Ovince Saint Preux is not opposed to exploring championship opportunities at both light heavyweight and heavyweight.
The 37-year-old veteran makes his heavyweight debut on Wednesday when he takes on fellow vet Ben Rothwell in the co-main event of UFC on ESPN+ 29. The card is set to go down on Wednesday at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena Jacksonville, Fla.
Although Saint Preux (24-13 MMA, 12-8 UFC) has been open about his plans to return back to the 205-pound division, the Haitian fighter is not ruling out a run to the title if he gets past Rothwell.
“If I can, yes, definitely. Why not? I would do that in the 205 division and in the heavyweight division,” Saint Preux told reporters during the UFC on ESPN+ 29 virtual media day.
Saint Preux said he’ll most likely end up back at light heavyweight for his next bout, but could very well stay at heavyweight if that’s what his coach advices.
“It one of those things that if I see a fight that presents itself at heavyweight, I will take it, why not?,” Saint Preux explained. “I’m naturally a 205 pounder, and as long as I stick to my diet and do everything well, I have an easy cut and I usually have a great fight.”
Saint Preux said he’s weighing 238 pounds as of Monday and expects to be around that weight come fight night. He expects to have a speed advantage among the natural heavyweight fighters and believes that could take him far in the division.
However, Saint Preux doesn’t buy that notion the competition at light heavyweight is tougher than at heavyweight.
“It’s not that the heavyweight division is weak, it’s not by any means.” Saint Preux said. “You look at a guy like Francis Ngannou, he touches you and he’s going to bury you – not put you to sleep, but bury you.
“It’s not weak at all, you never know what’s going to happen. One punch can change the effect of the whole fight, so I wouldn’t consider that a weak division.
“Now, would it make me, would I have an advantage in the heavyweight division? I think so, yeah. Speed. I think a lot of heavyweights realize even though I’m going up you’re going to be a little stronger than me, but not a lot because I’ve been in the college weight room all my life. I still have that work ethic, so if you lock up with me you’re going to be like, ‘Ok, I don’t think he’s your typical 205 pounder.’”
Saint Preux last fought Michal Oleksiejczuk back in September where he picked up another signature Von Flue choke submission victory. Prior to that, he was on a two-fight skid. The bout with Rothwell marks Saint Preux’s first fight of 2020.
Ovince Saint Preux not ruling out UFC heavyweight title run: 'Why not?'