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Dominick Reyes kicks Jon Jones at UFC 247. Photos: AFP

UFC 247: Jon Jones beats Dominick Reyes by unanimous decision amid judging controversy

  • Two judges score the Houston main event 48-47 for champion but one judge has it 49-46 to bemusement of crowd
  • Reyes seemingly dominates first three rounds but says ‘this just proves I’m the real deal’

Jon Jones defeated Dominick Reyes via a controversial unanimous decision to retain the light heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 247 in Houston, Texas.

Two judges scored the fight 48-47 in Jones’ favour, with one having it 49-46, despite Reyes seemingly edging the champion in the first three rounds, in what was a hugely impressive performance in just his 13th professional fight against the greatest light heavyweight of all time.

“Yeah, Dom did a tremendous job,” Jones said to a smattering of boos in his post-fight interview inside the Octagon.

“Between the takedowns and the fact I completely dominated the fifth round … I felt like he hit me once out of every six times I hit him. That fifth round won me the fight. Those takedowns won me the fight, I believe in my whole heart I won that fight, but it was close.”

Dominick Reyes throws a punch at Jon Jones.

The win extended Jones’ record to 26-1 (one no contest) and he has now won the most championship fights in UFC history with 14.

“To break a record, to become a part of UFC history in this way, I wouldn’t want it easy,” Jones added. “If this stuff was easy, everybody out there in the audience would be doing it. It’s an incredibly hard thing I did tonight. Dominick is tall, he’s big, he’s strong. He was well coached.”

Jon Jones clinches Dominick Reyes.

Reyes was gracious in defeat but confused by the decision.

“I thought I won [rounds] one, two and three, he was on me four and five,” Reyes said. “He’s a champion, he got those takedowns at the end but I popped right back up. I was all over him one, two, three. It is what it is, I’ll get better. I know I will. This just proves I’m the real deal.

“Just four and five he got me a little bit. We still fought, we were close on the strikes. I out struck him pretty bad one, two, three. If you’re gonna do zero damage and I’m getting right back up, it’s burning more energy for him. That’s the game, I took an ‘L’.”

Dominick Reyes eats a punch from Jon Jones.

Reyes got off to a hot start, rocking Jones with a couple of left hands on the chin that got the champion’s attention. But Jones landed a beautiful left high kick late in the round to establish his own striking threat.

Reyes had Jones retreating in the second round, throwing plenty of shots and expending a lot of energy, with Jones evading most of them with his excellent head movement. Jones began to push Reyes back with leg kicks, but Reyes was effectively countering his strikes and getting out of dodge.

Reyes’ wrestling defence was also excellent, stuffing Jones’ takedown attempts in the third round, but heading into the championship rounds, it was new territory for the challenger.

Jon Jones hits Dominick Reyes.

Reyes stung Jones with another left in the fourth round and Jones went to his wrestling again, but Reyes was strong enough to keep popping straight back up.

Jones was understandably the much fresher fighter, given his title fight experience, and was relentless with his pressure in the fifth round, with Reyes forced to dig deep.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Jones retains UFC title against tough Reyes in Houston
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