It's not every day you speak to someone who says they were 'lucky' after breaking their arm, but that's exactly the sort of positive mindset that has helped Ovince Saint Preux get to the upper tier in the UFC light heavyweight rankings.

Recovering from his broken arm

Saint Preux broke his arm during his fight with Jon Jones back at UFC 197. Despite suffering the injury in round three, Saint Preux bravely battled on to take Jones the full twenty-five minutes and to a decision. While his bravery may have ended in a losing effort, Saint Preux is rightfully proud of his performance that night and believes it will stand him in good stead for greater things down the line.

"Midway through the third round I suffered a hairline fracture and pretty much after that I fought another two rounds with a broken arm," Saint Preux said. "I knew something was probably broken in the fourth round because my arm really, really hurt. In a fight you know you've really done something bad when it really hurts because normally the adrenaline kind of numbs it, but I was feeling it in the fourth.

"I've not had to do any specific rehab for it. It was a clean break, there was no tissue damage or anything. I was quite lucky in a way because after the kick that broke it, Jon stopped using kicks. I think he saw me checking most of his kicks so he stopped. If he had kicked me again the break could've been worse.

"I've now been in a cast five or six weeks and my arms is back to full strength. When I went to get myself cleared to fight my doctor said when arm was stronger than ever and that the chances of me ever breaking my arm again in the same place is very rare."

Jon Jones

Since their fight, Saint Preux has learned that Jon Jones is under investigation from USADA for an alleged failed drugs test. Looking back on his performance at UFC 197 now, Saint Preux believes It makes it even more impressive.

"It does make it look better," Saint Preux said. "There are a lot of allegations and stipulations being leveled at Jon, but at the end of the day, I said what I needed to say--I said my piece. I can't dwell on the past now. I need to look forward to my future and I think my future after that fight looks pretty damn good."

UFC 204 and Jimi Manuwa

Saint Preux's immediate future lies at UFC 204 on October 8 in Manchester, England. That evening he will face fellow UFC light heavyweight Jimi Manuwa in a battle of two heavy hitters in the 205 pounds division.

"Manuwa is definitely a powerful striker and he's known for his strong hands," Saint Preux said. "He's a finisher and that's something that I've got to watch out for. I think it's a good matchup between two good strikers. Both of us are going to go for the kill shot and get the finish during the fight.

"He's coming off the loss to Rumble [Johnson] and everyone saw what he could do against Glover [Teixeira]. He's just another big opportunity and a big fight. It's not the first time people have talked about this fight and something told me we were always going to get it. It's definitely going to be an exciting fight."

One of the unique aspects of the UFC 204 card is the fact that the main card will not start until 3am in the morning local time. Saint Preux isn't worried about this though and he cited multiple occasions before when he's been in the Octagon at this time.

"I'm not so much worried about being in there at three or four in the morning," Saint Preux said nonchalantly. "When I fought Shogun in Brazil, it was half three and luckily that was a quick fight--if it hadn't had been it would've ended about four. 

"I just see fighting in the UK as another opportunity for getting more fans. Every time I've fought in someone's backyard before I've always done well and I've always left with a lot more fans. Brazil, Canada--both those times I ended up with the fans respect. When I fight Jimi in Manchester, I'm going there to solidify my place in the top five, make a statement and win some fan support from the UK." 

The advantages of being unorthodox

When Saint Preux steps into the Octagon on October 8, he says he will be looking for the finish, but that he won't go chasing it. The American believes that he's at his best when things are unrehearsed and when he acts on impulse.

"Whenever I plan things out they always seem to be the last thing that happens," Saint Preux said. "I've sat down before and visualized over a thousand scenarios before, but it never happens works out the way I've planned it. I'm just now taking things as they come and acting on what happens in front me. When I'm unorthodox no can handle me and it gives people a lot of problems--I'm going to start taking full advantage of that."

The top 5 is a different ballgame

Saint Preux wouldn't reveal what his next step would be if he were to be Manuwa at UFC 204, but he's aware of the step up in competition he would face should he once again challenge for a title or anyone above him in the rankings.

"I'm just focused on Manuwa right now, but know this much; every time you fight someone in the top five you are fighting a different animal," Saint Preux said. "When you make the top fifteen it's good, I found you can put people away in a pretty similar manner. Top ten, you start to get the best of the best, but that top five--it's such a small marginal separation between all the guys.

"I know whoever I fight in the top five is going to be a top quality fighter and that they would've been around for a while too."