$200K bonus for 19-year-old sensation and three other stars; Dominick Reyes snubbed despite KO win after 5 years

It’s been a rough running for 34-year-old light heavyweight Dominick Reyes. However, the fighter got back on track with a knockout win at UFC Louisville.

$200K bonus for 19-year-old sensation and three other stars; Dominick Reyes snubbed despite KO win after 5 years

Dominick Reyes' win at UFC Louisville did not amount to a bonus payout (Source: Instagram/IMAGO)

Four of the six finishes on the UFC Louisville card ended up with a startling bonus payday. It was likely due to the UFC’s record-breaking domestic Fight Night live gate. Raul Rosas Jr., Zachary Reese, Brunno Ferreira, and Carlos Prates all clumped a $50,000 bonus. During Saturday night’s UFC event at the KFC Yum! Center, one fight that didn’t win a bonus was Dominick Reyes.

The one-time light-heavyweight title challenger bagged a stoppage of Dustin Jacoby to earn his first win since October 2019. Once a stylistic threat and thorn to G.O.A.T Jon Jones’ legacy, Dominick Reyes suffered a four-loss bleed after that. The last three of them all came by stoppages in brutal fashions. Hence, this win means a lot.

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Saturday’s UFC Louisville had some prime performances. It even entailed a grudge submission by 19-year-old Raul Rosas Jr. The event banked a pay totaling $186,500. Per the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, Reyes and Jacoby earned $11,000. This is under the “11-15 bouts” Zuffa-era WEC/UFC outing count brackets. However, some fans and pundits may feel inclined to say ‘The Devastator’ should earn more.

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Dominick Reyes snugged prime matchups before this. He has faced a murderer’s row of prime talents, including Chris Weidman, Jan Blachowicz, and Jiri Prochazka. He was also set to face Carlos Ulberg, now a top-15 standout at UFC on ESPN 54. However, he pulled out due to a case of Venous thrombosis on his left leg. Now on the win column again, the future looks exciting for Reyes, with plenty to accomplish.

Who should Dominick Reyes face next?

Reyes (13-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) snapped his four-skid streak after a long while. True to his resolve, he kept the pressure on from the get-go. He hurt ‘The Hanyak’ Jacoby with a counter shot early on and then piled up the offense until a TKO stoppage at the 2:00 mark of R1 itself.

Dominick Reyes
Dominick Reyes (Source: UFC.go.com)

With a win over the Colorado fighter, the 34-year-old can leapfrog over many names in the top 15 list. He had taken ‘Bones’ to a razor-close decision when they fought. While he did fall on harder times, Reyes proved he has still got it at UFC Louisville.

Ranked #11 Ulberg could be a good stylistic matchup for him. Given that Ulberg faces divisional top dog Jamahal Hill at UFC 303, the matter already pushes him to the forefront. With a matchup, one could easily rise to face top names in title eliminators.

Names like Blachowicz, and Jiri Prochazka aren’t out of the equation as well. The ‘Samurai’ was in attendance at the Oktagon 58 Fight Night this weekend. Prochazka mentioned signing a contract and that he’s waiting for top brass to announce it. In all probability, this could be a rematch with 205-pound king Alex Pereira; if not, a match shouldn’t be out of the equation.

Anthony Smith is also a good challenge ahead. After his recent submission surprise, ‘Lionheart’ has had a grappling virtue debate going on with Pereira. Realistically, both Reyes and him would be equally thrilled to capture that top spot. All in all, a lot lies ahead for Reyes.

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