UFC on ESPN 6 takes place Saturday, Oct. 18, at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts and UFC odds are already listed for the event. Here's a complete betting guide previewing the light heavyweight bout between Dominick Reyes and Chris Weidman, including updated betting odds and our betting prediction.
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Dominick Reyes
The UFC’s Light Heavyweight division has been under scrutiny in recent years. A division once lacking depth and serious contenders has seen a recent wave of elite athletes displaying their skills inside the UFC octagon.
That directs us straight towards the 29-year-old from California, USA, ‘Dominick Reyes’.
Reyes took up sporting activities from an early age; much like his peers, a dream of playing in the National Football League (NFL) was all that mattered. Reyes pursued the NFL dream whilst playing defensive back for the Seawolves at Stony Brook University. When Reyes wasn’t drafted, he decided it was time to focus on Mixed Martial Arts.
A short amateur career in the MMA world saw Reyes hit a 5-0 record. The professional fights ahead of him were merely roadblocks on his way to the big league. Another winning streak for Reyes took his pro record to 6-0. This was more than enough for UFC boss Dana White to offer Reyes his first UFC contract.
June 25th,2017 and the date were set. Dominick Reyes athleticism didn’t work out for his football campaign but the transition into MMA had worked out completely. The biggest MMA organization in the world was about to witness a new beast, the new generation of mixed martial artist. It took Reyes 30 seconds to obliterate his opponent with vicious strikes, the fairy tale beginning that the young California had lacked was now manifesting through the fight game.
Fast-forward two-years; Reyes has accumulated another undefeated record but this time there would be no doubts. He’s beat legends like Ovince Saint Preux, out-talented the likes of Jared Cannonier and Volkan Oezdemir which has placed the #4 ranked Reyes in the toughest fight of his career, Chris Weidman.
UFC on ESPN 6 will showcase the new breed of UFC Light Heavyweight versus the old school. The former middleweight champion Chris Weidman, without a doubt, will give
Dominick the toughest test to date whilst raising the roof of the TD Garden in California.
UFC odds: Dominick Reyes best priced at -155
Chris Weidman
He was the first man to put a stop to ‘The Spider’ Anderson Silva, he held the UFC Middleweight title for over two years whilst fighting for the right to have UFC events legalised in the state of New York. The ‘All American’ Chris Weidman hasn’t given MMA fans much choice, it’s hard not to like and respect a fighter with such determination and class.
Competition in combat sports Is nothing new for Chris. From an early age, he began wrestling which would eventually lead him into mixed martial arts. The wrestling accomplishments Chris has achieved are outstanding, the All-American stand-out placed 3rd in his senior year (NCAA) amongst countless other wrestling triumphs.
It was March 2011 when Chris made his UFC debut. Four fights with four wins on the regional scene for the ‘Ring of Combat’ organisation was more than enough back then to gain the attention of Dana White and the Fertitta brothers. The undefeated record never came to an end, Chris singlehandedly battled through the entire middleweight division until UFC gold was staring him in the face. The de-crowning of Anderson Silva would see Chris defend his championship in four fights across two years, eventually losing the strap to Luke Rockhold in 2015.
The name ‘Chris Weidman’ has already been cemented in the UFC history books. His MMA career is something very few get to perceive.
Next weekend in Boston will see an uprising of a declining legend or a new light heavyweight #1 contender for the championship which sits around Jon Jones waist. Chris will make his light heavyweight debut in a fight you don’t want to miss.
UFC odds: Chris Weidman best priced at +145
Dominick Reyes vs. Chris Weidman picks, prediction
The recent decline in the performance of Chris Weidman is something that can’t be ignored. Since his first TKO loss against Luke Rockhold he’s struggled in a way we’ve never seen.
Aged 35, Chris has been through the trenches of the UFC battlefield. In-ring wars against Luke Rockhold, Yoel Romero, Gegard Mousasi, Kelvin Gastelum and Ronaldo Souza have evidently left an impact on Chris’s ability to accept the damage.
Watching Chris fall victim to countless TKO/KO losses shouldn’t be a position where any sports bettor can place money on him with confidence, now he steps up against a 29-year old who has it all left to accomplish. Don’t put all your chips on Reyes because the skill level of Chris will be more insecurity than Reyes has ever faced but, the current form and trajectory of each fighter are heading in polar opposite directions.
Dominick Reyes should have one thing in mind, defensive wrestling. His defensive linebacker days will come into play here and given the fact Reyes wasn’t too shabby on the wrestling mat in school; should give him enough expertise to defend off the ever-dangerous grappler that Chris Weidman can be.
The striking output and accuracy of Reyes will reign supreme in this bout. It’s hard for me to envision such an athletic and explosive up and comer like Reyes to fall victim at the hands of Chris’s wrestling. Reyes has six wins by TKO/KO and when we look at Chris’s four losses, they’ve all came by way of knockout.
I respect Chris Weidman and his abilities but he’s already overlooking his opponent by calling out Jon Jones, I’d have my full attention on Dominick Reyes because the Californian native is on a one-way trip to a championship opportunity if he manages to put away the former champ.
UFC on ESPN 6 pick: Dominick Reyes at -155
UFC on ESPN 6 fight card
MAIN CARD
- Dominik Reyes vs Chris Weidman (light-heavyweight)
- Greg Hardy vs Ben Sosoil (heavyweight)
- Joe Lauzon vs Jonathon Pearce (lightweight)
- Maycee Barber vs Gillian Anderson (female flyweight)
UFC on ESPN 6 PRELIMINARY BOUTS
- Randy Costa vs Boston Salmon (bantamweight)
- Brenden Allen vs Eric Spicely (middleweight)
- Daniel Spitz vs Tanner Boser (heavyweight)
UFC 243 FIGHT PASS PRELIMS
Not announced