Gaston Reyno, after missing the chance to fight in Uruguay due to a contract with Combate Americas, aims to bring BKFC to South America by 2026, having found success in bare-knuckle boxing and a career in commentary.
Gaston Reyno signed with Combate Americas just weeks before the UFC’s 2019 event in Uruguay. Missing the chance to fight in his homeland still stings. Now with BKFC, he dreams of bringing the promotion to South America by 2026.
Since leaving MMA in 2019, Reyno has won three BKFC bouts. He sees this as a pivotal goal in his career. “What I would love is to bring BKFC to Uruguay,” he shared with MMA Fighting. South America’s a hotspot for fight fans, yet BKFC hasn’t touched it. Crazy, right?
Reyno couldn’t even attend UFC Uruguay after his Combate Americas contract. It’s been a long-standing dream to fight there. Despite missing out, he’s grateful. The deal led him to a career as a commentator, a path he cherishes.
“I put the signature there, and that didn’t let me get into the UFC,” he lamented. Watching from afar felt like seeing the girl he loved marry someone else. Heartbreaking. But now, he sees a chance to make something big for his country.
Reyno hoped for a collaboration between Combate Americas and the UFC. He even visited the stadium, imagining himself there. But it didn’t happen. Yet life’s unpredictable. A year later, he was commentating for the UFC across Latin America.
His last night as a UFC commentator is at UFC Vegas 112. With ESPN’s UFC deal ending, he’s thankful for the journey. It’s made him “a real man with a real job.” Moving on, he’s excited about BKFC’s potential in Latin America.
Reyno envisions names like Luis Palomino and Franco Tenaglia making waves in the region. “Imagine Franco Tenaglia fighting Austin Trout in Uruguay,” he mused. Whether co-main or opening fight, he just wants a major event for Latin America.