UFC Fight Night 40 results, photos: Nik Lentz downs Manny Gamburyan, claims No. 3 rank

CINCINNATI – Manny Gamburyan remains one of toughest fighters in the UFC’s featherweight division, but Nik Lentz continued his rise up the promotional rankings with an impressive decision win over “The Anvil.”

The featherweight bout was part of the preliminary card of today’s UFC Fight Night 40 event at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati. It streamed on UFC Fight Pass ahead of additional bouts FOX Sports 2 and FOX Sports 1.

As the fight opened, it was Lentz who struck first, scoring with two early punches that caught Gamburyan’s attention. The gritty Gamburyan walked through them, and the two went on to battle in the clinch before a Lentz right hand landed inadvertently to the cup. Gamburyan came alive with strikes on the restart, but Lentz was relentless with a powerful grappling game that included several knees to the body from the clinch.

Both fighters came out swinging in the second, with Lentz rifling off combinations but Gamburyan answering with heavy right hands that staggered his foe. Gamburyan eventually pushed forward and scored a takedown, but Lentz crawled to his and scored with a few big shots that instantly busted up his opponent’s right eye. As Gamburyan worked to his knees, Lentz punished him with crushing knees to the chest and sharp elbows to the head. Gamburyan winced frequently as Lentz kept him pinned against the cage, and when the bell sounded, he pawed frequently at the huge mouse that was developing under his right eye.

Lentz continued the pressure to start the third frame, but Gamburyan answered with big right hands and then threatened his opponent’s left arm when they moved into the clinch. Gamburyan looked first for the kimura and then the armbar, and while Lentz eventually pulled free, “The Anvil” was able to sweep to top position. Lentz struggled to get back to his feet but was saved by a questionably quick restart from referee Jerry Kryz. Lentz used the opportunity to try and seize the momentum, working inside as Gamburyan tried to drive elbows into his skull until the final bell.

It was Gamburyan’s best round, but Lentz was ultimately awarded a clean sweep on all three judges’ cards, scoring the unanimous-decision win. Afterward, Lentz, who sits at No. 13 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA featherweight rankings, said he deserved to be ranked in the No. 3 spot and is willing to face anyone in the current top-10.

“I’m one of the best guys in the world,” Lentz said after the win. “There’s only two guys above me. I’m No. 3.

“Any of you guys in the top-10 think you can beat me, think again. I’m standing right here. Come get some.”

With the win, Lentz (25-6-2 MMA, 9-3-1 UFC) improved to 4-1 at 145 pounds, with the lone loss coming to Chad Mendes. Gamburyan (13-9 MMA, 4-7 UFC) sees an official two-fight winning streak snapped.

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 40 results include:

For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 40, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.

Matt Erickson contributed to this report on-site in Cincinnati.