UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: REYES vs. WEIDMAN – Review
Englishman Darren Stewart recorded a split decision victory over fellow middleweight prospect,
Deron Winn. “The Dentist” handed Winn his first career loss in a close encounter and has now won
4 of his last 5 fights.
o Reflecting on his rise through the division, Stewart said “I have that split decision loss to
Edmen, but that fight was close and I even think I took that fight, so I didn’t really lose, which
makes it five in a row now as far as I’m concerned, so I’m happy. I’m surprised with Deron
because this guy said to me that he’s going to throw hands for the first round and then
wrestle, he didn’t throw any hands, so I’m not sure what that was about. But people talk and
talk, I’m over it, I want to keep showing what I can do. He reminded me a lot of myself when I
first started, rushing out and making silly mistakes, but I’m past that now and ready to make
a run. I’d love to fight in London again, let me fight in my hometown, give me a chance to
show how much I’ve improved since the last time and put on a show for my fans.”
Fellow English native Molly McCann also secured a win on Friday night, convincingly defeating UFC
debutant Diana Belbita in a flyweight bout. All three judges scored the fight 30-26 to McCann and
“Meatball” has now won all three of her fights in 2019.
o Suggesting she was not operating at 100% fitness, McCann said “I feel like I’m in my groove
in the UFC. Tonight, I felt a little sick, my attributes and game plan require a massive engine
and gas tank and I couldn’t give anything because I felt like I was going to be sick. So, to
come away with winning three rounds with an average performance is not good enough for
me, but I’m not complaining. I’ve won again, I just wish it was more spectacular because I
know how good I am…I’ll be happy when I look back, but I’m devastated right now. I want to
get back in there and do another three rounds to fix it. If they give me another chance before
the end of the year, I’ll jump all over it. The cut, the training camp, everything was perfect, so
it’s on me. I just felt weird out there with my belly, I couldn’t get going, my lungs weren’t tired,
but my body was just shutting down. At least on my worst day, I still produced a performance
that got me a win.”
In the main event of the evening, Dominick Reyes pulled off an impressive first round stoppage of
former UFC champion Chris Weidman. “The Devastator” extended his perfect professional record
and issued a statement to the light heavyweight division, improving to 12-0.
o Humble in victory, Reyes said “First I want to say, God is good always. I was out there
having fun, feeling loose, he came in and I put him down. It was everything I ever imagined it
to be. I’m so honoured to fight Chris, he’s a fantastic competitor. I just want to thank him and
his family, his loss is my gain, that’s how this business is, but it’s all love baby. Early in the
fight I saw the opening there, I saw him lunge in, I knew he would lunge in, and I cracked
him right on the jaw and then those hammer fists to finish it, I knew he was already hurt and
it only took some touches to finish him off and that was it. Hey Jon, I don’t want any part
favors man, I want that belt, let’s go…”
