No. 5 light heavyweight Ovince St. Preux (22-10, 10 KOs, 7 SUBs) will meet No. 10 Ilir Latifi (13-5, 5 KOs, 4 SUBs) at UFC on FOX 28 on Saturday, February 24, 2018 at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. The card airs live on FOX starting 8 p.m. ET. Bet on the latest UFC odds at BookMaker.eu, and get the latest betting previews, predictions and picks now.
Ovince St. Preux ain’t done yet. After a 1-3 slide that left the former title challenger looking like a lost cause, the 34-year old has won three straight, notching finishes in each victory. Now back to No. 5 in the rankings, OSP meets Sweden’s Ilir Latifi on the main card of UFC on FOX 28 in Orlando, Florida. Originally scheduled for UFC on FOX 27, the matchup was rescheduled after a Latifi injury delayed the bout.
Latifi has the chance to earn the biggest win of his career, while OSP is fighting to maintain his status as an elite light heavyweight, behind the top tier of Daniel Cormier and Alexander Gustafsson. Let’s take a look at the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu and break down the matchup along with your best betting options.
UFC Odds at BookMaker.eu
Ovince St. Preux -105 vs. Ilir Latifi -125
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -120, under +100
Matchup Preview
Since coming into the UFC, St. Preux has racked up a 10-5 record inside the octagon. He owns notable wins over Shogun Rua, Rafael Cavalcante and Yushin Okami. However, every time he’s tried to break into the elite tier, he’s somehow fallen short. Losses to Ryan Bader, Glover Teixeira, Jon Jones, Jimi Manuwa and Volkan Oezdemir all imply that OSP probably isn’t championship material.
In nine UFC fights, Latifi is 6-3. Though he was forced to make his UFC debut on short notice against Gegard Mousasi, the Swede has carved out solid role at light heavyweight. As a midcard talent, Latifi has consistently beaten mediocre competition, but was outclassed by Jan Blachowicz and Ryan Bader. A win over prospect Tyson Pedro in his last outing could lead to bigger things.
There was a point in early 2017 where OSP looked like a shot fighter. In three straight losses, the former Tennessee defensive lineman looked gunshy with serious cardio issues. It almost seemed like his competitive drive was gone.
A renewed commitment to cardio and more authoritative striking has turned things around. He’s got the time of explosion to be a knockout threat, but his best weapon is his submission wrestling. He’s big for a 205er, and lately he’s gotten better at muscling dudes to the mat to find a choke.
Trying to take down Latifi might not be the best route to go down. A stocky 5’8” Swede, Latifi is a powerhouse wrestler with a low center of gravity. He’s gonna look like a midget next to the 6’3” sweet, but being shorter has it’s advantages - just ask current champion Daniel Cormier.
Latifi does his best work on the ground, but can he take down OSP? It doesn’t seem likely, even though the Knoxville native’s defense isn’t airtight. You’ve really got to work to take him down, and his height lets him widen his base if pushed against the cage.
UFC Betting Tips
In a pure kickboxing - which OSP should be able to force - the American has the edge. His height and reach advantage will be the deciding factors here, as he’ll pop Latifi from long range en route to a win.
OSP to win is a safe play, and the price is playable as a straight bet. If you’re looking for a better payout, go with OSP by decision, as Latifi is a tough dude that should be able to bang it out to the cards.
UFC Odds Pick: St. Preux to win at -125
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UFC on FOX 28 takes place on Saturday, February 24, 2018 at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. The card airs live on FOX starting 8 p.m. ET.
