After a five-year wait, Dominick Reyes has returned to winning ways. He secured a victory over Dustin Jacoby at the June 8 Fight Night in Louisville, Ky., with an impressive first-round knockout. This win broke his four-fight losing streak, which included defeats against future UFC champions Jan Blachowicz and Jiri Prochazka, in addition to a disputed decision loss to Jon Jones at UFC 247 in February 2020.
Despite his recent success, Reyes continues to be haunted by the memory of his fight with Jones and the scoring discrepancies that marred their contest. With Jones moving on to the heavyweight division, Reyes is determined to push for improvements in judging standards for future fights. He proposes the introduction of online courses for judges to ensure they are well-versed in scoring criteria and to promote a more uniform judging process.
While Reyes’ efforts are commendable, there are existing initiatives aimed at enhancing judging standards, like UFC commentator Laura Sanko completing an extensive eight-hour course to become a licensed judge in Missouri. However, harmonizing these varied approaches across different states and organizations remains a complex task.
Looking forward, Reyes is focused on tackling the shortcomings in judging criteria through proactive measures to refine the system. Despite the inherent challenges in the sport, Reyes remains resolute in his mission to drive positive change for fighters and to secure more equitable outcomes in future fights.
