5 opponents for Dominick Reyes when he returns to the UFC
Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Dominick Reyes has had a great career so far. He quickly ascended the rankings with his impressive wins over Ovince Saint Preux, Volkan Oezdemir, and former middleweight champion Chris Weidman. His unbeaten streak led to a title shot with then light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
Despite being unsuccessful in his title fight with Jones, his fanbase grew as there were many who disputed the result. Since the loss, 'The Devastator' hasn't fared too well in the octagon and has had some tough results. He was stopped in back-to-back bouts against Jan Blachowicz and current light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka.
Reyes was recently a guest on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, where he provided an optimistic update on his future. He mentioned that he feels great after the extended layoff and that he's looking to return to the octagon this October. There are plenty of intriguing bouts that could be suitable return fights for 'The Devastator.' This list will look at five possible opponents for Dominick Reyes when he returns to the UFC.
#5. No.11-ranked UFC light heavyweight Nikita Krylov
No.11-ranked UFC light heavyweight contender Nikita Krylov has been an entertaining fighter to watch throughout his career. He is also a fighter known for finishing opponents, as 26 of his 27 wins have come via KO/TKO or a submission.
Krylov vs. Reyes would be interesting, especially considering their respective rankings. Since 'The Devastator' has been inactive for over a year, perhaps the promotion books him against somebody outside the top 10 rankings. 'The Miner' is scheduled to fight former title challenger Alexander Gustafsson on July 23. This is a significant fight for him as he welcomes 'The Mauler' back to the light heavyweight division.
Regardless of the result against Gustafsson, Krylov vs. Reyes will still be logical. 'The Miner' is currently on a two-fight losing skid, so a win could propel him into the top 10. Meanwhile, a loss would make it three straight, which is the same as 'The Devastator.'