Movsar Evloev vs. Nik Lentz at UFC 257

Movsar Evloev vs. Nik Lentz
UFC 257 NIK LENTZ VS MOVSAR EVLOEV LIVE STREAM
COVID-19 has forced Mike Grundy out of his fight with Nik Lentz. In his place, Movsar Evloev will now face the ‘Carny’.
JANUARY 23, 2021 YAS ISLAND, ABU DHABI MAIN CARD (ESPN+ PPV AT 10 P.M. ET); PRELIMS (ESPN/ESPN+ AT 8 P.M. ET); EARLY PRELIMS (ESPN+ AT 6:15 P.M. ET)
- With Mike Grundy out Saturday, Nik Lentz moves to UFC 257 vs. Movsar Evloev
- Nik Lentz is in Abu Dhabi and was all set for a fight this week.
Брат мой, надеюсь не придётся ждать целый год пока ты заберёшь пояс!👊 жду тебя в Ингушетии! #mma #ufc #chimaev #evloev @ Palmira Business Club https://t.co/jOFfsOdNCr
— Movsar Evloev (@MovsarUFC) December 31, 2020
Now his plans have changed, and he won’t have to wait too long. Lentz (30-11-2 MMA, 14-8-1 MMA) was supposed to take on Mike Grundy (12-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) on Saturday at UFC on ABC 1. But Sunday, Grundy posted online that a member of his team tested positive for COVID-19, which will keep him from competing on the card.
Instead, Lentz will miss Saturday’s event and fight a week later at UFC 257 against new opponent Movsar Evloev (13-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC). MMA Junkie confirmed the new matchup with a person with knowledge of the booking following an initial report from MMADNA.com.
UFC 257 takes place Jan. 23 at Etihad Arena at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.
Lentz will be looking to snap a two-fight skid. In May 2019, he lost a second-round TKO in a rematch againnt Charles Oliveira. In January 2020, he dropped a decision to Arnold Allen. In that fight, Lentz took an eye poke and ultimately had to have a complicated surgery that could have left him worse off than when he started. But now he’s ready to return.
Johnny, I already had my debut in UFC and I’m ready to step into octagon once again. You probably never had so much support like myself, that’s why you think it’s burner accounts. I have whole country behind my back, so put some respect on my name. https://t.co/b7bNIA60jt
— Zhalgas Zhumagulov (@ZhakoZhumagulov) September 13, 2020
Evloev fought just once in 2020 and stayed unbeaten with a unanimous decision against Grundy in July. He was supposed to meet Nate Landwehr this past December, but tested positive for COVID-19 and went on the shelf. Now he’ll try to stay perfect against Lentz with a short-notice assignment.
Grundy was set to try to get back in the win column after his loss to Evloev until the positive test took him out of the fight. In a Twitter post, Grundy said the “devastating news” has him down for now, but plans to “run through the featherweight division” when he returns.
A positive COVID-19 test in Mike Grundy’s camp has forced him out of UFC 257, and his original opponent Nik Lentz will now fight Movsar Evloev.
MMA DNA first reported the change in opponent for the event. Grundy revealed on social media this past Sunday that a member of his team had tested positive for COVID-19.
Lentz (30-11-2, 1 NC) hasn’t fought since last January, losing a unanimous decision to Arnold Allen. The UFC veteran Lentz hasn’t won a fight at featherweight since May 2014.
The undefeated Evloev (13-0) last fought when the promotion first visited Fight Island in July of last year, defeating Grundy by decision. A positive COVID-19 test forced Evloev out of a fight at UFC Vegas 16 this past December.
UFC 257 takes place on January 23rd at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The event will be headlined by a rematch between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier.
With the addition, the UFC 257 lineup now includes:
Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor
Michael Chandler vs. Dan Hooker
Joanne Calderwood vs. Jessica Eye
Marcin Prachnio vs. Khalil Rountree
Amanda Ribas vs. Marina Rodriguez
Sara McMann vs. Julianna Pena
Ottman Azaitar vs. Matt Frevola
Antonio Carlos Junior vs. Brad Tavares
Sergey Morozov vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
Nasrat Haqparast vs. Arman Tsarukyan
Makhmud Muradov vs. Andrew Sanchez
Movsar Evloev vs. Nik Lentz