Back at it on August 22. This time I don’t
get to eat all the goodies. Back down to my original weight class.
#ufc
pic.twitter.com/w9G1DP2KwQ— Ovince Saint Preux (@003_OSP)
July 2, 2020
Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. The trip up to heavyweight was short-lived for former
Ultimate Fighting Championship title challenger Ovince St.
Preux. St. Preux (24-14) tweeted
on Thursday to announce that he will be returning to the light
heavyweight division in August, where he will take on Shamil
Gamzatov (14-0). The two will throw down at the UFC
Fight Night event on Aug. 22 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
MMA Fighting was the first outlet to report this pairing.
In his tweet, St. Preux said that he will not “get to eat all the
goodies” while proclaiming that he will be going “back down to my
original weight class.” St. Preux also included a screenshot of his
signed bout agreement, which he signed June 17, while also
confirming his opponent of Gamzatov on Aug. 22. The two men were
originally scheduled to square off in April, but the coronavirus
pandemic hampered those plans. From there, St. Preux moved up to
heavyweight for one bout.
“OSP” was rebuffed in his first trip to the heavyweight division in
May, when Ben Rothwell
took a spirited split verdict to spoil his move up in weight. The
move one of opportunity and not a new career path, St. Preux has
presided in the light heavyweight division for the remainder of his
time in the Octagon. His last win at 205 pounds came over Michal
Oleksiejczuk in September 2019, when “OSP” renamed the Von Flue
choke to Von Preux by submitting Oleksiejczuk with his fourth choke
of this type in the UFC.
Gamzatov’s promotional debut was a success in November, when he
captured a split decision over Klidson
Abreu in Russia. Unbeaten as a professional across 14 bouts,
the Dagestani fighter has competed from middleweight up to
heavyweight, taking a pair of decisions in the
Professional Fighters League in 2018 prior to his UFC
signing.
The Aug. 22 card will be held at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and
there is not a headliner currently set. Key matchups on the event
including a middleweight tilt pitting three-time title challenger
Yoel
Romero against powerful striker Uriah Hall.
Also, a pivotal strawweight affair takes place between Michelle
Waterson and Angela
Hill.