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OSP is returning to light heavyweight after an unsuccessful heavyweight debut.
With Yoel Romero vs. Uriah Hall now scrapped from next week’s UFC Vegas 7 co-main event, Ovince Saint Preux has been bumped up to co-main status and with a new opponent to boot.
Originally scheduled to face Shamil Gamzatov, UFC officials announced on Thursday that Saint Preux will now take on prospect Alonzo Menifield in what is certainly a step up in competition for Menifield. There’s no word yet as to why Gamzatov was removed from the event. Additionally, Romero vs. Hall will be rescheduled after Yoel withdrew due to an undisclosed injury.
Saint Preux (24-14) has been a perennial top-15 light heavyweight for years, earning him an interim title bout vs. Jon Jones at UFC 197. He’s hit a rough patch in recent times, winning just two of his last six fights. A move up to heavyweight back in May saw him lose a split decision to Ben Rothwell. His last win was a Von Flue choke (surprise, surprise) against Michael Oleksiejczuk last September.
Menifield (9-1) is trying to bounce back from a decision loss to Devin Clark at UFC 250 in June. Signed off of Dana White’s Contender Series, Menifield wowed with knockout wins over Vinicius Moreira and Paul Craig before getting handed his first career defeat as a pro. All but one of his wins has come by knockout.
UFC Vegas 7 airs live on ESPN on August 22nd and is headlined by a bantamweight bout between Frankie Edgar and Pedro Munhoz.