First came the head kick.

Then came the straight left.

Followed up with punches to the head.

And when Dominick Reyes finally knocked out Russian Azamat Murzakanov in the first round of a light heavyweight bout at UFC 333 Saturday, Oct. 24 in Abu Dhabi, improving to 17-5 with 11 knockouts. He did a couple of subtle bows during a remarkable comeback that again left UFC fans wondering what’s next.

Next, Reyes said, he wants to fight Paulo Costa or Khalil Rountree, Jr., two of the contenders in the light heavyweight division.

“Let’s get some action out there,’’ he told Daniel Cormier during his post-fight interview in the octagon.

At 36, Reyes went from title challenger to afterthought, and now back to a potential title threat. He has won five of his last six fights and conjured up the magic he showed years ago.

In 2020, Reyes fought the legendary Jon Jones for the light heavyweight championship. Reyes took him the distance before losing by unanimous decision.

Later that year, he fought Jan Blachowicz for the vacant light heavyweight title. He lost by second-round TKO.

Career began to fade

His career began to wither, but he had another fight on his hands.

In early 2024, he was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), blood clots deep in his leg, according to MMA Fighting.

He played college football for Stony Brook between 2009 and 2012 before discovering mixed martial arts was his calling.

Months later, his comeback inside the octagon began.

He won five of his next six fights and may have won the biggest yet at UFC 333.

Murzakanov was 17-0 before losing his last fight against Paulo Costa by third-round TKO. But he entered his bout against Reyes No. 8 in the light heavyweight rankings and Reyes No. 6.

The 6-4 fighter opened the fight with a series of leg kicks. The 5-11 Murzakanov charged forward with a couple of menacing strikes.

But Reyes then connected with the head kick, followed by the striking, and soon enough came the bows.

“It was nasty,’’ Reyes told Daniel Cormier with a chuckle during the post-fight interview. “I knew he was hurt and I just stepped in and finished the fight.’’