Weidman vs. Reyes in Boston – Which fighter is the favorite?
On Friday night, former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman (14-4) will make the leap from 185-pound to 205-pounds for the very first time inside the octagon.
The “All American” Weidman is set to take on Dominick Reyes (11-0) at light heavyweight when the two meet at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts on October 18.
Reyes was waiting to see if he was getting a title fight but decided that the name recognition and the main event was worth fighting for despite Weidman making his light heavyweight debut off of a couple of losses. Most people thought Reyes’ next step would be fellow top contender Corey Anderson. Despite the fight being offered it didn’t end up working out.
“I feel I have more to lose fighting Weidman, it’s a riskier fight because he’s not ranked at light heavyweight, we don’t know what’s up with him at light heavyweight, that’s a middleweight ranking. So I feel I have more lose fighting him and he has more to gain. But then I get what he wants and he gets what he wants. The winner gets what he wants. I think it’s a win win for both fighters, both fighters benefit greatly from this.”
Although Weidman is known as the man to knock former longtime middleweight champion Anderson Silva off his pedestal, not once, but twice, Weidman enters the fight on Friday as the underdog.
Coming off a loss at 185-pounds to Jacare Souza, Weidman has dropped four of his last six contests.
Reyes on the other hand, enters the scrap in Boston with a perfect 11-0 record including victories over former light heavyweight title contenders Ovince St. Preux and Volkan Oezdemir.
If you are looking to make a little extra cash, but have money to lose, Weidman is the fighter to bet on when you check out the sportsbook. He is moving in up weight, and is experiencing the biggest slope of his career. Since his first TKO loss against Luke Rockhold, Weidman has struggled in a way he has never seen.
Reyes is currently listed as the -155 favorite to the +145 Weidman.
Reyes stands at 6’4″ and is listed as having a 77″ reach. He is 29-years of age. Weidman, six years his elder, is two inches shorter but as a one inch reach advantage.
This will be the first time that Reyes headlines a UFC fight card, while his opponent has been in the position on several occasions.
“What he brings to the table is his name,” Reyes said. “I bring the rankings. I’m ranked high in the rankings, so he thinks knocking me off is going to bring him closer to the title.
“Me taking him out with his big name brings me closer to the title. We’re both bringing something to the table, and I look forward to knocking out my signature win.”
