Dominick Reyes is again on the profitable observe however he has extra than simply his rediscovered in-cage success to be glad about.
Forward of a pivotal foremost occasion conflict with Carlos Ulberg this Saturday at UFC Perth, Reyes spoke to Submission Radio about crucial issue to turning his profession round following a four-fight stoop. Reyes introduced in April 2024 he was coping with deep-vein thrombosis (a blood dysfunction) and that battle put all the things else into perspective.
“I believe a variety of it occurred once I was residing everyday with my deep-vein thrombosis and my physician mentioned, ‘Hey man, when you get up at this time, then good on you. Should you don’t, properly, then it didn’t work out,’” Reyes mentioned. “So I used to be residing actually everyday, type of as all of us ought to actually, and it was like a really profound expertise, like I felt God, I felt His vitality. He’s 100% actual. I’ve no query in my thoughts in any respect that that is solely a small piece of eternity.
“I had a really profound expertise. I’m simply grateful to nonetheless be capable of battle and be on this platform after which
as soon as I win and once I win or lose or no matter occurs, I can nonetheless shout his identify on high of the roofs and nonetheless get
individuals to see the sunshine. That’s my mission now in my life is to deliver individuals to the sunshine.”
Reyes and Ulberg had been twice beforehand booked to battle, with an Ulberg harm suspending their first assembly after which Reyes’ thrombosis analysis forcing him to withdraw from the re-booking. Now, they battle beneath completely different circumstances, with Reyes streaking in the other way on the power of three straight victories and Ulberg having strung collectively eight consecutive victories.
There’s no wanting previous Ulberg if Reyes needs one other shot on the UFC gentle heavyweight title, which fell simply out of attain when he misplaced a controversial resolution to Jon Jones at UFC 247 in February 2020. It appears odd to suppose Reyes might steal Ulberg’s spot, however Reyes has a principle as to why Ulberg hasn’t cemented a championship alternative but.
“He is a good fighter and he’s very harmful,” Reyes mentioned. “He has wins the place he squeaked by and that’s not the way you get recognized and cherished and revered within the UFC, that’s simply not the way it works. That is the leisure trade and when you’re not entertaining the individuals, when you’re not going on the market and placing your soul on the market for them and taking dangers, then they’re not going to respect you. That’s simply the way it goes.
“I’ve realized that the exhausting approach as a result of I all the time simply exit on my defend or I put individuals down. That’s my preventing type and it’s very thrilling and folks prefer to see me battle.”
Even with a win, Reyes isn’t going to name for a right away title shot, particularly if his pal Alex Pereira is victorious at UFC 320 on Oct. 4. As an alternative, he plans to move dwelling and focus totally on the delivery of his first youngster, then appears to see the place he matches within the contender image when he’s able to get again within the octagon.
“I’ve simply acquired to beat up Carlos, go dwelling, have my son, after which all the things will type of shake out the way it ought to,” Reyes mentioned. “However since I’m having my son in December, it will make sense for me to only look forward to the winner of [Khalil Rountree Jr. vs. Jiri Prochazka] to battle the winner of the [UFC 320] foremost occasion after which come again once I can sleep once more.”
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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Cris Cyborg (28-2) vs. Sara Collins (6-0); PFL Lyon, Dec. 13.
Vadim Nemkov (19-2) vs. Renan Ferreira (13-4); PFL Lyon, Dec. 13.
Look, UFC Perth is a nasty card. Straight up, simply not a superb battle card. However I’m fairly eager about the primary occasion, if solely as a result of this resurgence from Dominick Reyes has been terrific. Right here’s a man who regarded poised to be one of many greatest What Ifs within the historical past of MMA — What if the judges didn’t rob him in opposition to Jon Jones? — however has now turned his profession round from the brink. If he can discover a approach to beat Ulberg on Saturday, he’s preventing for a title once more, which is inspiring stuff.
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