Nik Lentz Says UFC Had to Get a Newcomer to Fight Him on Short Notice

– Nik Lentz spoke with mmajunkie.com following his victory at UFC 203. Here are the highlights…

On Facing Michael McBride: “We looked for tape on him and there was almost nothing. was a complete newcomer and we had no idea how he was going to fight. If he was going to be strong, if he was going to be quick – I didn’t know anything about him. Overall, I’ll tell you what, the kid is awkwardly strong. He is a very unorthodox but interesting fighter. I don’t know if he’s good, I don’t know if he’s bad, but he is hard to fight. “I’d never heard of him. I talked to a few guys I knew where he is from because he’s from up north where I used to be from. They were just saying, ‘Man, he’s awkward. Just expect an awkward fight. He doesn’t hit that hard, he’s not that fast, he’s not that strong. But when you fight him, he’s just super awkward.’”

On UFC Having to Get a Newcomer to Take The Short Notice Fight: “I congratulate him because there was a whole 155-pound division that could take this fight and nobody took it,” Lentz said. “They had to go get a newcomer to take it and they even got turned down a few times in that. No, there’s not many people short notice who want to fight Nik Lentz. I don’t blame them, but at the same time, good for the kid for stepping up. Of course, if he came in a little overweight. Who cares? He took the fight. I’ll take him out to dinner later.”