Dominick Reyes Thanks "GOAT" Jon Jones For Experience Of Title Bout Ahead Of UFC 253

Dominick Reyes has thanked Jon Jones for the experience of a title bout ahead of challenging for the UFC light-heavyweight belt.

He took some time to reflect on his first UFC championship contest and says he feels "grateful" with a title fight on the horizon.

On Twitter, he wrote: "Hey @JonnyBones thank you for the experience man, I wish you the best of luck in your journey.

"I know things got a lil crazy, but I just wanted to be pushed beyond my percieved limits by the LHW GOAT again. God bless and God willing we get to dance under those lights again."

In another tweet, he added: "I let too many people tell me how I should feel (angry) instead of just acting on how I do feel (grateful). #growth #freeDom."

As a result, Reyes will face Jan Blachowicz for the vacant 205lbs belt at UFC 253 on September 26.

The Polish contender, meanwhile, is happy he's fighting for UFC gold and believes Reyes is a "really good" fighter.

"I'm just happy the fight will be for the title," he told MMA Junkie.

"Dominick Reyes is also a really good fighter, one of the best in the world, so we both deserve to have this chance and we got it, so I don't think about Jon Jones right now.

"He doesn't exist for me right now. I'm thinking only about Dominick Reyes."

Speaking about Jones, he continued by saying: "I think that he will come back to 205 in the future. If not, I can go to heavyweight also, no problem for me, and catch him over there."

Reyes vs. Blachowicz will serve as the co-main event of UFC 253.