(Tampa, FL) With 12 wins in 13 pro fights coming in the 1st round it’s easy to see why Eric Reynolds earned the name ‘It’s a Wrap’. Now Reynolds will bring his TKO road show to the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, FL this Friday night live on HDNet when he takes on jiu jitsu ace, Jonatas Novaes at XFC ‘Tribute’.
Novaes will roll into Tampa on a four fight win streak including a victory over Reynold’s teammate, UFC veteran Ryan Thomas.
“I’m looking forward to facing Jonatas at ‘Tribute’,” said Reynolds. “I know he’s got a nice winning streak going and I need to put a stop to that. He beat one of my teammates earlier this year and I’m out for a little revenge.”
Reynolds is an exciting striker best known for his run in the Bellator Lightweight Tournament in 2009. The ATT product stepped in on short notice and ran through Thomas Schulte en route to another first round TKO victory before coming up short to eventual champ Eddie Alvarez in the Semi-Finals. Now Reynolds will turn his attention to the black belt in brailian jiu jitsu, Novaes.
“I want to fight the best and the XFC has given me that opportunity with Jonatas’, explained Reynolds. “Jonatas is a world class grappler but I feel I can hold my own on the ground if it goes there. I may have started as a kickboxer but I have expanded my game. I roll with black belts everyday and I’m not scared to go to the ground with someone like Jonatas. I believe I have the advantage if the fight stays standing and I’d like to get another first round KO and leave Tampa with another W in the win column.”
“Eric vs. Jonatas is a great main event,” said XFC President John Prisco. “Neither of these guys like to go to a decision. Both are finishers and fans expect to see exciting fights in the XFC, and that’s what we are going to give them. If the fight stays standing Eric can knock him out but if it goes to the ground Jonatas will probably get a submission. Both guys are so good at what they do. This is the classic grappler vs. striker that everyone always talks about.”