Dominick Reyes flirted with a professional soccer profession, so he is aware of what it means to be an athlete within the UFC. In that regard, Reyes thinks upcoming opponent Carlos Ulberg stacks up in opposition to the easiest.
And higher than arguably the most effective fighter of all time.
“Carlos is the most effective athlete I’ll face within the gentle heavyweight division,” Reyes advised Submission Radio.
Contemplating Reyes as soon as went a hard-fought 5 rounds with Jon Jones, a three-time gentle heavyweight champion that just lately retired with a heavyweight title in his possession, it’s truthful to ask if he was together with “Bones” in that assertion.
“Sure, far more,” Reyes answered. “Far more. [Ulberg] strikes his toes extraordinarily properly. He’s very fast, he’s very highly effective, however it’s simply his motion. He can transfer like me. He’s an especially good athlete, he’s very balanced with the whole lot he does, he’s type of protected, he fights very protected. Type of fights to not lose versus win as he’s moved up in competitors, however he’s a top quality opponent, I’m very, very, very a lot wanting ahead to combating Carlos.
“He’s fairly the take a look at. He’s acquired an ideal left hook and he’s good with that lead hand. He’s actual good with that lead hand and he’s gentle on his toes and he kicks properly. It’s going to be a really technical battle. I’m going to must be very affected person as a result of he’s so affected person that he’ll virtually lose a battle, that’s how affected person he’s.”
Reyes, 35, is within the midst of a profession resurgence. After shedding a slender determination to Jones at UFC 247, Reyes went on to lose his subsequent three fights, all by knockout. It regarded like that was the top of the street for “The Devastator,” however he has since rebounded with a trio of knockouts of his personal to make an sudden climb again into title rivalry.
Ought to he defeat Ulberg and earn one other championship alternative, Reyes already is aware of he’ll be extra ready.
“It’s type of the identical factor however this time it doesn’t really feel as, like, ‘It’s a title shot! Yeah!” Reyes mentioned. “It’s simply one other day within the workplace, let’s go. Let’s do that, go to work, as an alternative of there’s a lot strain, so many issues. It’s similar to, ‘Naw, go to work. Do what you do. Let’s end the mission.’”
Reyes and Ulberg have been beforehand scheduled to compete at UFC 297 in January 2024, which might have occurred below a lot completely different circumstances as Reyes had but to halt his four-fight shedding streak at the moment. An Ulberg harm modified plans and probably gave Reyes his probability to proper the ship earlier than their inevitable in-cage assembly.
Now scheduled for UFC Perth on Sept. 28, Reyes is thrilled to lastly get to battle Ulberg, particularly contemplating what may very well be on the road.
“I used to be like, heck yeah,” Reyes mentioned. “We have been imagined to battle earlier than, it’s type of been a very long time coming. He’s No. 3, prime 3. You are taking out the highest three guys, you’re in line for a title shot, particularly that shall be 4 finishes in a row for me? It’s thrilling.”
“Another, let’s go,” Reyes added. “The champion all people desires to see develop into champion. I’ve acquired a variety of juice behind me proper now. I’ve acquired a variety of love from the MMA world on my again and I don’t plan on disappointing anybody, particularly myself.”
