Tonight at 10:00 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1, UFC Fight Night returns with a card headlined by light heavyweights Glover Teixeira (22-4-0) and Ovince St. Preux (18-6-0) that can be live streamed free by clicking this link. Fans can catch the free prelims here at 8:00 p.m. ET, and the early prelims here.
Teixeira vs. Saint Preux is a matchup of two powerful men who wield it differently. Teixeira's style is one of volume and brute power, while Saint Preux's style is more economical. Teixeira lands nearly twice as many significant strikes per minute, but eats more as well. Saint Preux has the better landing percentage on his strikes, and executes takedowns more efficiently too.
Teixeira is ranked No. 4 in the UFC despite back-to-back losses to Jon Jones and Phil Davis, while Saint Preux enters as the No. 6 light heavyweight fresh off two consecutive wins over Shogun Rua and Patrick Cummins.
Both fighters will be fighting for continued relevance in the division, but Teixeira's career as a major competitor is in jeopardy. "People ask me how I'm dealing with those fights and losses, but I have a good head," Teixeira told MMAFighting.com. "I lost my first professional fight, but came back and won fights until I fought for the world title. I'm confident, and I'm well trained."
Saint Preux, a Knoxville, Tennessee native, might try striking with the powerful Teixeira or he could take the fight to the mat, where he's successful on 60 percent of his takedown attempts. Teixeira says he's ready for that.
"I think he might try to take me down because of the way I lost my last fight, but this is MMA," Teixeira said. "I'm well prepared for this fight. I brought in some great striking and jiu-jitsu guys, and I trained wrestling with 'King Mo' Lawal, so I'm ready wherever the fight goes."
PREDICTION: Saint Preux def. Teixeira via unanimous decision.
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