MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the UFC’s top bouts. Today, we look at the main event for UFC on ESPN 6.
UFC on ESPN 6 takes place Friday at TD Garden in Boston. The card airs on ESPN2.
Chris Weidman (14-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC)
Staple info:
- Height: 6’2″ Age: 35 Weight: 205 lbs. Reach: 78″
- Last fight: Knockout loss to Jacare Souza (Nov. 3, 2018)
- Camp: Serra-Longo Fight Team (New York)
- Stance/striking style: Orthodox/kickboxing
- Risk management: Fair
Supplemental info:
+ Former UFC middleweight champion
+ 2x Div. 1 All-American wrestler
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
+ Multiple grappling accolades
+ 6 KO victories
+ 4 submission wins
+ 6 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Manages distance well
+ Accurate left hook and right hand
+ Hard body and leg kicks
+ Excellent wrestling ability
+ Superb top game and transitions
+/- 7-2 against UFC southpaws
– Dropped or stopped in last 5 fights
Dominick Reyes (11-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC)
Staple info:
- Height: 6’4″ Age: 29 Weight: 205 lbs. Reach: 77″
- Last fight: Decision win over Volkan Oezdemir (March 16, 2019)
- Camp: Cobra Kai (California)
- Stance/striking style: Southpaw/kickboxing
- Risk management: Fair
Supplemental info:
+ Regional MMA titles
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt
+ Wrestling accolades and experience
+ 6 KO victories
+ 2 submission wins
+ 8 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Explosive athlete
^ Measures distance well
+ Solid striking flow
^ Variates well to body and legs
+ Accurate left cross and power kicks
+ Shows good wrestling fundamentals
^ Defensively and offensively
+ Rides and transitions well from topside
Point of interest: Striking with another southpaw
The main event in Boston features a former champion moving up a division to do battle with yet another southpaw striker.
A persistent stalker who made his name off of conquering notable southpaws, Chris Weidman does an excellent job of keeping temperatures high on the feet, all while managing the distance with a deceptive reach and solid sense of range.
Typically using his left hand in a pawing or feinting fashion, Weidman has a good feel for when to throw strikes with his opposition, as well as how to capitalize in exchanges. Whether he is throwing a body kick or doubling up on right hands to get an angle, the ten-year pro makes it difficult for his contemporaries to digest the pressure.
In his last outing, Weidman demonstrated a much more educated left hand, utilizing it to either enter or exit out of exchanges. Unfortunately for the former champ, he still ultimately ended up on the wrong end of offense come the later rounds.
In fact, Weidman has been caught more often and with greater effect in recent history, getting dropped or stopped in his last five fights. Despite improvements to his head movement and hand positioning, Weidman has usually been a little too comfortable exchanging on the inside (for my liking, anyway), as his confidence here has seemingly gotten him caught consistently dating all the way back to his last couple of title defenses.
I suspect Weidman’s capacity to take a shot will be sturdier at 205 pounds, but I’m not sure he’ll be looking to lean on that given his current counterpart.
Enter Dominick Reyes.
A former collegiate football player who fights out of a southpaw stance, Reyes brings in a host of well-rounded, physical attributes to compliment his skills. And despite his background and on-paper experience, the 29-year-old talent appears to have a natural feel for the striking arts.
Displaying a preternatural sense for range, Reyes uses pressure to draw out reactions. He has hard hooks and kicks that keep his opposition honest, but it’s his pinpoint left cross that acts as a battering ram, both coming forward and off the counter.
Reyes also does well at varying his attack levels, going to the body or targeting the legs with regularity. Should the striking savvy that seems well-beyond his years stack up to the senior fighter, then perhaps Reyes can land similar shots that past Weidman opponents have had success with.
However, if Reyes is too eager to retreat and concede space (as he’s shown at times in the past), then he could end up inadvertently backing himself into the fence and inviting Weidman to test him in other ways.
Next point of interest: Winning the wrestling
UFC on ESPN 6 breakdown: How will Chris Weidman's LHW debut go with Dominick Reyes in front of him?
