The UFC returns to action with their second event of 2010 as fans will be treated to a free UFC event with UFC Fight Night 20 taking place on Monday, January 11th. Coming off their wins at UFC Fight Night 19 in the co-main events, Nate Diaz and Gray Maynard will now face off with each other in the UFN 20 main event. As always Pro Fighting Fans, the UFC news leaders, will provide the official UFC Fight Night 20 results after each fight is complete. Below we proeview one of the many fights set for the January 11 UFC Fight Night event. Also be sure to look to UFCFightNightResults.com for historic UFC Fight Night results dating back to the first UFN event in 2005.
Nik Lentz vs Thiago Tavares
Minnesota Martial Arts Academy’s Nik Lentz (17-3-1) has already had two potential opponents bow out from a January Fight Night 20 bout. Now, with the bout back on, Lentz will face Brazilian Thiago Tavares (14-3), a UFC veteran who has been out of action for nearly a year.
Lentz, a former University of Minnesota wrestler, began in 2005 fighting in a variety of small and mid-level organizations (i.e. EFX, TCT, X-1, and XFO) for the first four years of his pro career. When finally getting the call to the UFC, he was on an impressive 9-fight unbeaten streak which became ten after his UFC 103 unanimous decision victory over fellow UFC rookie, Rafaello Oliveira.
Tavares, 25, won the first ten bouts of his career while fighting in the United States, Brazil, Holland, and England. He improved his undefeated streak to twelve with victories in his first two trips inside the octagon. Since then, however, he has compiled a 2-3 UFC record, although he did win his most recent bout at UFC 94 one year ago by outpointing Manvel Gamburyan.
Prediction – Tavares over Lentz via decision