Haitian-American UFC light heavyweight Ovince Saint Preux submitted Yushin Okami via Von Flue choke at UFC Fight Night 117 in Friday night’s main event at Saitama Super Arena in Japan.
It took less than two minutes for OSP to secure the choke and put Okami to sleep once he was on the ground. Fighters going up against OSP need to learn not to fall into this trap, otherwise OSP will continue to take advantage.
Saint Preux spoke to MMA Fighting and said, “I pretty much knew the choke was there when he put his hand around my head and I basically trap his glove,” Saint Preux said after his third Von Flue choke win in the UFC. “After that it’s just me locking up and waiting for him to pass out.”
Watch Post Fight Interviews Below:
Ovince Saint Preux
Ovince Saint Preux is an professional mixed martial artist who competes in the light heavyweight division for the UFC. A professional competitor since 2008, Saint Preux has also formerly competed for Strikeforce, the XFC, and Shark Fights. Saint Preux is currently #6 in the official UFC light heavyweight rankings.
Saint Preux was born in Immokalee, Florida, to Haitian immigrant parents. He attended Immokalee High School in Immokalee, Florida, where he wrestled, played defensive end for the football team, and ran track. As a wrestler, he compiled a record of 26-1, and was the state’s 1A runner-up in his weight class. During his senior year in football, he registered 75 tackles, including a school-record 18 sacks, and was named All-State. In track, he competed in the 110-meter hurdles, the 300-meter hurdles, the discus throw, and the 4×400 relay.
Saint Preux played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers from 2001 to 2004. After redshirting in 2001, he played primarily as a reserve at both defensive end and linebacker.He earned varsity letters in 2002 and 2004, appearing in seventeen games during his college career. He graduated in 2004 with a degree in sociology, and began to train in kickboxing and grappling.
After two unsuccessful attempts at professional football, Saint Preux gave up the sport and began to take an interest in martial arts as a form of training. Saint Preux, who currently trains at Knoxville Martial Arts Academy in Knoxville, Tennessee, began to fight professionally at the suggestion of his coach. Saint Preux attributes his confidence in the ring to his membership in Omega Psi Phi fraternity.
