Karl Reed - photo courtesy of 864 Fighting Championship
Karl Reed Ready for Chess at Dana White’s Contender Series
Karl Reed (6-1) is getting another shot at a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series and having been through the process before; he feels he is better prepared. Reed picked up his first loss ever when he first fought on the program that changes the lives of professional fighters with goals of being in the UFC. Since his last stint on Contender Series, Reed has won four in a row.
Reed faces Julius Anglickus this time around, a fighter with some similarities to him so to figure out the puzzle of his opponent, Reed said on the Coast 2 Coast Combat Hour Podcast, “That’s why you got to tune in.” They actually both lost to the same person so while Reed admits he has studied his opponent a lot; when the bell rings, he will have answers to whatever Anglickus brings to the cage. “I like to play chess in there,” Reed said of his approach to Tuesday night’s fight. He added that he told his coach, Ray that, “I want to play chess and that’s what we do. So you know I’m trying to exploit his weaknesses, take away strong suits, and you know; raise up my strengths.”
Reed trains at Upstate Karate in South Carolina, home of Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson and his coach is Ray Thompson, Wonder boy’s father. Reed’s finishes come by way of strikes so it looks like coming from wrestling to train with the Thompson’s has certainly rounded out his fight game. That along with having a similar record as his opponent and having been in this situation before could be an advantage for Reed.
“That’s something I learned definitely after the first my first Contender Series trip, Reed said of this second chance. He added, “You know my first one I kind of just went in there and fought. Really didn’t have no plan.” Now, Reed thinks he has grown from the loss and is better prepared, “This time, going out there two years later, smarter, more rehearsed in every area of the game.”
