Don’t you just hate it when you’re about to enjoy some nice fried chicken with all the fixings, and then you get a phone call that you have been offered the biggest fight of your mixed martial arts (MMA) career?
That’s what happened to Ovince Saint Preux, who gladly pulled out of the Kentucky Fried Chicken drive-thru line last week when he found out he had been pegged as Daniel Cormier’s replacement to face Jon Jones for the interim light heavyweight title at UFC 197 on April 23, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“I was just out running some errands and stuff, and I actually pulled up to the KFC drive thru. I kind of didn’t want the food anymore. I think I’m going to have to start an extreme diet,” said Ovince on a recent edition of The MMA Hour as transcribed by Fan Sided.
It’s a meal “OSP” gladly passed on, as he went from trying his hardest to pick a fight to vying for the biggest prize in the sport in a matter of weeks. Despite the short notice, Ovince says he will be well-prepared for the title fight against one of the best fighters of all time.
“I’m feeling confident about it,” he said. “My coaches are kind of throwing me into the deep end of the water. Fights like this don’t come around that often.”
“I knew this was going to happen,” Saint Preux said. “All last week I had a funny feeling. Rumors were online that he was limping at a wrestling match. Just looking up and down the 205 weight class, my name was probably the best choice for this fight, so I was prepared for it.”
For Ovince, declining the bout was simply not an option, as title fights don’t come around too often.
“This is something that we wanted and something that we are pretty excited about. It’s either wait for this opportunity to come around again or jump on it right now.”
And though the strap will come with an interim tag should he win, he’ll have the chance to unify the titles against Cormier later this year.
As for “DC’s” invitation to have him and his team fly to San Jose, Calif., to train at American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), “OSP” respectfully declined, opting to stick with the group that helped him since day one.