Undefeated light heavyweight prospect Dominick Reyes (9-0, 6 KOs, 2 SUBs) will meet veteran Ovince St. Preux (23-11, 11 KOs, 7 SUBs) at UFC 229 on Saturday, October 6, 2018 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card airs live on pay-per-view starting 10 pm ET.
Shit’s about to get real for Dominick Reyes. The 28-year old light heavyweight prospect has blasted through all three of his UFC opponents since joining the roster in 2017, but “The Dominator” will now come face to face with a former title challenger in Ovince St. Preux. It’s a contest that could signal the arrival of a new contender in the division.
Prospects don’t come much brighter than Reyes. A former NFL hopeful who tried out for the Redskins, Chargers and Raiders, the California native is a flexible, explosive athlete at 6’4”. It was only after failing to make any of the rosters that he refocused his talent towards MMA. Though he’s only been a pro for four years, Reyes has taken to the sport like a fish to water.
Coincidentally, St. Preux is a former defensive lineman for the Tennessee Vols. At 35, he’s a true vet, with 17 UFC appearances to go with six Strikeforce fights. In 2016, he faced Jon Jones for the interim title but was handily beaten by the 205-pound GOAT. For years, OSP hung around the top 7 as a perennial contender, stepping into the cage against the likes of Shogun Rua, Ryan Bader, Glover Teixeira, Ilir Latifi and Volkan Oezdemir. Though his peak appears to be behind him, St. Preux’s name still carries some weight in a thinning division.
Unsurprisingly, OSP opened as a clear underdog in the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu. That tends to happen when guys come in with major hype, and it’s easy to jump on the train. We’re here to let you know whether you should do so or not. If you’re leery on picking a bet now, there’s also in-game betting at BookMaker.eu available as well.
UFC Odds at BookMaker.eu
Dominick Reyes -215
Ovince St. Preux +175
Over/under 1.5 rounds: +135 / -160
Striking Stats
Significant strikes landed per minute: OSP 2.69 / Reyes 6.95
Accuracy: OSP 46.67% / Reyes 51.04%
Significant strikes absorbed per minute: OSP 2.55 / Reyes 1.56
Defense: OSP 46.07% / Reyes 63.33%
Grappling Stats
Takedown average: OSP 1.19 / Reyes 2.13
Takedown accuracy: OSP 47.37% / Reyes 50%
Takedowns defended: OSP 65.56% / Reyes 80%
Submission average: OSP 0.66 / Reyes 2.13
Bet St. Preux vs. Reyes at BookMaker.eu Now
Reyes has been beasting ever since turning pro, finishing all but one of his nine career fights. He clearly is a special offensive fighter, with natural knockout power and the agility to strike creatively with all eight points. Don’t sleep on his BJJ either, as he’s a blue belt under Joe Stevenson.
Against Jared Cannonier - easily the toughest opponent of his career - Reyes had a bit of trouble striking with a hard-hitting boxer. But like always, his natural abilities took over, as Reyes was able to flash knock out a dude that went toe to toe with the hulking Ion Cutelaba.
The southpaw kickboxer should enjoy a standup advantage in this matchup. That much is obvious when you compare the statistical striking output of the two. OSP is a big, athletic hitter in his own right, but has never been a flow striker, opting for singular damaging strikes. The head kick is his most lethal weapon, but his punches can also finish guys with ease.
On the mat, OSP is underrated submission grappler. His own flexibility allows him to roll into different attempts, and his sheer strength lets him wrench limbs for quick finishes. The 35-year old is particularly good with shoulder chokes, as he leverages his hefty body to cut off blood circulation. If this goes to the ground, expect to see plenty of sweet reversals from both guys.
UFC Odds Pick: Reyes to win at -215
As much as we like picking vets against hotshot prospects, Reyes’ youth and athleticism gives him a huge edge over OSP. This might start off relatively close, but OSP tends to fade quickly when the fight isn’t going his way. With his recovery and cardio in question, it should only be a matter of time before the prospect takes over this fight. Reyes’ line is slightly pricey for our tastes, but the kid is the real deal.
Bet on UFC odds at BookMaker.eu
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker sportsbook! Real-time spreads, totals, props and money line are all available so start betting with BookMaker today. UFC 229 takes place on Saturday, October 6, 2018 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card airs live on pay-per-view starting 10 pm ET.
