Fire Still Burns for Philipe Lins

Not much has gone according to plan for Philipe Lins since he made his way to the Ultimate Fighting Championship with a Professional Fighters League title in tow on May 13, 2020. In the more than 600 days that have elapsed since, he has competed just three times while watching no fewer than nine scheduled bouts evaporate for various reasons.

“After so many cancellations, I jokingly say that my nickname changed from ‘Monstro’ to ‘Drama Fighter,’” Lins told Sherdog.com. “Some of the cancellations were due to my injuries. On other occasions, my opponents got hurt; and sometimes, there were personal problems. In the end, the most important thing is that I’m back to work.”

Lins will draw his first assignment of 2023 when he collides with Ovince St. Preux as part of the UFC Fight Night 219 undercard this Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. St. Preux has lost six of his past 10 bouts but remains a viable threat at 205 pounds. The 39-year-old former University of Tennessee linebacker last appeared at UFC 274, where he eked out a split decision over Mauricio Rua in their May 7 rematch.

“He’s dangerous, very experienced and a southpaw,” Lins said. “I’m ready to fight him—anytime. I give him all due respect. I never underestimate any of my opponents. I also think that they’ll show up in the best possible shape. That makes me prepare even better. I’m confident we’ll put on a great show. He likes striking, and so do I.”

St. Preux’s reputation precedes him. A fixture on the UFC roster for nearly a decade, the onetime light heavyweight title challenger owns victories over Corey Anderson, Yushin Okami, Rafael Cavalcante and Nikita Krylov. St. Preux, 39, boasts 20 finishes on his resume, 14 of them inside one round.

“He’s got a good name; he’s famous,” Lins said. “Without a doubt, a win over him would be a great step in the direction of the UFC rankings. As far as how it’s going to play out, I always look to get a finish before the final buzzer. I look to put on exciting fights. This fight won’t be any different. I’m always looking to put on a show for the fans. Of course, at this high level, you can’t just show up and fight.”

Lins operates out of the American Top Team academy in Coconut Creek, Florida, where he sharpens his skills and bolsters his conditioning under Steve Mocco, Katel Kubis, Mike Rod, Everton Bittar and a number of other world-class coaches. Klidson Abreu and Monte Morrison served as his primary training partners during his latest camp.

“The only work I do outside is cardio. I’ve been swimming a lot,” Lins said. “We’ve put in a solid strategy to deal with [St. Preux]. You have to go into it with intelligence, knowledge and proper timing. I just want to make sure I get my hand raised.”

The 37-year-old Lins understands a second straight victory inside the Octagon—he took a unanimous decision from Marcin Prachnio in his most recent outing at UFC Fight Night 205 last April—would go a long way toward helping him establish a foothold at 205 pounds.

“My main focus is to get a win,” he said. “Then we’ll sit down and see what the next steps are for my career. I’m not young anymore. Of course, I still have a fire in me. I’m dangerous for as long as I have that fire. I want to keep fighting at a high level in the UFC until the day I decide to retire. Until then, I want to be one of the top fighters in my weight class.”