Ovince Saint Preux (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

Ovince Saint Preux understands why he’s a big underdog heading into his UFC 197 scrap with Jon Jones, but the light-heavyweight contender believes his unorthodox style will pose problems for the former champ.

Saint Preux has been tapped to face Jones on short notice this Saturday, after the latter’s original opponent, champion Daniel Cormier, withdrew due to injury. Since Jones is the consensus, best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet, not many folks believe OSP will score an upset this weekend.

Recently the noted finisher spoke to UFC.com, however, and while discussing his unorthodox approach to fighting, OSP stated:

“It’s definitely about me being unorthodox, and the way my coach goes about doing things, he thinks outside the box,” Saint Preux said, while referring to his head coach, Eric Turner. “All of my fights have been something that have kind of been outside of the box. Every time I finish fights, it has always been with something fashionable that gets people talking about it.

“I’m unorthodox and our gym is unorthodox, and in order to beat a guy like Jon, you need an unorthodox fighter.”

Saint Preux is coming off a unanimous decision win over Rafael Cavalcante in February. Jones, meanwhile, hasn’t fought since last January when he decisioned Cormier.

UFC 197 will be hosted by the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.