Credit:Getty/UFC
Credit: Getty/UFC
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Boser’s victory over Ovince St.
Preux in the
UFC Fight Night 190 co-main event was not without
controversy.
Right before the finishing sequence in the heavyweight bout, Boser
appeared to grab the fence to help him return to his feet after
being taken down by “OSP” at the beginning of the second round.
Once Boser was upright, he stuffed a St. Preux takedown, hurt his
foe with a knee and dropped him with a right hand, ending the
contest 2:31 into Round 2. At Saturday’s post-fight press
conference, Boser denied grabbing the fence.
“I heard his corner yelling about it, but I don’t remember doing it
– I don’t think there was [a fence grab]” Boser said . “Their job
is to be in the best interest of their fighter. If they believe
that I grabbed the fence, they have every right to be angry. I
don’t believe I grabbed the fence.
“I didn’t see on the replay that I grabbed the fence, and I’m
confident I didn’t grab the fence. But if they believe that’s what
happened, they have the right to be upset because that’s their guy.
It’s up to the coaches to be on their guy’s side.”
Replays seemed to support Boser’s claim, though UFC commentator
Daniel
Cormier was quite vocal about what he believed to be a
transgression during the broadcast. The Canadian heavyweight was
unfazed by the commentary team’s view of the ending of the
fight.
“My win bonus is gonna be in my account,” Boser said. “It doesn’t
change anything. I won that fight.”
The saga might not be completely over, however. Ovince St.
Preux confirmed to
MMAFighting.com that he would be appealing the result of the
bout with the Nevada Athletic Commission.
“I felt the ref put his hand on my back, which is only done to
pause the action or call a finish,” Saint Preux said in a
statement. “I slightly paused and then the tide turned.
“We will be protesting and requesting a no-contest.”
There’s no disputing that Boser was the more active competitor for
as long as the fight lasted. He held a 25-to-8 edge in significant
strikes landed during the opening stanza, and he believes his pace
was taking its toll on “OSP” prior to the finish.
“My pressure was wearing on him,” Boser said. “He got that one
takedown, that was good, but I got up. He had used a lot of energy
to take me down and when I got up, the guy is wilt. It’s how it
works. You use a lot of energy and if you can’t capitalize on that,
now it’s up to me to capitalize and get back to my feet and be the
quicker guy.
“The pressure kept on him, he shot a more desperate takedown next
time around. I shrugged it off, and then I knew he would do it
again, because he didn’t want to be against the cage with me
throwing strikes. When his head went down for the takedown, I
landed the big knee and that led to the finish.”