Everyone knows that the face of mixed martial arts in Ireland is Conor McGregor and let me introduce you to the face of mixed martial arts in Uruguay.
His name is Gaston Reyno and he will be looking to remain undefeated tomorrow night when he meets Greg Scott on the preliminary card of Bellator 139.
Reyno (3-0, 2NC) started his professional mixed martial arts career in 2013 and opened his career with two straight fights ending by no-contest. Since those fights, he has won three in a row by stoppage in the first round. He has been looking for a big opportunity to showcase his skills and that opportunity will come tomorrow night against Scott.
“This is the opportunity of my life. First time an Uruguayan is fight at this level,” Reyno told The MMA Report. “It’s a great opportunity and I will take it. We don’t have anybody in the big level — UFC, Bellator, WSOF. I feel like I have the whole country on my back. This is the beginning. Like a revolution. I will be the first one. We are fighters that go in there and give it our all. We go for the kill and you guys will see that on Friday.”
This fight will actually be Scott’s second fight in Bellator as his pro debut came at Bellator 53 in 2011. He lost to E.J. Brooks on that night and all three of his wins have come by submission. Reyno has studied his opponent’s tape, but this is a fight that is about him, not Scott.
“All of his fights are winning by submission, but I really care much what he has,” he said. “This is a fight against myself. I have to show what I really am. This is a huge opportunity to show the world what I have. I am not worrying much about him.”
With this being the first time that Reyno gets to fight on a big stage, he wants to make an impression. Not just for himself, but for everyone watching, including the key executives with the UFC. His ultimate goal is to make it to the UFC and wants his performance tomorrow night in Kansas to show Sean Shelby that he needs to pick up the phone and make him a contract offer.
“I want to show what I have. I want a good performance. It’s not only the win. It’s not only the knockout. I already have all the wins by knockout. I want to show what I have. I want to be in the UFC. I want to show everybody why I want to be in the UFC. I want them to watch this fight and say, ‘we have to sign this guy right now.'”