Ovince Saint Preux scored a walk-off knockout that he’ll never forget in the UFC Vegas 9 co-main event.
After exchanging strikes with Alonzo Menifield for the better part of two rounds, the former University of Tennessee football player detonated a perfectly timed counter left hand that blasted his opponent and sent him crashing face first to the canvas. No more strikes were needed after that as Saint Preux enjoyed looking at his handiwork with the end coming 4:07 into the second round.
“I need a bonus. That was good,” Saint Preux said after paying tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman with his post-fight celebration. “I’ve been training hard. Been putting a lot of miles in. You’ve just got to be careful with me right there. I’m do good going backwards.”
In the early going it was Menifield swinging for a knockout behind every punch as he went head hunting for Saint Preux throughout the opening round. Despite his conditioning backfiring in his previous fight, Menifield was still willing to throw with tremendous force while coming after Saint Preux in the exchanges on the feet.
While Saint Preux had to be wary of the punches coming at him, he was countering with solid kicks to the body and just staying patient with his jab while chipping away at Menifield.
With just over a minute remaining in the second round, Menifield decided to empty his gas tank by coming after Saint Preux with a barrage of heavy punches. As he lunged forward, Saint Preux just stepped back and unleashed a brutal left hand that sent Menifield crumbling to the canvas with the referee quickly rushing into stop the fight.
“Let’s try next week,” Saint Preux said about booking his next fight. “I’m trying to get another fight this year.”
