An injury has forced British submission specialist Paul Sass out of his bout with lightweight contender Evan Dunham at UFC on FOX 2 on January 28, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. Minnesotan Nik “The Carny” Lentz has stepped in to face Dunham on the card. UFC officials confirmed the change Monday.
Dunham rebounded from the first two professional setbacks of his career by outpointing Shamar Bailey in September. Lentz had his seven-fight UFC unbeaten streak snapped earlier this month when he dropped a close but Unanimous Decision to Canadian Mark Bocek at UFC 140 in Toronto.
Dunham (12-2-0) had looked to be just one win away from contention and a possible shot at the UFC Lightweight Championship before dropping a contentious Split Decision to former champion Sean Sherk in September 2010. The loss halted Dunham’s string of 11 straight wins dating back to his pro debut. Dunham suffered his second consecutive loss in January of this year when he was quickly stopped by Melvin Guillard, but got back on the winning track by defeating Bailey. Though he is no longer in the immediate title hunt, Dunham remains a solid test for anyone in the competitive 155-pound division and a win over Lentz would be one of Dunham’s biggest to date.
Lentz (21-4-2, 1 NC) has drawn criticism at times for a style that is not always the most appealing to fans, but he has found considerable success since joining the UFC in 2009. After going the distance in each of his first five UFC bouts, with a 4-0-1 record during that time, Lentz earned his first finish in the promotion this past March when he submitted Waylon Lowe in the third round. He has hit roadblocks since, however, in the form of a since-overturned loss to Charles Oliveira and the decision defeat to Bocek. Lentz felt that he had done enough to defeat Bocek and jumped at the chance to get back in the Octagon early next year. Lentz has finished 15 career opponents, including nine by submission.
UFC on FOX 2 takes place on January 28, 2012 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
(Photo Credit: Sherdog.com)