Both Thiago Santos and Dominick Reyes thought they were robbed when they fought Jon Jones.
After moving up to light heavyweight, Santos (21-7 MMA, 13-6 UFC) scored three-straight stoppages to earn a shot at UFC light heavyweight champion Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) at UFC 239.
Not only did Santos go the distance with him, he did it with injuries to both knees, which were damaged while throwing an array of leg kicks to Jones that wobbled the champion on numerous occasions. Santos suffered a split decision loss at UFC 239 in July 2019.
Santos, who recently underwent surgery on both knees, has wanted a rematch ever since. With Jones’ Thursday arrest, he’s suggesting a title fight against Reyes – implying Jones should be stripped of the title and he should get a chance to win the vacated belt.
Reyes (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) also is coming off a loss to Jones. He narrowly was edged out by the champ at UFC 247 in February in a fight many analysts, including UFC president Dana White, thought he won.
“I think UFCs 205 div needs a new champ! ( One thats not forever in trouble!) I think me and Reyes deserve to fight for that belt!”
Jones already has been stripped of the light heavyweight title three times before – twice for drug test failures and once for violating the UFC’s code of conduct policy. But he reclaimed the title once again when he stopped Alexander Gustafsson in December 2018.
