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The UFC returns to Louisville, Kentucky at the KFC Yum! Center this weekend for the first time in 13 years for a stacked fight night event.
Headlining this fight card is a banger in the middleweight division between the No. 4 ranked middleweight contender Jared Cannonier and the No. 7 ranked contender Nassourdine Imavov. Both fighters are looking for a big win this weekend to help catapult them into title contention in the middleweight division.
In the co-main event of this stacked fight night event, we have a fight in the light heavyweight division between former title challenger Dominick Reyes and Dustin Jacoby. We take a look at this co-main event fight and give out our prediction and pick for this Reyes-Jacoby matchup.
Dominick Reyes (12-4)Β the one-time title challenger was so close to dethroning who many believe to be the MMA GOAT Jon Jones in a title fight back 2020 but unfortunately dropped a razor-close decision.
When Reyes is at the top of his game he can compete with the best in the light heavyweight division. Unfortunately for him, his chin is what has faulted him over the last couple of years.
However, this is the same fighter that dropped and almost finished former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka not too long ago. Reyes still has what it takes to make a run in this light heavyweight division.
He has the elite striking abilities at range that will give even someone as proficient on the feet as Jacoby a ton of trouble.
Reyes does a great job at switching stances and utilizing his movement and length to keep his opponents at the end of his strikes. He also does a great job at countering once his opponent comes within range which is something that will come in handy against a kickboxer like Jacoby.
He can take this fight to the mat which would be his best path to victory against Dustin Jacoby. Reyes will need to mix the martial arts if he wants to finally right the ship and get back into the win column when he gets back inside the Octagon this weekend against Dustin Jacoby.
Dustin Jacoby (19-8-1)Β is now just 1-3 in his last four fights coming off some tough losses. In his most recent loss to Alonzo Menifield, he looked like he was running away with the fight until some perfectly timed shots changed the landscape of the fight where he ultimately dropped a decision.
Jacoby will need to be better defensively sound in this fight against a dangerous striker like Reyes or he could potentially suffer the same feat as he did in his previous fights.
However, what Jacoby has going for him is that he is an elite striker who will definitely be winning minutes on the feet against Reyes. His movement, volume and his counter-striking making this a very tough matchup for Reyes if he expects to have a striking match.
Also, even if Reyes decides he wants to grapple, Jacoby has shown great takedown defense over the years.
For Jacoby, it'll come down to if he can just keep this fight at his preferred kicking range and do a good job at avoiding big shots and if he is able to do that he can get back into the win column this weekend at UFC Louisville.
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This is a fantastic co-main event fight for this UFC Louisville fight night event. Dominick Reyes will look to finally get a win after being winless for the last five years meanwhile, Jacoby will look to right the ship and continue to climb the rankings with a win this weekend.
Ultimately, it's going to be Jacoby who will be getting the better of Reyes at range utilizing his kicks, stance switches, and movement keeping Reyes guessing all fight and from there he will either outwork Reyes or put his lights out midway through the fight to get back into the win column.
FINAL REYES-JACOBY PICK & PREDICTION: DUSTIN JACOBY (-230)
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