Sports Interaction
Promotions
Sports Interaction
Promotions

UFC Fight Night 171 Odds, Prediction: Ben Rothwell vs. Ovince Saint Preux

Add Sports Interacton as Your Preferred News Source

Fans of the Tennessee Volunteers may remember Ovince Saint Preux (24-13) as a defensive end/linebacker for the football program from 2001-04. He appeared in 17 games for the Vols. He wasn’t good enough to play pro ball so he gave up football and took up martial arts as a form of training.

The 37-year-old, who still calls Knoxville home, made his professional MMA debut in 2008 and competed in several organizations before joining UFC in 2013. His debut was at UFC 159 where Saint Preux beat Gian Villante. “OSP” was last in the Octagon in September 2019 when he ended a two-fight losing streak with a second-round submission (shoulder choke) of Michal Oleksiejczuk.

Saint Preux wins 46 per cent of the time by KO/TKO, 33 per cent by submission and 21 per cent by decision. He loses a majority of the time (62 per cent by decision). When Saint Preux wins, his fights are on average 1.6 rounds. His quickest career victory was in eight seconds. In his losses, his fights average 2.7 rounds. Saint Preux makes his heavyweight debut – he had been fighting at 205 pounds – and is a -135 favourite on the UFC odds board for this bout with Ben Rothwell at +110.

UFC Fight Night 171 Odds: Saint Preux vs. Rothwell

Rothwell (37-12), 38, is from Wisconsin. He originally was to fight Villante at UFC 249 on April 18 but that card was called off due to the coronavirus. Rothwell was paired with Saint Preux when OSP’s bout on April 25 in Nebraska against Ion Cutelaba was called off. Cutelaba is from Moldova and still can’t travel to the USA so Rothwell is replacing him.

Fight Night 171 - Ben Rothwell v Ovince Saint Preux

Method of Victory
  • Ben Rothwell To Win By KO,TKO,DQ +240
  • Ovince Saint Preux By Pts Or Technical Decision +300
  • Ovince Saint Preux By Submission +350
  • Ovince Saint Preux To Win By KO,TKO,DQ +400
  • Ben Rothwell By Pts Or Technical Decision +500
  • Ben Rothwell By Submission +1400
  • Draw +3300

Rothwell last fought in December and stopped a three-bout losing streak with a second-round TKO (punches) of Stefan Struve. Rothwell accidentally hit Struve in the groin twice and was docked one point for those in the second round. Rothwell went nearly three years between fights after a loss to Junior dos Santos in April 2016 because Rothwell tested positive for a steroid ahead of another scheduled bout and was suspended two years.

When Rothwell wins, it’s usually by KO/TKO (76 per cent) and rarely by decision (eight per cent). His fights average just one round in wins and 2.4 in losses. Half of his defeats are via decision. Rothwell is around 35 pounds heavier than Saint Preux but has a two-inch reach disadvantage.

UFC Fight Night 171 Predictions: Rothwell vs. Saint Preux

Saint Preux by decision, which is priced at +300. That the fight goes the distance is +165.