Ovince St. Preux is supposed to fight Maxim Grishin this coming weekend, but Grishin had travel issues, making him ineligible to show up for the bout. Enter Tanner Boser, who embraced the chance to be Grishin’s replacement even though he just fought earlier this month. Check out our preview of this intriguing heavyweight fight below.
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Betting Preview for the Ovince St. Preux vs Tanner Boser Heavyweight Bout on June 26, 2021
Where: UFC APEX, Las Vegas, NV
When: Saturday, June 26, 2021
Odds: Ovince St. Preux (-115) vs Tanner Boser (-115)
TV Broadcast: UFC Fight Pass
Betting on Ovince St. Preux (-115)
MMA Record: 25-15-0
Although St. Preux is now forced to fight at a different weight class than originally intended, brawling at the heavyweight division isn’t new to him. Back in 2020, St. Preux fought Ben Rothwell as a heavyweight. He lost that fight via split decision but at least he showed he can hang with the bigger boys. Even though he will be fighting outside of his normal weight class, St. Preux will enjoy a huge five-inch reach advantage (80-75) over Boser. He should be able to capitalize on that against Boser, who likes to fight standing up. St. Preux is averaging just 2.68 significant strikes per minute so far in his UFC career, and Boser probably knows that. However, Boser just fought for three rounds earlier this month, so he might be an easier target than usual, especially against St. Preux, who’s got great length. St. Preux has a 13-3 T(KO) record and has won seven fights via submissions.
Betting on Tanner Boser (-115)
MMA Record: 19-8-1
Boser is fighting on really short notice, so there’ll be questions about whether he’s fresh enough to get back inside the Octagon and fight someone who’s got a much longer time to prepare, albeit against a different fighter. But that could just be the key for Boser. St. Preux trained all these weeks for Grishin and now he’ll have to change his game plan not only because he will be squaring off with a different fighter but in an alternate weight class as well. That could throw St. Preux off. And because Boser is a natural heavyweight, St. Preux’s strikes might not have as strong of an impact. When he’s on offense, Boser could pick his spots and break past St. Preux’s questionable striking defense. St. Preux is absorbing 3.03 significant strikes per minute and owns just a 45 percent striking defense. Boser is looking to snap a two-fight losing skid. He lost to Andrei Arlovski (unanimous decision) in November 2020 then to Ilir Latifi (split decision) in June 2021.
Writer’s Prediction
St. Preux wins via split decision.
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