5 potential surprises that could happen at UFC 229

#5: The fighter everyone ends up talking about could be Dominick Reyes

Dominick Reyes has finished 3 opponents in the UFC thus far

Given the way the card has been built, you’d be forgiven for thinking that UFC 229 is a one-fight show with little substance behind the McGregor/Nurmagomedov main event. And while most fans are naturally watching for that fight, the show is actually a solid card overall with other intriguing fights on the undercard.

One of those fights is the main card battle between Light-Heavyweights Ovince St. Preux and Dominick Reyes. ‘OSP’ has been floating around the top of the 205lbs division for some time now – he unsuccessfully challenged Jon Jones for the UFC title in 2016 – and now he seems to have settled into a role as a uber-tough gatekeeper.

Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more

Reyes meanwhile is flying under the radar somewhat as he’s fought on cards that also went largely unnoticed by the casual fans. But he’s 3-0 in the Octagon and has delivered 3 devastating finishes – living up to his nickname.

And he appears to have everything it takes to succeed – he’s relatively young for a 205lber at 28; at 6’4” he’s got the perfect frame for the division, and he’s seemingly as skilled on the ground as he is on the feet.

Fighting on a Conor McGregor undercard then is the perfect opportunity for him to shoot to stardom. If he can beat OSP on Saturday in impressive fashion then he’d likely only be one or two fights away from a title shot – and so it’d be a nice surprise for him to be the name on everyone’s lips on Sunday morning.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

Know More

Follow One Championship News, Schedule & Results at Sportskeeda.

Edited by Anirban Banerjee