UFC
Nik Lentz dropping to featherweight for next UFC bout
Mar 23, 2012 - 4:30:03 PM Nik Lentz dropping to featherweight for next UFC bout

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Minnesota's Nik Lentz went undefeated through his first six fights in the UFC, stretching an unbeaten run to 14 fights prior to his bout with Charles Oliveira last summer. He then lost to Oliveira in a spirited bout, but the result was overturned as the finish was the direct result of an illegal knee by Oliveira that went missed by the referee.

Lentz then lost a decision to Mark Bocek in December, and suffered a loss to Evan Dunham by doctor's stoppage after two excellent rounds in January, and the three-fight stretch has caused him to reevaluate his path in the UFC.

That reevaluation will bring him to the featherweight division, as Lentz announced on Twitter on Friday that he will be dropping to 145 lbs. for his next fight.

"I dont have a fight scheduled yet, but my next fight will be at 145 lbs!" he wrote.

He hasn't given a timetable for his return to action, but he's another in a long line of lightweights making the drop to the featherweight, and he'll attempt to plug himself into the mix upon arrival.

Penick's Analysis: Lentz is an extremely talented fighter that got a bad rap after his fight with Andre Winner. It was as much Winner's inability to stave off the clinch as it was Lentz's inability to get it further than the cage that led to a very tedious fight, but Lentz has had some really entertaining fights since then. His bout with Oliveira was excellent before the illegal knee, his win over Waylon Lowe before that was immensely exciting, and his fight with Dunham was really, really good before his eye got busted up with the doctors not allowing him to continue. His skills should translate well at featherweight, and he could have a much better run there if he makes the cut alright.