Former Vol/Next Level Athlete Wins Big At Strikeforce
Ovince Saint Preux enters Bridgestone Arena for his match against Chris Hawk at Strikeforce in Nashville
KMAA and Next Level Trainee Ovince Saint Preux won his Strikeforce Nashville MMA bout via a powerful left uppercut on Saturday night (4/17/10), forcing referee John McCarthy to put a stop to the match at just :46 seconds of round one. With this win, Ovince firmly establishes his place on one of the biggest stages in the Mixed Martial Arts world.
Strikeforce is widely recognized as the only legitimate rival to the MMA behemoth that is known as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Competing for them propels local talent to a worldwide stage and doing well for them can turn struggling fighters into millionaires.
Saint Preux, a Florida transplant that has made a home in Knoxville after playing football for UT from 2001-2004, is acknowledged as one of top MMA prospects in the US. Ovince has been training for 3 years with KMAA to get the opportunity to work with one of the top organizations in the world. KMAA Manager Joey Zonar sings his praise, “Ovince eats, sleeps, and breathes fighting and has done so for years to get this opportunity. This is only the beginning for Ovince and KMAA.”
After the bout Ovince was hopeful that Strikeforce was pleased with his performance but anxious to hear about his future with the MMA heavy weight organization, he only had to wait until the end of the night to find out. During the post-fight conference Scott Coker, Strikeforce President and CEO, was asked if he thought any of the undercard fighters were impressive enough to warrant a return to the Strikeforce cage, “Only one,” he said, “Ovince Saint Preux.”
