In the UFC, not many fighters manage to bounce back after suffering a string of crucial losses. However, Dominick Reyes stands out as a special case. Once hailed as the most dangerous 205-ers on the roster, Reyes found himself in deep waters, losing four fights in a row. Yet, through sheer dedication and grit, he has managed to find his lost mojo. Now, he once again finds himself on the cusp of title contention as he gears up to face Carlos Ulberg at UFC Perth on September 28.  

Fans have been nothing short of impressed by the new and improved version of ‘The Devastator.’ But one question continues to linger: How did he manage to shake off those tough losses and put together the run of his life? It’s a fair ask, and one that might ultimately determine whether Reyes can once again find himself in title contention.

Dominick Reyes’ defeat to Jon Jones changed everything 

Before Dominick Reyes rose to challenge Jon Jones for the light heavyweight championship, he was an undefeated phenom. The Californian lived up to his moniker, ‘The Devastator,’ by tearing through opponents like a hot knife through butter. And it wasn’t as if he was beating untested newcomers. Reyes was taking on legitimate threats from the start.

In just his second UFC fight, he faced Jared Cannonier and earned a unanimous decision victory. From there, he quickly began dismantling seasoned contenders, defeating the likes of Ovince Saint Preux and Volkan Oezdemir to cement himself as one of the most feared men in the 205-pound division. But it was his win over former middleweight champion Chris Weidman in 2019 that punched his ticket to a title shot against Jon Jones at UFC 247. What followed was a razor-close five-round battle against the greatest athlete this sport has seen.

While Jones ultimately retained his belt via unanimous decision, many fans and analysts believed Reyes had done enough to dethrone the champion. The consensus was clear. If he could push the legendary ‘Bones’ to the limit, it was only a matter of time before the Californian could capture UFC gold. But instead of rising higher, everything went massively downhill after that fight.

Reyes was brutally knocked out by Jan Blachowicz at UFC 253, once again falling short of capturing the vacant light heavyweight title. Things only got worse in his next outing against Jiri Prochazka, where ‘The Devastator ‘ was on the receiving end of one of the nastiest spinning elbows in UFC history. To make matters worse, Ryan Spann — whom many believed wouldn’t stand a chance against Reyes — also stopped him with a knockout, handing him his fourth straight loss.

After such a crushing downfall, fans began to believe that was the end of the road for the former title challenger. Also, Reyes going two years without taking a single fight even amplified that belief. But little did they know, a massive comeback was just around the corner.  

The comeback of ‘The Devastator’: 3 fight winning streak  

“You keep building, and you get stronger and stronger and stronger. Mentally, I’m at a very, very good place. I’m not back — I’m better.” Those were the words of Dominick Reyes at the UFC on ESPN 57 pre-fight presser. After nearly two years away from the sport, Reyes returned to face another seasoned veteran, Dustin Jacoby. His words reflected not just confidence, but also the hard work and adjustments he had made during the hiatus. On fight night, it all paid off.   

Reyes made a statement in his return, putting away Jacoby in the very first round to secure his first victory in three years. That win must have tasted sweeter than candy. But it wasn’t just a one-off comeback — the Californian was only getting started. He followed up with a knockout win over fellow veteran Anthony Smith at UFC 310. Then he added another emphatic finish against Nikita Krylov — who was riding a three-fight winning streak — at UFC 314.

That’s how time away from the cage, combined with fixing his mistakes, put Reyes firmly back on the map. From enduring a four-fight losing skid to building a three-fight win streak, his journey back has been nothing short of remarkable. Now, “The Devastator” is once again in the title conversation. And at his next outing, he has a chance to cement that claim even further.   

Is the UFC Perth the road to his title shot? 

This weekend, the UFC returns to Perth for the fourth time in its history. But this visit is a little different. The promotion is making its Fight Night debut in the city. To grab the spotlight, the card is headlined by a stellar light heavyweight clash between Carlos Ulberg and Dominick Reyes, a matchup that could push either man closer to a future title shot.

Ulberg, currently ranked No. 3 at 205, is practically one win away from challenging for gold. His recent victory over former champion Jan Blachowicz only strengthens his case. But the ranked number 8, Reyes, also has just as much to gain. If he can take out a top contender like Ulberg, the UFC could very well line him up against the winner of the UFC 320 main event between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira.

Of course, there’s also the possibility that Reyes may need one more test. Perhaps against the loser of Jiri Prochazka vs. Khalil Rountree, before finally earning his second shot at the belt. Either way, his remarkable comeback run has put him right back in the conversation.

So the question remains! Can Dominick Reyes complete his dream redemption arc and finally capture UFC gold? Let us know what you think in the comments below.