Prediction: Nikita Krylov via Decision
Krylov should be the winner here because his biggest weapon isn’t just his cardio—it’s the fact that he weaponizes exhaustion in a way most fighters can’t. He pushes at such a high pace from the very start that even when he looks gassed, he’s still pouring it on, and that drains opponents mentally as much as physically.
He doesn’t give breaks. Whether it’s in the clinch, on the mat, or in striking exchanges, Krylov constantly chains his attacks—he’ll shoot, then strike off the break, then shoot again, always making opponents guess what’s coming next. It’s that unpredictability that makes him hard to deal with. His entries aren’t always clean, but the way he sets them up through striking or uses wrestling feints to open up punches makes it difficult to time counters once the fight starts to descend into chaos.
That’s where Dominick Reyes becomes interesting. Reyes is at his best early. He’s fast, sharp, and dangerous with his counters, especially when opponents give him clean looks to fire off his left hand. Krylov’s biggest weakness is that he comes out fast and aggressive, sometimes leaving his chin right there during his early combinations or entry attempts. That’s going to be his moment of vulnerability—those first few minutes when Reyes is fresh and can still read the timing. If Reyes lands clean during that stretch, Krylov could be in trouble.
So while Krylov may have to eat a few clean shots early or work through a tough first round, his pace, grit, and constant mixing of striking and wrestling should eventually start to break Reyes down. Expect some adversity, but over the course of three rounds, Krylov’s style is built to outlast and overwhelm, and that should carry him to a win.