Dominick Reyes delivered a stunning performance on April 12, 2025, at UFC 314 in Miami’s Kaseya Center. He knocked out Nikita Krylov in just over two minutes, becoming the first fighter to finish the tough Ukrainian with strikes. The light heavyweight clash opened the pay-per-view main card, and Reyes’ crisp left hand stole the show. With this win, he’s climbing back toward the top.
Fight night breakdown
The bout kicked off the UFC 314 main card at around 10 p.m. Eastern Time, streaming live on ESPN Plus. Reyes faced Krylov, who hadn’t fought since March 2023. Both men brought serious finishing power, with Krylov on a three-fight win streak and Reyes riding two straight knockouts.
Reyes’ road back
Reyes landed a perfect straight left at 2 minutes and 24 seconds of round one. Krylov crashed to the canvas, and referee Herb Dean waved it off. This marked Reyes’ third win in a row, bringing his record to 15 wins and 4 losses.
Official result: Dominick Reyes def. Nikita Krylov via first-round KO (2:24)
DOMINICK REYES SAID NIGHT NIGHT @SpinninBackfist pic.twitter.com/NFVOs7CpLg
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) April 13, 2025
“I’m not back, I’m better.”
Dominick Reyes is turning into one hell of a comeback story in the UFC.#UFC314 pic.twitter.com/F4BugkA8cz
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) April 13, 2025
His last fights were knockouts over Dustin Jacoby in June 2024 and Anthony Smith at UFC 310 in December 2024. He struggled before this streak, losing four fights from 2020 to 2022, including a close call against Jon Jones for the title.
Reyes, now 35, showed he’s still a threat. His left hand proved deadly, and he stayed calm against Krylov’s pressure. Krylov, now 30 wins and 10 losses, took his first knockout loss in 40 pro fights.
Krylov had stoppages over Ryan Spann and Alexander Gustafsson before this. His two-year layoff might’ve played a role, but Reyes’ precision was key. This win pushes Reyes closer to the top 10, while Krylov’s contender status takes a hit.
Reyes’ knockout sets up big possibilities. He called for a ranked opponent post-fight, aiming for a title run. Krylov will need to regroup, but his skills keep him dangerous.
