Jones: Reyes 'tickles my pickle'

Jon Jones has had no issue getting excited for his upcoming title defense against Dominick Reyes.

The UFC light heavyweight champion meets Reyes in the UFC 247 main event on Feb. 8, 2020, in Houston. Reyes has been in the UFC for two-and-a-half years, and he's only been a pro fighter for five years.

But that doesn't matter, according to Jones.

"Dominick is starting off this whole thing with talking about party favorites and bringing up my past and stuff like that. It was exactly what I wanted and what I needed," Jones said at the UFC 247 press conference on Friday in Las Vegas. "... I'm excited for this challenge. He's undefeated. So yeah, this guy tickles my pickle and I cannot wait to put my hands on him."

While Jones respects Reyes' abilities, he doesn't look at the 29-year-old as a bigger threat than any of his previous challengers.

"He's an elite-level athlete," Jones said. "I believe I am, as well. He has a lot of power in his left hand. But to call him different than anybody I've faced before, I don't know if I can do that at all. I've faced so many people with way more advanced striking. I've faced so many people with extreme knockout power. I just gotta go out there, respect him, believe, and just do what I do."

"Bones," a two-time light heavyweight champ, has defended the belt twice since winning it in December 2018. In his last fight in July, the 32-year-old fought to a split-decision win over Thiago Santos. That bout was the first time a judge had ever scored a fight against Jones.

The New York native is widely considered one of the greatest fighters of all time and is currently ranked No. 1 on the UFC's pound-for-pound list.