OSP Moves To Heavyweight, Meets Rothwell On May 13

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It looks like another fight is in the works for UFC’s upcoming event on May 13 from inside VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.

Per a recent report by ESPN’s Ariel Helwani (shown below), former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Ovince Saint Preux will be making his move to heavyweight in a clash with veteran Ben Rothwell. Saint Preux was originally expected to fight light heavyweight Ion Cutelaba this month, but “Hulk” is unable to re-enter the country at this time due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Saint Preux, 37, has spent his entire career in the light heavyweight division. The former University of Tennessee football star has produced an admirable 18-9 record in UFC and Strikeforce competition since 2010, which includes an interim UFC light heavyweight title shot in 2016. OSP is coming off a submission win over Michal Oleksiejczuk back in September, but the former light heavyweight is going to need to be on his game to take out Rothwell next month.

Rothwell, 38, returned to action early last year after serving a two-year USADA suspension. The long-time heavyweight lost back-to-back decisions to Blagoy Ivanov and Andrei Arlovski before knocking out Stefan Struve at UFC on ESPN 7 this past December. Rothwell has a lot of lost time to make up for, especially since he’s dropped three out of his last four Octagon appearances, and it all starts with Saint Preux on May 13.

The UFC’s upcoming May 13 event will be headlined by a light heavyweight clash between former UFC title challengers Anthony Smith and Glover Teixeira, who were originally scheduled to meet at UFC Fight Night 173 this weekend in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Stick with Mania as the May 13 fight card continues to develop.