SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The betting public doesn’t seem to think Chad Mendes vs. Nik Lentz is a very competitive fight. Lentz doesn’t feel the same, and at Thursday’s pre-UFC on FOX 9 press conference, he made sure Mendes knew it.

“There’s no doubt that Mendes is a good fighter, but I truly think I’m one of the best fighters in the world,” Lentz said. “If I didn’t say that and I didn’t believe that, then why the hell would I even be here?”

Lentz (24-5-2 MMA, 8-2-1 UFC) and Mendes (15-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) meet on the main card of Saturday’s UFC on FOX 9 event, which takes place at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, Calif. The four-fight main card airs on FOX.

The betting public has pushed Mendes up to astronomical levels, installing him as a 9-to-1 favorite, but Lentz believes there’s an upset in the making. And his confidence has irked Mendes, which was evident at the pre-fight function.

“I’ve got to be honest: I don’t like the guy,” Mendes said. “I think this is going to be a great fight. I’m excited.”

Check out the above video to see the two exchange words.

For more on UFC on FOX 9, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.