Ovince Saint Preux vs. Philipe Lins: UFC Vegas 69 Odds, Prediction

Jeremy Perry
February 16, 2023

Ovince Saint Preux is set to step back into the Octagon as he will take on former PFL champion Philipe Lins on Saturday in the prelims of UFC Vegas 69. This is the third consecutive year that this duo has tried to clash, with both previous fights falling through. It finally looks like it will happen this time. The two light heavyweights are incredibly similar when looking at their records and fighting style, which should make for an exciting match between the two.

As of right now, Lins is given the edge on the MMA odds as a mid-size favourite. Is Lins a good bet to win this bout or is Saint Preux a live dog?

Philipe Lins -230
Ovince St. Preux +170

Ovince Saint Preux UFC Vegas 69 Odds

Ovince Saint Preux is back in action for the first time since May 2022. He is coming off a win – a fight he was able to take against Mauricio Rua by a split decision – but that doesn’t exactly offer much confidence. Rua is long past his prime at 41 years of age and Saint Preux was only able to milk a split decision out of it.

Saint Preux has been trending in the wrong direction as he only has one win out of his previous three fights. He’s also 4-6 in his last 10 bouts. He’s shown phenomenal finishing ability throughout his career, winning by either knockout or submission in 20 out of his 26 victories. However, he’s 39 years of age and might be nearing the end of the line.

Saint Preux’s striking ability remains strong. It’s the reason that he was able to compete for a title back in 2016 and he still has power in those fists. This looks like a bout where both fighters are going to stand and bang, so that suits him well. The question is, will he be the one doing more damage or taking it? He’s been knocked out in two of his last three, so that’s not a great sign.

Philipe Lins UFC Vegas 69 Odds

Philipe Lins is very similar as a fighter to Saint Preux: a quality striker with finishing ability. Coming into this fight, Lins has racked up eight knockouts and four submissions. These 12 finished fights account for the majority of his 15 total career wins. Only three times has he been able to win by a decision but one of those was his last fight in April 2022 against Marcin Prachnio.

Lins is also no spring chicken as he’s 37 years of age. His latest win snapped a two-fight losing streak, buying him some more time in the UFC. Another loss, though, would likely indicate that he’s closer to the end of his career.

The concern with Lins is he doesn’t have a ton of UFC experience and the little that he has picked up has delivered mixed results. He’s lost two of his three fights in the UFC. Overall, he started his career 9-0 but is just 6-5 since. This feels like an even bout with two fighters who are near the end of the line. That makes it tough to handicap, so maybe laying the juice with Lins doesn’t make a lot of sense. The best bet might be that this fight doesn’t go the distance as neither fighter seems to go to decisions all that often.