Ovince Saint-Preux: I’m Reinvented Every Time
Ovince Saint-Preux is gearing up for the biggest fight of his life, as he takes on former title challenger and No. 4-ranked Glover Teixeira in the main event of this weekend’s (August 8, 2015) UFC Fight Night card from Nashville, Tennessee.
The former collegiate football player has been very successful as of late, as he has won all but one of his UFC fights, while also riding a two-fight win streak including two finishes. Currently sitting at No. 6, the rising 205-pounder could become a serious title contender if he can get by Teixeira, and that’s what motivates him.
Speaking with FOX Sports, Saint-Preux said that early on his career, his coach told him that he could be a champion, and that’s all he’s needed:
“This is one of the biggest reasons why I’m doing what I’m doing right now. Talking to my trainer Eric Turner like my second or third amateur fight, I’m like how far can I make it? He said you can be UFC champ,” Saint Preux told FOX Sports on Thursday. “Ever since then that’s all I needed. I’m ranked No. 6 right now and I’m slowly climbing up.”
The top of the 205-pound weight class is stacked with big name guys, and veterans of the sport, but OSP feels as if he will be a problem in the division, also noting that the other fighters should take notice of him. Saint-Preux believes he is younger, faster, and stronger than his fellow light heavyweights:
“I can see myself competing with those guys and beating those guys. They can see me being a big problem right now,” Saint Preux. “When I fought ‘Shogun’ and then when I fought (Patrick) Cummins and a lot of people were asking about my wrestling and I told people he’s a two-time All American, he better take me down. Now people are watching me against Glover and they’re going to see how I’m actually going to perform against Glover and Glover’s well rounded, durable and everything but with me, I think I’m younger, faster, stronger and I have a lot of momentum going my way.”
“If I was them, I’d have eyeballs on me. I definitely feel that.”
In closing, Saint-Preux credited his evolution and his success to the fact that his coaches reinvent him every time out, making him a difficult puzzle to solve:
“If you look at me fighting now, I have six fights in the UFC that I won and they’ve all been finished in a different fashion. Every time someone looks at me, they look like ‘what’s going to happen next’. The fighter that I was when I fought Patrick three months ago, I’m completely different now,” Saint Preux said.
“You’ve got fighters who have different tell-tale signs about them. Glover is still the same fighter he was five fights ago. My coaches do a good job of reinventing me every time.”
Despite the fact that OSP may be reinvented every time out, Teixeira is a heavy-hitting, top-tier light heavyweight. Can Saint-Preux make a statement and get passed the former title challenger?
