Ovince St. Preux

Ovince St Pruex was born in Miami, Florida to Haitian parents and became a Florida state wrestling champion in high school as well as a standout football player. He earned a place on the University of Tennessee football team as a linebacker, but MMA is what really captured his attention after a fraternity brother introduced it to him.“Football is more about power and explosiveness for a short period of time,” Saint Preux says. “In MMA you are constantly working on explosiveness, and from every position.”

He trains at the Knoxville Martial Arts Academy and made history on February 20, 2009, by not only competing in Tennessee’s first sanctioned MMA event, but also by recording the first knockout in the state. He gave his first paycheck to his Haitian Grandmother. Later that year he pulled off an impressive “calf slicer” submission against Ombey Mobley that was runner-up for WAMMA’s 2009 submission of the year.

At 6-foot-3, Saint Preux’s long, yet muscular frame can pose some wrestling headaches inside the cage and gives him a reach advantage over most light heavyweights. With 5 wins by KO or TKO, 2 submission victories, and 2 decisions, OSP has proven that he can end a fight any way and has the stamina to go the distance.

His “fight anyone, anywhere” attitude really has people taking notice of this talented athlete. He fought six times in 2010 (winning all of them) and had three fights just seven weeks apart. He was nominated as one of Strikeforce’s best newcomers of the year. He’s got an old-school work ethic, so the future is full of possibility for the former Volunteer.