PHOENIX – If MMA legend Mauricio Rua retires from competition at UFC 274, then Ovince Saint Preux plans to send him out in devastating fashion once again.
Saint Preux (25-16 MMA, 13-11 UFC) and Rua (27-12-1 MMA, 11-10-1 UFC) are set to rematch on Saturday’s card at Footprint Center in a light heavyweight bout that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.
After OSP won the first fight by 34-second knockout in November 2014, the pair will finally run it back. Saint Preux has the goal of upstaging his previous performance and is paying no mind to the fact this could be the final time “Shogun” steps into the octagon.
“I fought him one time and beat him. If I do it again, it will probably be a staple,” Saint Preux told MMA Junkie and other reporters at UFC 274 media day on Wednesday. “It sucks for him. At the end of the day, I’m trying to make a statement.”
Although he wants to do better than his last fight with Rua, Saint Preux said he’s not leaning on the past matchup to lead him to victory.
“It’s pretty much pointless (to watch the first fight),” Saint Preux said. “People change, fighters change and styles change over time.”
