Nik Lentz says he’s been transformed by training at American Top Team. | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
As he walked to the Octagon for his first meeting with Charles Oliveira at UFC Live 4 nearly four years ago, Nik Lentz knew the odds were not in his favor.
Lentz’s home base, Minnesota Martial Arts Academy, had become a fading presence on the MMA scene, with stalwarts such as Sean Sherk and Nick Thompson electing to explore career options other than fighting. That, along with the fact that Lentz’s father was battling cancer during that time, made for a less than ideal camp.