Jon Jones now has the most title fight wins in UFC history.
But his latest title fight victory was rough. Jones needed a late rally to edge a game Dominick Reyes by unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 247 at the Toyota Center in Houston on Saturday night, live on pay-per-view. Judges had it 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46 all in favor of Jones, who defended his light heavyweight title and picked up a record 14th title fight win.
The 49-46 score was instantly criticized by MMA pundits and fans alike — both contingents not being able to fathom how anyone could have seen the bout four rounds to one for Jones. DAZN News had it 48-47 for Jones.
Still, Jones walked into the Octagon and out of it as champion yet again.
"Dominick, you have totally earned my respect," a victorious Jones told Joe Rogan in the Octagon. "That was a great fight.
"The difference in the fight was takedowns," he continued moments later.
"That fifth round won me the fight. That fifth round won me the fight."
Reyes outworked Jones through much of the first three rounds, stinging him with heavy hands and dropping the champ in the opening frame. But Jones took advantage of the fatigued challenger during the fourth round by taking him down and unleashing on punishing kicks. Still, Reyes managed to draw blood from the champ's nose that round.
The decisive fifth round had Jones once again taking Reyes down and going high, low and to the body with more kicks to ride out the bout as the fresher fighter and gain the slimmest of edge for the victory.
"I thought I won one through three," Reyes (12-1) said moments after suffering his first pro loss. "He was on me four and five. He's a champion, he got those takedowns at the end, but I popped right back up. I didn't think they'd be a factor ... it is what it is, I'll get better. This just proves I'm the real deal."
The combination of how Reyes took it to the champ and that one inexplicable 49-46 score could pave the way for a rematch, which Jones didn't write off following his win.
Here's the full round-by-round breakdown for Jones vs. Reyes, plus all the results from the UFC 247 main card.
UFC 247: Jon Jones vs. Dominick Reyes updates, round-by-round results
Main event: Jon Jones def. Dominick Reyes by slim unanimous decision to retain light heavyweight title
1:11 a.m.: Jones declared the unanimous decision winner by the scores of 48-47, 48-47, 49-46.
Round 5: It all comes down to this. Reyes lunging with some hooks early on. Jones rushes Reyes and takes him down now. The champ briefly has Reyes' back, but the challenger gets free. Jones has him pressed up against the cage. They're back in the center of the Octagon and Jones slices Reyes with an elbow.
Jones with an inside leg kick and now a body kick. Jones is ripping away at Reyes with stinging kicks. Another kick to the body now from Jones. Halfway through the decisive round. Big left hand lands for Jones. The champ is still the fresher fighter. Reyes ducks under a high kick and retorts with a left hook. Reyes now throwing some jabs.
One minute left. Jones with an inside leg kick. Thirty seconds. Ten seconds. And it's done. The fight goes the distance. Jones raises his hands, but let's see how the judges have it. We've got Jones winning just barely, but could understand if judges have it the other way. The announcement is about to be made. (10-9 Jones, 48-47 Jones)
1:00 a.m.: Reyes is winded, but he has hurt the champ. Let's see how this plays out.
Round 4: Jones appears to be the fresher fighter entering the round. Reyes lands a big right hand and a left that hurts the champ. Jones slips, but gets up and wraps his arms around Reyes for a takedown. Now, the champ has Reyes pressed up against the cage. Jones is bleeding from his nose. Reyes buries a left hook to Jones' chest. Jones with a leg kick and he's back to grabbing Reyes. Jones applying pressure on the feet now, walking Reyes down. High kick from Jones lands. Jones plants a right hook to Reyes' body, then blasts him upstairs with a left hook. (10-9 Jones, 38-38)
Round 3: Jones smiling entering the round, asking for the Houston crowd to get louder. Big left high kick lands for Reyes. The challenger slaps Jones hands down and sneaks in a sweeping hook. That's one way to deal with the champ's massive reach advantage. Reyes seems to be slowing down a bit midway through the round. He unleashes a stinging uppercut, but Jones comes back with a head kick. Reyes goes to the body with a straight left hand. Then, he goes upstairs with a left hand. Jones with a left hand now. Jones with a jump kick to end the round. (10-9 Reyes, 29-28 Reyes)
Round 2: Reyes starts working inside. He lands a few shots and is applying pressure and giving chase trying to land more punches. Jones does a good job evading any real damage. Plus, Reyes spent plenty of energy during that time. Now Jones with a leg kick and lands a left hook moments later. He's walking down Reyes now, analyzing data in real time. Jones peppers Reyes with a stinging left jab. That could be a bigger weapon for Jones in this bout as it landed that cleanly.
Two methodical kicks from the champ now. Kick to the body brushes Reyes up against the cage. Then, he adds a left uppercut seconds later. But the challenger strikes back with an inside leg kick during the waning seconds. (10-9 Jones, 19-19)
Round 1: Reyes immediately delivers a knee to the body and a left hand. He isn't wasting time. He adds a leg kick to check the champ. They're clashing shins hard here a bit. A left hand from Reyes to the body drops Jones.
And the challenger adds a quick barrage of punches that land and definitely grabs the champ's attention further. Reyes is the more aggressive fighter right now and yet he's calm and composed. Impressive. Jones lands a nice left head kick, then seconds later adds a right head kick. (10-9 Reyes)
12:37 a.m.: Both fighters have been introduced. It's about that time to see if Jones' dominance continues or Reyes' threat is legit.
12:34 a.m.: "Bones" makes his traditional crawl into the Octagon and this one is about to start.
12:30 a.m.: Reyes is in the Octagon. The lights go out and here comes the champ, Jon Jones. 50 Cent's "God Gave Me Style" starts his walk before the song switches to Jadakiss' "The Champ Is Here."
12:27 a.m.: Reyes making his way to the Octagon to the sounds of the late Nipsey Hussle's "Grinding All My Life." The game challenger looks loose and focused. Let's see how he fares against the GOAT.
12:18 a.m.: The Houston crowd boos welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and roars in approval for BMF champ Jorge Masvidal, as we await the start to the main event.
12:15 a.m.: Shevchenko says there's plenty of good fighters out there in flyweight, but she's been running through the competition at a crazed pace. That's three straight title defenses for "Bullet."
Co-main event: Valentina Shevchenko thoroughly dominates Katlyn Chookagian in third-round TKO to retain flyweight title
Round 3: Chookagian comes out more active by attempting a couple of kicks and a knee, but Shevchenko responds by taking her down once again. Shevchenko goes from side mount to crucifix and is pummeling Chookagian with punches. Chookagian is in big trouble. This could end any second now. And it's over, as the ref steps in to end the punishment.
And the celebration from Shevchenko:
Round 2: A spinning kick to the body from the champ to the challenger early on. Chookagian tries to engage inside and Shevchenko tags her with a stiff left across the jaw. Shevchenko blocks a leg kick and retorts with an inside leg kick of her own. Punishing stuff from the champ. A devastating spinning back kick lands inside for the champ across Chookagian's jaw and she adds an axe kick attempt.
Shevchenko is back on top in the mount and trying to let loose with some more slicing elbows. (10-9 Shevchenko, 20-18 Shevchenko)
Round 1: Shevchenko puts Chookagian on notice of her power with a hard right hand. Moments later, she adds a spinning backfist that lands flush. Then, the leg kicks start for Shevchenko, who's dominating thus far. And a takedown for the champ with about a minute left in the round.
She's in the mount and delivers an elbow during the waning seconds that opens up a cut on Chookagian's left eyebrow. Chookagian's corner says the cut "isn't bad at all." That's just not true. She's leaking! (10-9 Shevchenko)
12:00 a.m.: Shevchenko lands a dazzling spinning backfist right at midnight. Damn!
11:42 p.m.: Valentina Shevchenko puts her flyweight title on the line against Katlyn Chookagian in this UFC 247 co-main event up next.
Justin Tafa blasts Juan Adams with first-round TKO; Heavyweight
11:34 p.m.: Whoa! Tafa goes across Adams' jaw with a right hook and then adds a splintering right uppercut to drop him with a thud. He throws in a quick barrage of punches and this one's a wrap just like that.
11:30 p.m.: Adams was on the receiving end of a first-round TKO against former NFL star Greg Hardy last July.
11:25 p.m.: The card flips back to heavyweight action with Juan Adams taking on Justin Tafa next. The prospects have just over 10 pro fights combined.
Dan Ige gets the best of Mirsad Bektić by split decision; Featherweight
11:18 p.m.: Ige gets the nod by split decision: 29-28 Bektić, 29-28 and 29-28 Ige. That's five straight wins for Ige.
11:15 p.m.: This is going to be a tough fight to call, as Ige dominated with the strikes and Bektić controlled things with the takedowns and top game.
11:10 p.m.: Bektić spends a chunk of the second round in the mount and threatening a head and arm choke submission, but Ige survives and we're in the third and final frame.
11:00 p.m.: Ige razor-sharp in the first, as he's connecting with good timing. But Bektić countering some shots well.
10:50 p.m.: Mirsad Bektić and Dan Ige up next in featherweight action.
Derrick Lewis brings the fireworks in unanimous decision over Ilir Latifi; Heavyweight
10:45 p.m.: In true Lewis form, he announces the afterparty and says "I’ll let y'all buy me five shots...I’m not buying y’all sh-t though!"
10:41 p.m.: All three judges score the bout in favor of Derrick Lewis, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28, to the roar of his hometown Houston crowd. Lewis' late surges are one of the most exciting things in MMA to watch.
10:38 p.m.: Latifi looks to the clock and Lewis blasts him with a head kick. Lewis kept the late fireworks coming with some stinging elbows and a right uppercut. We've got Lewis edging Latifi on the cards. Let's see how the judges score it.
10:35 p.m.: Lewis unleashes a big right hand and adds a flying knee moments later, but gets taken down once again, as Latifi is in the mount.
10:32 p.m.: After grinding hard, Latifi finally got the takedown he was working so diligently for. But he didn't do much with Lewis on the ground. A missed opportunity for sure. Moments later, he tossed Lewis to the ground. We have it as a round apiece entering the third and final frame.
10:30 p.m.: Latifi with some low leg kicks on Lewis early in the second round. Lewis will need to avoid those.
10:27 p.m.: A strong first round for Lewis, as he put Latifi on notice of his power and even surprised him with a couple of head kicks. In addition, he stuffed three takedown attempts from Latifi, so Lewis delivered an all-around solid first round.
10:24 p.m.: Lewis just detonated a jumping knee to Latifi's face. I don't know how Latifi stayed on his feet. Lewis is clearly the bigger, stronger man.
10:15 p.m.: Fan favorite Derrick Lewis and Ilir Latifi — in his heavyweight debut — are about to kick this UFC 247 pay-per-view off.
10:02 p.m.: The UFC just gave a nine-second of silence to honor the nine victims aboard the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant last month. Earlier in the week, UFC president Dana White revealed that Bryant was an investor in the UFC.
10:00 p.m.: Trevin Giles just edged James Krause by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) in the final fight of the prelims. Krause had taken the bout on short notice. This UFC 247 main card pay-per-view is about to launch. Keep it locked here for all the live updates and round-by-round results.
UFC 247 card
Main card
- Jon Jones (c) vs. Dominick Reyes for Jones' Light Heavyweight title
- Valentina Shevchenko (c) vs. Katlyn Chookagian for Shevchenko's Women's Flyweight title
- Juan Adams vs. Justin Tafa; Heavyweight
- Mirsad Bektić vs. Dan Ige; Featherweight
- Derrick Lewis vs. Ilir Latifi; Heavyweight
Preliminary card
- Trevin Giles vs. Antonio Arroyo; Middleweight
- Alex Morono vs. Kalinn Williams; Welterweight
- Lauren Murphy vs. Andrea Lee; Women's Flyweight
- Mario Bautista vs. Miles Johns; Bantamweight
- Bantamweight Miles Johns vs. Mario Bautista
- Bantamweight Journey Newson vs. Domingo Pilarte
- Bantamweight Andre Ewell vs. Jonathan Martinez
- Austin Lingo vs. Youssef Zalal; Featherweight
Latest news from UFC 247: Jon Jones vs. Dominick Reyes
-Dominick Reyes wants to be the first fighter to knock Jon Jones out and thinks he has the tools to get it done.
-Valentina Shevchenko has been described as an almost unbeatable fighter. Katlyn Chookagian simply doesn't agree.
-Everything you need to know about UFC 247, including how to watch the card and its price.