DOMINICK REYES has vowed to 'right what was wrong' after his controversial loss to Jones Jones with a 'life changing' second chance at UFC 253.

Many felt Reyes was unfortunate not to walk away with the decision against light-heavyweight legend Jones in their razor thin title fight in February.

And he was momentarily devastated when Jones vacated the belt to move up to heavyweight, dashing hopes of revenge in a rematch.

But frustration was soon turned into motivation when Reyes was handed an immediate second crack at the championship, facing Jan Blachowicz on Saturday night.

The occasion again provides the American former NFL hopeful with 25 minutes to change his life.

Reyes, 30, told SunSport: "It's literally up to you and you decide your fait. It's so freaking cool.

"It's life changing – it's the key to the city in every city you're in.

"You could go anywhere and have access to anything. You're world champion, you're the best fighter on the planet.

"That's the goal when you first start training and if it's not what the hell are you doing?

"It's a culmination of a lifetime of work and finally being recognised and earning that spot is the best guy on the planet.

"It's another opportunity to be champion. An opportunity to right what was wrong."

As Reyes and 37-year-old Blachowicz brace themselves to co-headline on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, they do so ahead of a new age in the 205lb division.

For the first time since 2011, a fighter other than Jones, 33, and Daniel Cormier, 41, will be crowned light-heavyweight champion.

Reyes insists he has not taken the bitter feeling of defeat into training camp for motivation.

Instead, he prepared as the uncrowned champion, ready to defend the belt he believes should have been wrapped around his waist in a career-defining night seven months ago.

He said: "I see it in many parts as my first title defence. I'm going to keep what's mine and actually bring it home.

"Even though I don't feel like I lose, I didn't get out-matched, I still lost in the judges eyes.

"It sucks, it's s***y. I could only do what I could do and I can only control what I can control and I'm going to go out there and do my thing and god willing I get my hand raised.

"You never want to lose anything. You lose a game of chess and you're like 'F that, I'm never gonna lose again'.

"It's the same feeling, it's less of I love winning and more of a F'ing hate losing."

Reyes' eye-catching performance against Jones makes him a betting favourite against Blachowicz, who has won seven of his last eight.

But the Polish puncher will be nothing compared to the monstrous 'titan' Reyes mentally prepares to fight each time he steps foot into the octagon.

He explained: "This is the best two fighters on the planet right now.

"I'm expecting a really good fighter, in my mind I always create this monster, this unbeatable guy, and when I get in there it's a lot easier than fighting the titan I created in my mind.

"It's a light-heavyweight title fight, there's very small margin for error in these fights with highly-skilled contenders."

Source: Read Full Article