Dominick Reyes is back in the win column after edging Johnny Walker by split decision on the UFC 327 main card at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, but the former title challenger made it clear there was a reason for his measured performance.
The light heavyweight clash had been billed as a potential firefight, yet played out as a slow, tentative affair as Reyes focused on staying technical against what he viewed as a dangerous matchup. The result kept Reyes in the Top 10 at 205 pounds.
“I did expect him to be a little more aggressive, but this is super f—king dangerous game, man,” Reyes said after the fight. “Anything he did, I expected. I wasn’t caught off guard… it was a good technical fight.”
Reyes revealed he had been dealing with serious concerns ahead of UFC 327. “I just had a concussion six months ago — I probably shouldn’t have taken the fight, but I did. I fought a very technical, clean fight and dominated all three rounds.”
“The game plan got switched up because I expected him to step into range more. I had to force the action and wobble him a few times. I don’t think I overgameplanned or anything like that. I was fighting a guy who was getting in, not going — and it’s difficult to fight like that,” he added.
“You know, being Dominick Reyes, people expect me to go all crazy — go for the knockout or get knocked out, but I have a son and I have to come home with two checks more than anything,” Reyes said. “Getting two checks means more than being entertaining.”
