SAN ANTONIO – Nate Landwehr wants to test Austin Lingo’s heart at UFC on ESPN 43.
Landwehr (16-4 MMA, 3-2 UFC) faces Lingo (9-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) in Saturday’s featured bout at AT&T Center in San Antonio. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.
“This is my 21st pro fight. I’ve seen a lot, done a lot,” Landwehr told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a pre-fight news conference Wednesday. “He’s orthodox. He’s a banger, I’m a banger. He’s tough, I’m tough. We’re going to see who’s the real dog.
“This will be a good fight. Lingo’s a tough dude. He’s got good boxing. He’s got a good left hook. We’re going to see who’s who and what’s what real quick.”
Landwehr is coming off back-to-back bonus-winning victories, including when he outlasted David Onama in a back-and-forth Fight of the Night winner this past August. While he’s happy to put on another show, “The Train” knows he needs to start putting people away if he wants to hit the featherweight rankings.
“I’m going to try and pitch a shutout,” Landwehr said. “I’m going to try and go out there and just dominate him, get a finish. I want to finish this guy. I should have finished Onama. (I) just was having too much fun, but I should have got the finish. I need a finish. I need to rack up finishes in the UFC.
“We’ll see how the division plays out in the future. There’s a bunch of big fights happening in the top 15. I’m pretty mad, I was supposed to leave Saturday top 15, and that’s driving me. I’m going to get this finish, going to carry on, and we’re going to make a run.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 43.