ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - SEPTEMBER 02: A general view of the Octagon prior to the start of UFC Fight Night event at the Rotterdam Ahoy on September 2, 2017 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

It has been a whirlwind of excitement for Alex Reyes as he gets ready to make his UFC debut on days notice against Mike Perry at UFC Fight Night 116 this Saturday.

Wednesday was a normal day for Alex Reyes as he went to train for an upcoming regional fight at Team Oyama in Irvine, California. Little did he know that the phone would ring and his plans would be changing abruptly.

Reyes will step in on just days notice to face Mike Perry on Saturday night at UFC Fight Night 116. Reyes will replace Thiago Alves who was forced out of his scheduled bout with “Platinum” due to travel issues from the effects of Hurricane Irma. “The Executioner” will bring a 13-fight winning streak into his UFC debut to face Perry at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The news of Reyes’ replacement was first made public by Perry himself, he took to Twitter to announce the fight, as well as give kudos to Reyes for accepting the fight on three days notice.

Respect to my new opponent steppin up on 3 days notice. Let's see what you got Alex Reyes — Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) September 13, 2017

“I’m excited and respect to Mike Perry for that shout out,” Reyes told FanSided MMA. “I’m just ready to go out there and entertain the fans in Pittsburgh. Let’s go put on a show.”

Reyes treated Wednesday like a typical day, wake up, spend time with family and train. As he was training, he and his coach received a call from his manager Jason House which changed the progression for the rest of Reyes’ day and week.

“I got to the gym, started training and got a phone call from my manager asking how I was doing,” Reyes explained. “I said I was good and then he asked, ‘Do you want to fight this weekend against Mike Perry?’, and I said, ‘Yes, sir! Let’s get it! Fight for the UFC? C’mon, let’s go!’. He’s the man who made it happen. Him and my coach (Colin Oyama) got together and we agreed to the fight without hesitation. I jumped on it and I got it. It’s been a day because I had to get medicals done all over Los Angeles and Irvine. It was a crazy day, but very exciting at the same time.”

Reyes is ranked in the top-10 in the state of California in the lightweight and welterweight divisions, and inside the top-20 for the entire US west coast in both weight classes. While many people, including Reyes, expected that life-changing phone call, it was quite the shock to receive it as quickly as he did.

“Oh man, definitely not today, that’s for sure,” Reyes said about getting the opportunity to fight for the UFC. “I was hoping to get the call someday. I wasn’t sure how many wins I’d have to get but I was actually in the middle of getting ready for a fight, so I was hoping to get that call soon. I didn’t expect the UFC to call today but I got that call, took it and I couldn’t be more excited.”

Reyes began his combat sports career while watching is younger brother compete in Junior High School wrestling, which introduced him to the sport at a higher level. After finishing high school as a three-sport athlete, he was still looking for those competitive juices to flow. That lead him to kickboxing with a close friend of his, which transitioned to finding mixed martial arts. Three months later, Reyes had his first professional fight in September 2007. He would lose that fight along with his second one two months later. Reyes realized that he probably began his in-competition professional career sooner than he should have, but was able to learn lessons and has yet to taste defeat again.

Reyes would go on to capture the King of the Cage lightweight and junior welterweight championships before injuries began to plague the Team Oyama trained fighter. After nearly a two-year layoff following a KOTC lightweight title defense, a first round submission win in August 2015, Reyes returned to action last month to record his 13th straight win, and finish, with a first round TKO over Gil Guardado under the Fight Club OC organization. Reyes didn’t lose a step despite his absence which led to this giant opportunity to fight for the UFC.

“It felt great to get back and get a win,” Reyes said. “I was confident going into that fight that I was going to perform well because of the training I was getting at Team Oyama, and in my own abilities. The injury was tough and also dealing with the ups and downs in my career. I’ve seen my downs, but I’ve seen the ups too. It was tough but I have a great support system. My wife supports me with my decision and dream of fighting. My friends and family all support me so it’s great to have that support group, especially getting through the injury physically and emotionally when times are tough. As far as that ‘ring rust’ and stuff like that, you heard Dominick Cruz, it doesn’t exist. If you’re in the gym working hard and you’re pushing yourself, training with the right training partners, I don’t believe in it. I showed it in my last fight. My opponent was tough but I went in there, started moving around, started feeling smooth, got his timing down and I let go. When I hurt him, I just kept the pressure on, picked my shots and I found the finish. It’s good to have this opportunity, it’s good to be talking to you guys. I’m just ecstatic.”

More times than not, fight fans will see a UFC newcomer enter the Octagon with the mentality that they have nothing to lose and everything to gain, while their opponent has everything to lose in taking a short notice replacement. “The Executioner” sees some truth in that statement, but wants to make it clear that he has things on the line as well.

“That is definitely a factor,” Reyes said. “It’s a fact. I’m this newcomer coming in and he was slotted for the co-main event. I stepped up and did what other fighters wouldn’t. But at the same time, I don’t like to lose and I don’t fight to survive. I fight to win. You don’t get paid to fight, you get paid to perform. And I’m going to go out there and perform in front of the fans and put on a great show. What I have on the line is my pride and my skills, being able to show the world what I can do. More on the line for him, but I am not going in there to lose, that’s for sure.

“I wouldn’t have taken the fight if I didn’t think I could win. Mike Perry is tough, not taking anything away from him, but I’m going in to win.”

The bout between Perry and Alves was scheduled to be the UFC Fight Night 116 main event on FS1 this Saturday. According to Reyes, he has not been made aware, nor has there been an official confirmation from the UFC, whether or not his UFC debut will remain in the co-headliner spot. Reyes would be honored to debut in the co-headliner position should the organization keep everything in tact.

“They haven’t told me anything but I believe our fight is co-main event worthy, especially with what I bring to the table,” Reyes said. “I finish fights. I’m not a boring fighter. I don’t go in there trying to win a decision. I’m going to go in there and try to put my opponent away, to live by the sword, die by the sword. I’m going to stand in the center of the cage, bang with him and have a good time.”

Perry is looking to make it 4-1 in the UFC after coming off an incredible standing elbow KO victory over Jake Ellenberger at UFC Fight Night 108 back in April. For Perry, and the fans who will watch Reyes compete for the first time, Reyes wants you to be ready for excitement.

“Mike Perry, get ready to put on a show,” Reyes said. “Let’s get ‘Fight of the Night’ and put on a good fight for Pittsburgh, bro. I’ll see you soon.

“For the fight fans who don’t know me yet, I’m excited to go out there and perform for you guys. You guys have a new face in the UFC and you won’t be disappointed.”

UFC Fight Night 116 will be headlined by Luke Rockhold and David Branch in a five-round middleweight divisional showdown.