Nzechukwu vs Preux

Who won Nzechukwu vs Preux?

Ovince St. Preux beat Kennedy Nzechukwu by split decision in their 3 round contest during the main card of UFC Fight Night, on Saturday 16th March 2024 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

The scorecards were announced as 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 in favor of the winner Ovince St. Preux.

The fight was scheduled to take place over 3 rounds in the Light Heavyweight division, which meant the weight limit was 205 pounds (14.6 stone or 93 KG).

Nzechukwu vs Preux stats

Kennedy Nzechukwu stepped into the octagon with a record of 12 wins, 4 losses and 0 draws, 8 of those wins coming by the way of knock out and 1 by submission.

Ovince St. Preux made his way to the cage with a record of 26 wins, 17 losses and 0 draws, 12 of those wins coming by knock out and 8 by submission.

This was Kennedy Nzechukwu's 13th fight in the UFC, having made his debut for the promotion in 2019. Ovince St. Preux marked his 28th fight for them, having made his own debut for the promotion in 2013.

Kennedy Nzechukwu's UFC record stood at 8-5-0, while Ovince St. Preux's came in at 15-13-0.

The stats suggested Nzechukwu had a large advantage in power over St. Preux, boasting a 67% knock out percentage over St. Preux's 46%.

If the fight went to the ground, their records suggested St. Preux had a large advantage over Nzechukwu, boasting a 31% submission rate over Nzechukwu's 8%.

Kennedy Nzechukwu was the younger man by 9 years, at 33 years old.

Nzechukwu had a height advantage of 2 inches over St. Preux. That also extended to a 3-inch reach advantage.

Nzechukwu was the less experienced professional fighter, having had 27 fewer fights, and made his debut in 2016, 8 years and 1 month later than St. Preux, whose first professional fight was in 2008. He had fought 55 less professional rounds, 40 to St. Preux's 95.

Nzechukwu vs Preux form

Nzechukwu had beaten 3 of his last 5 opponents, stopping 2 of them, going to the judges once.

In his last fight leading up to this contest, he had lost to Dustin Jacoby at UFC Fight Night – Sandhagen vs. Font on 5th August 2023 by knockout in the 1st round at Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, United States.

Previous to that, he had won against Devin Clark at UFC 288 on 6th May 2023 by submission in the 2nd round at Prudential Center, Newark.

Going into that contest, he had beaten Ion Cutelaba at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Spivak on 19th November 2022 by knockout in the 2nd round at UFC Apex, Las Vegas.

Before that, he had defeated Karl Roberson at UFC Fight Night: Dos Anjos vs. Fiziev on 9th July 2022 by knockout in the 3rd round at UFC APEX, Las Vegas.

He had been beaten by Nick Negumereanu at UFC 272 on 5th March 2022 by split decision in their 3 round contest at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas.

St. Preux had beaten 2 of his last 5 opponents, stopping 1 of them, going the distance once.

In his last fight before this contest, he had been defeated by Philipe Lins at UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Blanchfield on 18th February 2023 by knockout in the 1st round at UFC Apex, Las Vegas, United States.

Previous to that, he was victorious against Mauricio Rua at UFC 274 on 7th May 2022 by split decision in their 3 round contest at Jeunesse Arena, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Going into that contest, he had lost to Tanner Boser at UFC Vegas 30 on 26th June 2021 by knockout in the 2nd round at UFC APEX, Las Vegas, United States.

Before that, he had been beaten by Jamahal Hill at UFC Vegas 16 on 5th December 2020 by knockout in the 2nd round at UFC APEX, Las Vegas.

He had won against Alonzo Menifield at UFC Vegas 9 on 5th September 2020 by knockout in the 2nd round at UFC APEX, Las Vegas.

Activity check

In terms of activity leading into the fight, Kennedy Nzechukwu had been fighting more than Ovince St. Preux.

Going to this contest, Kennedy Nzechukwu had last fought 1 year, 10 months and 22 days ago, while Ovince St. Preux's last outing had been 2 years, 4 months and 9 days ago.

Nzechukwu's last 5 fights had come over a period of 3 years, 3 months and 22 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 7 months and 30 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 11 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 2.2 rounds on average.

St. Preux's last 5 fights had come over a period of 4 years, 9 months and 22 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 11 months and 17 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 10 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 2 rounds on average.

What were the odds on Nzechukwu vs Preux?

Kennedy Nzechukwu was a 7/50 (-710) favourite going into the contest, while Ovince St. Preux made his way into the ring at 5/1 (+500) with oddsmakers.