At UFC 314: Volkanovski vs. Lopes, held on April 12, 2025, at the Kaseya Center in Miami, former light heavyweight title challenger Dominick Reyes faced surging contender Nikita Krylov in a pivotal bout with major implications for the division’s top ten. Reyes entered the fight riding consecutive knockout victories over Dustin Jacoby and Anthony Smith, while Krylov returned after a lengthy layoff looking to extend his three-fight winning streak.
The opening minute was contested at a high pace. Krylov immediately pressured forward with his trademark aggressive style, firing kicks and looking to force Reyes onto the back foot. Reyes remained composed, circling on the outside while snapping sharp jabs and straight left hands down the middle. His footwork prevented Krylov from trapping him against the fence, allowing him to dictate the distance despite the constant pressure.
As Krylov continued to march forward, Reyes found his rhythm. A crisp jab briefly stunned Krylov, forcing him to hesitate before resuming his attack. Reyes mixed in body kicks and leg kicks while maintaining excellent defensive awareness, patiently waiting for Krylov to overcommit during one of his forward rushes.
The decisive sequence came just over two minutes into the round. Krylov aggressively charged into range behind his offense, but Reyes anticipated the entry perfectly. Taking a slight step backward, Reyes unleashed a perfectly timed counter left hand that landed flush on Krylov’s jaw. The punch instantly shut Krylov’s lights out, sending him crashing face-first to the canvas unconscious before he hit the mat. Reyes followed with only a couple of insurance strikes before referee Marc Goddard immediately waved off the contest at 2:24 of Round 1. The official result was Dominick Reyes via knockout (KO).
The spectacular one-punch finish marked Reyes’ third consecutive stoppage victory and arguably his most emphatic win since his memorable run to a UFC title shot. The victory was especially significant because Krylov had long been regarded as one of the division’s toughest and most durable contenders, making Reyes’ clean knockout all the more impressive.
Following the victory, Reyes celebrated by declaring, “I’m not back, I’m better,” signaling his belief that he had fully re-established himself as a legitimate contender in the light heavyweight division. The performance vaulted him back into the division’s upper echelon and renewed discussions of another championship run after years of adversity following his narrow title defeat earlier in his career.