFC, but now was being urged to consider retirement.

Yet the retirement rumors were unfounded. Reyes didn’t quit the ring. Instead, he silently rebuilt his career, securing three back-to-back victories prior to his upcoming bout against Carlos Ulberg in Perth, Australia. This rejuvenation kicked off with a striking knockout of Dustin Jacoby just 15 months prior, in which Reyes ended the fight only two minutes in. This victory seemed to lift a weight off Reyes, clearing the path for his re-emergence.

The resurgence continued with a second-round defeat of Anthony Smith at UFC 310. This fight further demonstrated that Reyes had not lost his chin, his resilience was intact. Then, in April, Reyes successfully scored a third consecutive victory against Nikita Krylov. This time, he downed Krylov with a single knockout punch, reinstating his position as a competent contender.

The question on everyone’s lips was, however, how had Reyes managed to turn his luck around? How had he gone from facing near-oblivion to being likened to Lazarus of Bethany in the fighting circuit? According to Reyes, who shared his thoughts with Uncrowned, his comeback was rooted in gratitude. He saw each day as a gift and recognized that his days as a professional fighter were finite.

Reyes recognized the short-lived nature of his profession. The media attention, the international travel, all the minor inconveniences that came with the territory, were fleeting. He was aware that he would miss the thrill of going to training, the experience of being ‘shark tanked,’ and all the other challenges in the future. For him, everything boiled down to taking advantage of the present and giving it his all while he still could. Thus, many were eager to understand his transformation into a renewed contender. They wanted to know the changes that had led to this new-found spark and confidence.

Reyes’ renaissance was reminiscent of Andrei Arlovski’s own comeback 15 years prior. After losing four fights consecutively, three of them by devastating knockouts, Arlovski had reformed his strategy. Instead of solely focusing on power, he began to opt for more nuanced self-preservation methods. This shift in focus, while perhaps less thrilling for viewers, breathed new life into his career.

Reyes hadn’t exactly followed in Arlovski’s footsteps. Even within his trio of triumphant fights following his losing streak, he continued to take calculated risks, engaging his opponents upfront. He was reliant on the high-stakes game of matching his chin against his adversary’s. If anything, he had added a degree of calculation into his fights. Having survived personal health travails, such as deep vein thrombosis, he had a newfound gratitude for life, on and off the ring.

The start of this paradigm shift, according to Reyes, was acknowledging his gratitude after his encounter with blood clots. While he was a man of faith, it was this brush with his mortality that deepened his faith and put his career in perspective. Moreover, he realized the importance of self-reliance. He emphasized the need for hard work, purposeful effort, and avoiding shortcuts. He believes there are no magical solutions- it all comes from within.

Transitioning from his previous stance, this revitalized Reyes was not of the same mould as the one who had fought Jon Jones at UFC 281. After that loss, conversations about the near miss of a potential win against Jones seemed like a distant memory. After all, near-misses fail to carry the same importance over time. However, years down the line, with Reyes still in the game, those memories may be revived after all.

If Reyes succeeds in defeating Ulberg and securing a shot at the title, the memory of his bout against Jones is bound to be evoked. Reyes’ recovery from his health concerns would stand as noteworthy events, alongside the narrative of his unlikely comeback of 2025. Furthermore, the fight against Jones, which Reyes firmly believes he won, would be revisited with a renewed significance.

Reyes reflected, ‘It’s a crazy journey, right?’ He reached a point of acceptance, where he understood that his fight with Jon was a moment entwined in his life and legacy forever. No matter what he did, he couldn’t escape this fact. This fight was a defining moment in his life, something that he will never forget.

He also highlighted that participation in the fight was an achievement in itself. Regardless of the outcome, Reyes took immense pride in his performance against the reputed Jones. He yearned people to understand that the experience was something he cherished and would always remember, regardless of his age or state of mind. Therefore, he affirmed, ‘No one can ever take that away from me. These are memories ingrained deeply within. Even if I grow old and scatterbrained, I’ll never forget it.’ The latter sentiment is a reminder we all should heed.