“I’m doing amazing, man. Another fight week, another opportunity.”
For Dominick Reyes, the words come easily, but they carry more weight than they once did. Fight weeks used to be about stakes. Rankings. Consequences…now, they’re about perspective.
As Reyes(15-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) prepares to face Johnny Walker (22-9 MMA, 8-6 UFC) at UFC 327 in Miami this Saturday, the former title challenger isn’t chasing validation. He’s operating from something steadier,something earned. Gratitude.
“We Get to Do This”
The shift didn’t happen overnight.
Reyes traces it back to one of the lowest points of his career, after his loss to Jiri Prochazka in 2021. At the time, he admits, he was “overweight, out of shape” and struggling mentally. The momentum that once defined him had stalled. That’s when a conversation with Cub Swanson (who fights for the final time in this weekend’s main card opener) reframed everything.
“He told me, ‘Hey man, we get to do this. This isn’t going to last forever. One day it’s all going to be over. You don’t want to have regrets, you want to enjoy it. You want to spread positivity. You have this platform for this time, use it for some good.’”
It was a simple message, but a lasting one. “It really helped me get that attitude of gratitude.”
That mindset has become the foundation of this latest chapter, one defined less by results, and more by how Reyes experiences the process itself.
Lessons, Not Losses
That perspective was tested again in his most recent outing. After rebuilding his career with a string of wins, Reyes suffered a knockout defeat to Carlos Ulberg (12-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) last September. For a fighter who had already endured a difficult stretch earlier in his career, it could have felt like a step backward. Reyes doesn’t see it that way.
“You don’t lose, you learn,” he says. “In this sport, the margins are paper-thin.” He points to the variables: travel, weight, preparation, but ultimately doesn’t linger on them. “He caught me. It was his night. That’s the nature of the beast.”
What matters more is what comes after. “Obviously, when you lose, you take a deeper dive into what went wrong versus what went right. The lesson is more prevalent, you have to face it.”
Rebuilt From the Inside Out
Those adjustments have been both physical and mental. Reyes describes a renewed focus on preparation, working closely with his nutrition team to “dial in” his body. The result, he says, is the best condition he’s been in across his last several fights.
But the more significant change has happened away from the gym. In December, Reyes became a father, and everything shifted.
“I have a whole new motivation, a whole new outlook on life. I feel rejuvenated completely.”
The daily routine hasn’t changed, but the meaning behind it has. “It’s easy to do the hard things when you wake up and your son’s just so happy to see you,” he says. “I’ll sweat and bleed all day, and then I come home and he’s just as happy. It makes it all worth it.”
The Power of “Dad Strength”
Fighters often talk about “levels” in terms of skill. Reyes talks about a different kind of upgrade. “That’s where the idea of dad strength comes from,” he explains. “Not just physical strength, but mental strength.”
It’s a framing that reflects his broader evolution. The urgency that once came from proving himself has been replaced by something more sustainable. “I can do all the hard things easily now.”
That ease doesn’t mean complacency. If anything, it’s sharpened his focus. Freed from the emotional volatility that can accompany wins and losses, Reyes is operating with clarity and confidence. “I’m excited,” he says. “I’m excited to show the world the dad version of Dominick Reyes.”
