Ovince Saint Preux narrowly edged out a split-decision victory over Kennedy Nzechukwu in a striking battle at UFC Fight night 292 that really heated up in the final five minutes.
Round One:
Missed front kick upstairs attempt from OSP to start. Bit of hand-fighting here as they circle in the center of the Octagon.
Straight left from OSP. Quick straight right from Nzechukwu. Front kick to the body from each man. OSP lands another.
Chopping inside leg kick from OSP. Body punch for Nzechukwu. Right hook from Nzechukwu off a missed hook from OSP.
Right hand for Nzechukwu through the guard. Another lands and a body kick from OSP. Nzechukwu repeatedly hunting for the right hand. Series of punches from OSP now.
A couple of jabs land for Nzechukwu. Body kick from Nzechukwu off a missed punch from OSP. Jab for himm. And again.
Body kick from OSP came close to straying low. leg kick for him. And again. Now a jab. jab for Nzechukwu and a right hand behind it. Solid punch for OSP.
Calf kick for OSP. He lands it again. Jab for OSP. Punch and an elbow for Nzechukwu. calf kick from OSP. He lands a final kick to the lead leg.
Round Two:
Body kick from Nzechukwu comes off the guard. OSP gets his own body kick under the elbow. Now a calf kick from mhim.
Left hand for Nzechukwu. Another chopping calf kick from OSP. Left hand for OSP now. Both pawing out with the jab now.
Left hook for OSP. He lands nicely to the body. Jabs get through a couple of times from Nzechukwu. OSP lands a punch to the body and then one upstairs.
Front kick upstairs from OSP grazes the target. OSP with a nice punch to the body. He tries a kick that Nzechukwu catches, but he can’t work a takedown off that.
Right hand gets through a couple of times for Nzechukwu after punches from OSP come off the guard.
Punch to the body for OSP. Solid right hand from Nzechukwu. Now a couple of left hand for Nzechukwu. OSP fires back with a few solid connections of his own to back Nzechukwu up.
Nzechukwu working the jab. Both men exchange solid punches but wear it well.
Round Three:
Jab for Nzechukwu. OSP lands too. Nzechukwu lands a couple more jabs. OSP with a big punch that puts Nzechukwu down for a moment. OSP in the clinch and Nzechukwu survives that scare.
Nice uppercut from Nzechukwu. A couple of punches connect for OSP. Right hand for him As Nzechukwu is trying to fire back. He lands a left hand. Front kick to the body.
Nzechukwu starting to land the left hand and now a right too. Uppercut from OSP. Punches land for Nzechukwu.
solid jab for OSP. Cuffing punches from Nzechukwu in close. He lands several jabs and goes for a hook too. OSP punching to the body. Nice knee to the body from Nzechukwu seemed to trouble OSP for a moment. Nzechukwu with a brief flurry.
Both men leaving everything in the cage here in this final round. Nzechukwu in the clinch and working knees to teh body. OSP trying to fire back but getting tired. Nzechukwu lands a good strike.
Right hook for Nzechukwu. Right hand for him as tired punches coming from OSP. Good knee to the body from Nzechukwu.
Strikes from the clinch exchanged and a knee from Nzechukwu. Final 10 seconds and OSP lands a big left and right. Nzechukwu wears it well and both are still trying to land final strikes as the fight draws to a close.
Decision:
A very close fight then and credit to both fighters for really going all out to win in the final five minutes, with both eating big strikes in the process.
That gives the judges a tough call to make and in the end they return a split-decision victory for Ovince Saint Preux (29-28 x2, 28-29).
