University of Tennessee on Biggest Stage at UFC 197
The first question anyone asks when hearing a new fighter’s name is “Where did he/she come from?”. We want to know what brought that person to the center of the octagon, ring or cage. We want to know what we should expect from the fighter based on their past, and we are always hoping for that juicy story to latch on to so we can be interested. If I were a member of the Tennessee coaching staff, I’d be paying very close attention to UFC 197 tonight.
Ovince Saint Preux played his football at the University of Tennessee, and he’s damn proud of it. In many of his pictures he can be seen wearing his Vols beanie, and quite frankly, I’m not sure he takes it off outside of the ring.
Tonight, due to injury of Daniel Cormier, “OSP” will be getting the opportunity of a lifetime. He will be fighting arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world in Jon Jones. Does OSP even have a chance? According to Vegas he doesn’t have much of a chance as his odds to win are set at +450. There’s no doubt that there have been bigger upsets, but this would be up there with some of the biggest upsets of all-time in the UFC.
If I were Tennessee, I’d be all over this event. Butch Jones cannot blow this call! Granted, the chances are small, but you have to talk up OSP as if you believe he will win. You have to able to say that you believe in him the whole time because he is a Tennessee Volunteer.
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The ability to tell a kid that even the best athletes in the world sit the bench at University of Tennessee would be huge. Imagine telling a kid, “The UFC Light Heavyweight Champion of the world sat right there on that bench, and he didn’t quit. He gave it his all and he never started a game. Look at him now.” I think that could help give a kid motivation.
Plus, if the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion (Interim or not) played football at your school, that is a pretty damn cool thing to be able to tell recruits in the living room with their parents.