Nik Lentz pleased with his progress up the lightweight ranks, thinks he matches up well with Charles Oliveira

UFC lightweight powerhouse, Nik Lentz has been speaking about his progress in the 155 pound division over the past couple of years, explaining he’s pleased and proud with how things are going right now, before turning his attention to his impending fight with Charles Oliveira on the UFC on Versus 4 card.
Speaking via UFC.com, Lentz said:

“I feel like I’m going in the right way in the division. You just have to keep winning and beating the people they put in front of you. Truthfully, everyone in the 155-pound division in the UFC is insanely talented and insanely good. The fact that I’ve been able to win all my fights is good. I’m very proud of it and I’m very happy. As far as when I get to fight the bigger names doesn’t matter to me because in the long run of things whether it is six months or a year or even two years, if I’m fighting for a title by then, then that’s good for me. I would be very happy with that.”

Lentz takes on top-rated Brazilian submission artist, Charles Oliveira next time out inside the octagon in a fight he’ll need to win in order to keep his momentum going in the lightweight division.

“He’s aggressive, he’s talented and he’s so young that to have made it this far is impressive. His jiu-jitsu is really good, there’s no doubt about it. But at the same time, I don’t think he’s better than me at anything. As far as his talent goes, I don’t think he’s better on the ground than me, I don’t think he’s better standing than me, and I don’t think he’s better off his back than me.”

“I think he’s done a lot and he should be commended for doing so well and being so young, but when he fights me I’m going to expose him. Overall, I think I have a lot more experience, I have fought a lot tougher people and I have been in more wars than he has. That’s going to be one of the reasons I will win the fight.”

“Anytime I can make the fight into a very gritty and hard type fight I’m going to be the one who comes out on top. I’m tough and I’m always in excellent condition. I take my training very seriously and I diet perfectly. I do all the stuff that is needed, so when it comes down to the conditioning battle or the ‘who is tougher’ battle – you can’t win that against me. It isn’t possible.”

Lentz has been a thorn in the side for many a lightweight of late, as well as getting himself a bit of a reputation for not exactly being the most active fighter in the octagon. He was last seen in action at UFC Fight Night 24 where he pulled off a come-from behind submission win over Waylon Lowe.