Jon Jones’ toughest test reveals how a former opponent taught him how to counter one of the UFC GOAT’s dirty tactics

Dominick Reyes says Ovince Saint Preux told him how to counter Jon Jones extending his fingers

The main event of UFC 247 has been one of the most discussed judging decisions in UFC history after Jon Jones kept hold of his title.

Despite the fact that Dominick Reyes out-struck the champion and wasn’t controlled on the ground for a long period of time, the judges had ‘Bones’ winning at least three rounds.

Reyes was asked during a recent appearance on the Pound 4 Pound podcast about who he trained with ahead of that fight in order to give Jones so many problems.

He revealed that one fighter he briefly worked with was Ovince Saint Preux, who went five rounds with Jones in the main event of UFC 197.

Jones has criticized his performance on that night but as a result of this bout, ‘OSP’ was able to pass on some advice to Reyes about how to counter a move that referees are supposed to caution fighters on to reduce the chances of eye pokes.

“‘OSP’ showed up one time to help me out. He actually showed me the punch the finger thing. That was an ‘OSP’ special, because Jon actively goes like this [extending his hands and fingers]. I would be facing him and he would literally put his fingers in my face like this.

“Like, ‘I dare you to run in. I dare you to come in’. So then I punched down on his fingers and that was from ‘OSP’. He was like, ‘Dude, when he’s trying to stick his fingers in your face, just f—— punch down on them’.”

Dominick Reyes reveals the keys to his game plan ahead of the Jon Jones fight

When speaking about his general approach to the fight, Dominick Reyes said that he was more focused on what he could do rather than bringing in fighters to emulate Jon Jones.

His main goal was to try and stop the champion from dictating the fight, which ‘Bones’ had done so well in numerous UFC title fights.

Reyes came into the matchup looking to constantly do the opposite of what Jones wanted him to do, and it clearly paid off for him even if he didn’t get his hand raised.

“Not letting Jon do anything he wants to do. That’s how we did it. If he wants to stand there, attack him. If he wants to attack you, move. If he wants to grapple, break the grapple. If he wants to strike, kick him. Anything he wants to do, don’t let him because he loves to dictate the pace and the fight. He’s a genius fighter. He’s so good at making you fight his fight and then trapping you.”