| Dominick Reyes | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Reyes in 2025 | |
| Born | Dominick Vincent Reyes[1] (1989-12-26)December 26, 1989 (age 35)[2] Hesperia, California, U.S.[3] |
| Nickname | The Devastator |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) |
| Weight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb) |
| Division | Light heavyweight (2014–present) |
| Reach | 77 in (196 cm)[4] |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| Fighting out of | Victorville, California, U.S. |
| Team | Joe Stevensons Cobra Kai |
| Rank | Blue belt inBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu[4] |
| Years active | 2014–present (MMA) |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 20 |
| Wins | 15 |
| By knockout | 10 |
| By submission | 2 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Losses | 5 |
| By knockout | 4 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Other information | |
| University | Stony Brook University |
| Website | dominickreyes |
| Mixed martial arts record fromSherdog | |
Dominick Vincent Reyes (born December 26, 1989) is an American professionalmixed martial artist. He currently competes in theLight Heavyweight[5] division of theUltimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of September 30, 2025, he is #8 in theUFC light heavyweight rankings.[6]
Prior to his mixed martial arts career, he playedcollege football atStony Brook.
Reyes was born inHesperia, California, on December 26, 1989, and isMexican American.[3] Reyes was an athlete from a young age: he wrestled and played American football, aspiring to play in theNFL. Reyes grew up in a poor family; his parents encouraged him to pursue sports in order to avoid getting involved with gangs.[7] After graduating from Hesperia High School, he moved to New York to attendStony Brook University, where he earned hisB.S. in Information Systems.[8]
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Reyes was the starting safety for theStony Brook Seawolves from 2009 to 2012, eventually becoming captain. He twice made the All-Conference team, including being named First Team All-Big South in 2012.He intercepted a pass in the end zone with 54 seconds remaining in the first round of the2011 FCS Playoffs to give Stony Brook a 31–28 win over in-state rivalsAlbany.[9] Reyes graduated from Stony Brook as the program's all-time leader in solo tackles (158), recording 259 tackles in total.[10] While he received attention from NFL teams, his speed was deemed 'average' and he ultimately went undrafted in the2013 NFL draft.[10][11]
Although Reyes attended tryouts for theCanadian Football League afterwards, he had no desire to play for a league that was not top-level.[12] Depressed about the apparent end to his NFL dreams, Reyes returned home to California and worked in construction.[12] He would go on to work manual labor for his father's cabinetry business.[13] He trained for MMA at Combat Cage Academy, his brother Alexander's gym, initially to stay in shape and vent frustration.[12][14] Reyes started competing in amateur MMA fights shortly after.[14][15]
In 2017, Reyes accepted a job as an IT Technical Support Specialist at Oak Hills High School inOak Hills, California.[12] He left the job after two years to focus on competition in the UFC full-time.ESPN's Hallie Grossman described his life during this time as "pulling Clark Kent-ish double duty: by day, he was the technology nerd who made sure the campus internet ran smoothly and installed new computers in classrooms. By night, he was the fighter trying to carve a place for himself in MMA, in King of the Cage and Legacy Fighting Alliance and eventually, finally, the UFC."[13]
If I train hard and do what I have to do in order to prepare myself for an upcoming fight, I should be in position to win. With football, you can do everything right, and because of the variety of factors that’s involved in a game; the result may not go in your favor. With MMA, I feel I have a greater control of my destiny.[15]
— Dominick Reyes
Before signing with theUFC, Reyes amassed an amateur record of 5–0 and was twice the U of MMA champion[16] during his amateur career.[17]
Prior to entering the UFC, Reyes amassed a professional record of 6–0 including a victory that went viral on the internet against Jordan Powell who seemed to be showboating before being knocked out with a head kick.[18][19][20]
Reyes made his promotional debut for theUFC on June 25, 2017, againstJoachim Christensen atUFC Fight Night 112.[21][22] He won the bout via technical knockout in the opening minute of the fight,[23] and he earned thePerformance of the Night bonus.[24]
Reyes facedJeremy Kimball on December 2, 2017, atUFC 218.[25] Reyes won the fight via submission in the first round.[26]
Reyes facedJared Cannonier on May 19, 2018, atUFC Fight Night 129.[27] He won the fight via TKO in the first round.[28]
Reyes facedOvince Saint Preux on October 6, 2018, atUFC 229.[29] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[30]
Reyes facedVolkan Oezdemir on March 16, 2019, atUFC Fight Night 147.[31] Reyes won the back-and-forth fight by split decision.[32] 11 media outlets scored the fight in favor of Oezdemir while 8 media outlets scored it for Reyes.[33][34]
Reyes facedChris Weidman on October 18, 2019, atUFC on ESPN 6 in the main event.[35] He won the fight via knockout in round one.[36] This win earned him thePerformance of the Night award.[37]
Reyes facedJon Jones on February 8, 2020, for theUFC Light Heavyweight Championship atUFC 247. He lost the fight via a controversial unanimous decision.[38][39][40] 14 of 21 media outlets scored the contest for Reyes, with 7 scoring it for Jones.[41]
Reyes facedJan Błachowicz for the vacantUFC Light Heavyweight Championship on September 27, 2020, atUFC 253.[34] He lost the fight via technical knockout in the second round.[42]
Reyes was expected to face the inaugural and formerRizin FF Light Heavyweight ChampionJiří Procházka on February 27, 2021, atUFC Fight Night 186 to serve as the event headliner.[43] However, on late January, it was reported that Reyes was pulled from the fight, citing injury, and the bout was rescheduled for May 1 atUFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Procházka.[44][45] In a back and forth fight, Reyes managed to stun Procházka a few times, but was eventually overwhelmed by Procházka's volume, and was knocked out via a spinning back elbow in the second round.[46] Reyes suffered multiple facial fractures in his knockout defeat to Procházka.[47] This bout earned Reyes aFight of the Night bonus award.[48]
Reyes facedRyan Spann on November 12, 2022, atUFC 281.[49] At the weigh-ins, Spann weighed in at 206.6 pounds, six tenths of a pound over the light heavyweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at a catchweight with Spann fined 20% of his purse, which went to Reyes.[50] He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.[51]
Reyes was scheduled to faceCarlos Ulberg on January 20, 2024, atUFC 297.[52] However, in late December 2023, it was announced that match was off due to an injury sustained by Ulberg.[53] The pair was rescheduled to meet atUFC on ESPN 54 on March 30, 2024.[54] However, on January 23, it was announced that Reyes had withdrawn from the fight and was replaced byAlonzo Menifield.[55]
Reyes facedDustin Jacoby on June 8, 2024, atUFC on ESPN 57.[56] He won the fight by technical knockout in the first round from a knee and punches.[57]
Reyes faced formerUFC Light Heavyweight Championship title challengerAnthony Smith on December 7, 2024 atUFC 310.[58] He won the fight by technical knockout via elbows and punches in the second round.[59]
Reyes facedNikita Krylov on April 12, 2025 atUFC 314.[60] He won the fight by knockout in the first round after landing a left, straight punch.[61]
Reyes facedCarlos Ulberg in the main event on September 28, 2025 atUFC Fight Night 260.[62] He lost the fight via knockout in round one.[63]
Reyes was nicknamed "The Devastator" because of his kicks.[15] He is a fan of theLos Angeles Lakers andLos Angeles Dodgers and he enjoys snowboarding, wakeboarding, mountain bike riding, dirt bike riding, and watching documentary shows on TV.[14] Reyes has an older brother, Alex Reyes, who competes in the Lightweight division of theUltimate Fighting Championship.[64]
| 20 matches | 15 wins | 5 losses |
| By knockout | 10 | 4 |
| By submission | 2 | 0 |
| By decision | 3 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 15–5 | Carlos Ulberg | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Ulberg vs. Reyes | September 28, 2025 | 1 | 4:27 | Perth, Australia | |
| Win | 15–4 | Nikita Krylov | KO (punch) | UFC 314 | April 12, 2025 | 1 | 2:24 | Miami, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 14–4 | Anthony Smith | TKO (elbows and punches) | UFC 310 | December 7, 2024 | 2 | 4:46 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 13–4 | Dustin Jacoby | KO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Imavov | June 8, 2024 | 1 | 2:00 | Louisville, Kentucky, United States | |
| Loss | 12–4 | Ryan Spann | KO (punches) | UFC 281 | November 12, 2022 | 1 | 1:20 | New York City, New York, United States | Catchweight (206.6 lb) bout; Spann missed weight. |
| Loss | 12–3 | Jiří Procházka | KO (spinning back elbow) | UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Procházka | May 1, 2021 | 2 | 4:29 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Loss | 12–2 | Jan Błachowicz | TKO (punches) | UFC 253 | September 27, 2020 | 2 | 4:36 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | For the vacantUFC Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Loss | 12–1 | Jon Jones | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 247 | February 8, 2020 | 5 | 5:00 | Houston, Texas, United States | For theUFC Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 12–0 | Chris Weidman | KO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Weidman | October 18, 2019 | 1 | 1:43 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 11–0 | Volkan Oezdemir | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Till vs. Masvidal | March 16, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | |
| Win | 10–0 | Ovince Saint Preux | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 229 | October 6, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 9–0 | Jared Cannonier | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Usman | May 19, 2018 | 1 | 2:55 | Santiago, Chile | |
| Win | 8–0 | Jeremy Kimball | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 218 | December 2, 2017 | 1 | 3:39 | Detroit, Michigan, United States | |
| Win | 7–0 | Joachim Christensen | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Chiesa vs. Lee | June 25, 2017 | 1 | 0:29 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 6–0 | Jordan Powell | KO (head kick) | LFA 13 | June 2, 2017 | 1 | 0:53 | Burbank, California, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Marcus Govan | KO (head kick) | Hoosier Fight Club 32 | February 11, 2017 | 1 | 0:27 | Michigan City, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Tyler Smith | TKO (punches) | KOTC: Martial Law | September 18, 2016 | 1 | 1:35 | Ontario, California, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Kelly Gray | Decision (unanimous) | KOTC: Sinister Intentions | October 17, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Jessie Glass | Submission (guillotine choke) | Gladiator Challenge: Carnage | April 3, 2015 | 1 | 0:55 | Rancho Mirage, California, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Jose Rivas Jr. | TKO (punches) | KOTC: Fisticuffs | December 4, 2014 | 1 | 3:23 | Highland, California, United States | Light Heavyweight debut. |
| No. | Event | Fight | Date | Venue | City | PPV Buys |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | UFC 247 | Jones vs. Reyes | February 8, 2020 | Toyota Center | Houston, Texas, United States | Not Disclosed[73] |
Media related toDominick Reyes at Wikimedia CommonsUpdated to 28 October 2025 |
