Dominick Reyes has rebuilt his career from the ground up.
After a narrow loss to Jon Jones in 2020, Reyes dropped four consecutive fights, prompting questions about his future in the sport.
This weekend, he returns to the octagon against Carlos Ulberg, aiming to show that his recent form truly reflects his abilities.
"My faith and my Christianity really kept me going," he said at media day.
"Just because somebody else says ‘you’re done,’ doesn’t mean you’re done - I make that decision."
Reyes meticulously reshaped both his mindset and approach. A three-fight winning streak now signals that he may be back on the path to a title shot.
"It’s definitely in my favour to fight him now, versus back then," Reyes said, speaking on how the timing of this matchup benefits his trajectory.
Ulberg, unbeaten in eight straight fights, presents a formidable test. The Kiwi contender is ranked No. 3 at 205 pounds and is riding a wave of momentum.
Despite having fought Jones, who many consider the greatest mixed martial artist of all time, Reyes acknowledged Ulberg's athleticism as the best he will have faced.
"I think he’s the best athlete that I’ll have faced to this point," he said.
The Californian has also maintained admiration for Ulberg, despite their two previously scheduled bouts being cancelled on short notice.
"To have a quality human being like Carlos means a lot," he said.
"It’s easy to sell this fight because we’re both great fighters.
"We’re gigantic and we’re very powerful, it’s dangerous."
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Perth represents the culmination of Reyes' carefully rebuilt career after most had counted him out.
A victory over Ulberg would validate his comeback and put him within striking distance of a title opportunity.