LAS VEGAS – UFC middleweight Zach Reese swept the scorecards in his third appearance in the promotion, but he was “a little disappointed” with how things played out in the octagon.
On the prelims of UFC on ESPN 62 at the UFC Apex, Reese (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) faced newcomer Jose Medina. It was a one-sided affair, one that Reese won 30-27 on all scorecards. He repeatedly dug in hard kicks to Medina (11-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC), who simply would not go away.
“I hope everyone enjoyed it, but that was one of those Waffle House fights I feel like,” Reese told reporters at a post-fight news conference. “I wanted to come in here and be patient, try to pick him apart, but I hurt Jose with a lot of stuff.
“He has a chin and a half, and he must not have a liver, because I kicked the sh*t out of his liver and he took it. … Strongest liver in the UFC, for sure.”
It was the first fight of Reese’s professional career to go the distance. In fact, it was the first fight to make it out of the first round, including his one loss. Reese didn’t necessarily prove anything to himself by going the full 15 minutes, but says it was good to get the work in against a tough opponent.
“I’m definitely not a one-trick pony, I’m a one-trick mustang, you know what I’m saying?” Reese joked. “Coming for the finish every time. It’s cool. I’ll take it.”
Reese hopes to return to the octagon in December when the UFC makes its expected trip to Tampa, Fla. Although a date and venue has not yet been officially announced, Reese is looking forward to getting a spot on the card so he can take his kids to Disney World afterward.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 62.
