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Joe Lauzon-Terry Etim On For UFC On FOX 4

Joe Lauzon has confirmed a rumored fight with Terry Etim, announcing that he has signed on for the bout via his own personal website, JoeLauzon.com. Lauzon-Etim will take place on August 4 at UFC on FOX 4. The card is set for Los Angeles, with a main event of Hector Lombard vs. Brian Stann. Lauzon [...]

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UFC on FOX 4 Fight Card: Lauzon vs. Etim Headlines Trio of Additions

A lightweight clash pitting fan-favorite Joe Lauzon against English submission ace Terry Etim has been added to the fight card of UFC on FOX 4, currently slated for August 4, 2012 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. Lauzon announced the match-up via his personal website on Wednesday, but didn't specify if it would take place on the preliminary card or the FOX broadcast. Both men head into the bout looking to rebound from brutal highlight-reel knockout losses. Lauzon (21-7) recently saw his two-fight win streak come to an end after dropping from a head kick just 81 seconds into his fight against former WEC champion Anthony Pettis. Likewise, Eitm (15-4) found himself on the mother-of-all-highlights after being floored from a Edson Barboza spinning wheel kick deep into their January contest. Previously, Lauzon and Eitm were slated to meet at UFC 118, however Eitm was forced to pull out of the fight with a broken rib, leaving Lauzon to fight Gabe Ruediger. "For both of us, this is kind of like deja vu because we have already trained for one another," Lauzon wrote on his website. "I liked the fight the first time around, but I really like the fight this time around as I have grown tremendously as an athlete and fighter." Additionally, UFC officials announced a pair of heavyweight match-ups for the California card. TUF 10 veteran Matt Mitrione (5-1), who looks to right the ship after suffering the first loss of his career in a listless unanimous decision to Cheick Kongo, is slated to meet British bruiser Rob Broughton (15-7-1), who heads into the contest fresh from back-to-back losses to Travis Browne and Phil De Fries. Also, English brawlers Oli Thompson (9-3) and De Fries (8-1) hope to get back into the win column after falling to Shawn Jordan and Stipe Miocic in their last outings, respectively.

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Joe Lauzon Will Face Terry Etim At UFC On FOX 4

Joe Lauzon will face a stiff challenge when he looks to get back on track later this year. Lauzon, who is coming off a crushing defeat at the hands of Anthony Pettis, will take on Terry Etim at UFC on FOX 4 in Los Angeles. The card is set for August 4. After defeating Melvin Guillard via submission, “J-Lau” was looking to make a statement in the UFC’s lightweight division. Instead, Pettis dropped him in the first round and sent Lauzon back to the drawing board. In Etim, Lauzon will be facing a fighter in the same situation as himself. Etim was knocked out by Edson Barboza with a spinning wheel kick, dropping him to 1-2 in his last three after a four-fight win streak. The Boston Herald was the first to report the fight as being official for the card. Photo credit: Esther Lin/MMA Fighting

Posted in: ufc, lauzon, etim, terry etim, year lauzon

Joe Lauzon locking horns with Terry Etim in August

Fan-favorite finisher Joe Lauzon will look to bounce back from a momentum-crushing knockout to Anthony Pettis when he returns to the Octagon on August 4 against polished Brit Terry Etim. The bout will take place at UFC on FOX 4 which is expected to go down in Los Angeles. Etim-Lauzon is the first bout confirmed by multiple sources to be taking place at the event. News of the pairing was reported by both the Boston Herald and Fighters Only Magazine. Lauzon had scored two opening round submissions entering the February fight with Pettis including a sub-minute finish of Melvin Guillard in his previous match-up. He holds an overall record of 21-7 with all of his wins involving some form of stoppage (16 submissions/5 TKOs). “J-Lau” Shows Fans What it Takes to be a UFC Fighter Etim is also no stranger to stoppages, taking out fourteen of the fifteen foes he’s felled before scorecards came into play with the lone exception being the always-tough Sam Stout. The 26-year old will also be out to shake off the stink of a highlight-reel loss after being flattened by Edson Barboza’s Spinning Heel-Kick at UFC 142. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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UFC roundup: Lauzon meets Etim in August

Dynamic lightweights Joe Lauzon and Terry Etim will reportedly meet at UFC on FOX 4 in Los Angeles on Aug. 4.

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Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

Joe Lauzon takes on Terry Etim this August at FOX event

Two lightweights coming of separate, scintillating head-kick knockouts will meet this summer in the form of a bout between Joe Lauzon and Terry Etim. Lauzon was last seen falling to Anthony Pettis last month in Japan, while Etim was poster-ized by Edson Barboza courtesy of a Spinning Heel-Kick at UFC 142. However, both submission specialists were coming off wins in their previous performances and have racked up victories over a number of respected adversaries in the past. Their match-up is believed to be taking place at UFC on FOX 4 in Los Angeles on August 4. Both Fighters Only Magazine and the Boston Herald have confirmed the bout through separate sources. Lauzon holds an overall record of 21-7 with eight of his wins coming inside the Octagon. Among the notable opponents he’s beaten are Jens Pulver, Jeremy Stephens, Mike Brown, and Melvin Guillard. All instances of his in-ring success have involved some form of stoppage. The 26-year old Etim is also a finisher by trade with fourteen of his fifteen overall wins involving a fight-ending technique. No other bouts have been linked to the card yet. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: joe lauzon, lauzon, etim, headkick knockouts, submission specialists

Joe Lauzon Vs. Terry Etim Marked For UFC On Fox 4 In August

A couple of lightweights that were recently knocked out by brutal head kicks will be meeting in the octagon on August 4th at UFC on Fox 4. Despite those losses, this is an excellent matchup and the first rumored bout for the Fox card. Fighters Only has the scoop: Joe Lauzon will face Terry Etim in his next outing. A source tells Fighters Only that the two lightweights have verbally agreed to meet on the UFC on FOX 4 card taking place in Los Angeles on August 4. Lauzon (21-7) had picked up two submission of the night awards in a row going into his bout with Anthony Pettis at UFC 144, but was knocked out in the first round. Etim (15-4) was knocked out in spectacular fashion by Edson Barboza at UFC 142 back in January. The two fighters have combined for an incredible twelve performance bonuses over their UFC careers. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 4

Posted in: ufc, fighter, fox, lauzon, terry etim

Joe Lauzon vs. Terry Etim Likely for UFC on Fox 4

Two lightweights coming off of losses will both look to get back to the win column at UFC on Fox 4, as Joe Lauzon will meet Terry Etim at the August 4th event which is expected to take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The two were first expected to fight at UFC 118 in August 2010, but Etim had to withdraw due to injury. Now the lightweight contenders will meet nearly two years after their first scheduled matchup. Fighters Only Magazine first reported the matchup. Both are coming off of losses via spectacular head kick knockouts. Lauzon (21-7) lost his against Anthony Pettis at UFC 144 in February. Prior to that loss, Lauzon upset top contender Melvin Guillard in the first round via submission, after knocking down “The Young Assassin” in the opening seconds of the match. Lauzon’s loss to Pettis ended a rather impressive streak, as he had won a UFC record six consecutive fight night bonus awards, including four “Submission of the Night” bonuses. Etim (15-4), meanwhile, lost his most recent match against Edson Barboza via spinning wheel kick at UFC 142 in January. This came just months after Etim made his long-awaited return to the UFC after a 19-month layoff due to injuries. Etim has also garnered multiple fight night bonuses, including three “Submission of the Night” bonuses in his last five fights. The England native will be fighting in the United States for just the second time during his five-year UFC career, having fought around Europe for a majority of his career. UFC on Fox 4 has no other announced matchups, as the event itself has yet to be officially announced by the UFC. The event is expected to take place on August 4th at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. For complete coverage of UFC on Fox 4, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com

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UFC on FOX 4: Joe Lauzon vs Terry Etim booked for Aug. 4 in Los Angeles

Sometimes UFC matchmaker Joe Silva just has it easy. Such is the case with the first match-up to be added to the UFC on Fox 4 event headed for Los Angeles, Calif., on Aug. 4, 2012, as lightweights Joe Lauzon and Terry Etim will look to rebound from recent spectacular losses. BostonHerald.com brought word of the bout just last night. Lauzon is coming off a first round destruction at the hands, or legs, rather, of Anthony Pettis back at UFC 144 on Feb. 25 in Japan. "J-Lau" took one hard on the chin and took a short trip to La La Land. When he woke up, he was back down towards the bottom of the 155-pound ladder. The same can be said for Terry Etim, who was on the receiving end of what has undoubtedly been the "Knockout of the Year" when Edson Barboza posterized him with a spinning wheel kick at UFC 142 on Jan. 14 down in Brazil. The loss marked his second in three fights, this after putting together a four fight win streak. Rebound time comes later this summer at the UFC on Fox 4 event that is scheduled to go down in LA on Aug. 4. The show is currently without a main event and Lauzon vs. Etim is the only bout booked for the card at this time. Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more on this still-developing fight card.

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Joe Lauzon vs Terry Etim booked for UFC on FOX 4

submitted by Like_Wild_Potato [link] [1 comment]

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I photobombed Joe Lauzon :)

submitted by vanguard_anon [link] [1 comment]

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Joe Lauzon's 4th vLog From Japan: Fight day and post fight thoughts

submitted by JoeLauzonDotCom [link] [2 comments]

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UFC 144 results recap: Winners and losers from the Feb. 25 event in Saitama, Japan

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) entered the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan on Sat., Feb. 25, 2012 and left with a new list of winners and losers, as UFC 144 separated the cream from the crop. The main event featured a monumental 155-pound championship showdown between Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar and number one contender Ben Henderson, and the crowning of a new king. The co-main event saw two tough light heavyweights square off as Quinton Jackson (who missed weight by a significant margin) returned to Japan for the first time since he left PRIDE to square off against highly skilled wrestler Ryan Bader. The fight saw one top contender rise up the ladder, while another proved that he may have left his glory days behind him. After the jump we'll sort out the biggest of winners and lowliest of losers from UFC 144: "Edgar vs. Henderson." WINNERS Ben Henderson -- The big winner of the event was obvious. "Smooth" put on an exhibition of athleticism, crisp striking and very solid takedown defense. The fight was close, but Henderson was just a little better than Edgar in every single regard. He deserved to win the fight. He deserves to be the champion. We may see this guy wearing the belt for a long time to come (if he stays at 155 pounds, that is). Beating up Edgar is something to brag about, but you won't hear the humble Henderson doing anything of the sort. Anthony Pettis -- Wow. "Showtime" started off the pay-per-view event off with a bang when he floored Joe Lauzon with a head kick KO that had the fans in Saitama cheering in approval. This kid is for real. Apparently, he doesn't need to run off cage walls to score big kicks to the head. That being said, I wouldn't mind seeing him do it again. Huge win for Pettis, who instantly put himself "in the mix." Hatsu Hioki -- When the UFC signed Hioki last year, a lot of fans (including myself) were very excited, based on the merits of his highlight reel, reign of terror that he conducted in Japan. Many predicted he'd be the man to either unseat Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo or at least give him the closest fight he'd ever seen. After a lackluster performance versus George Roop at UFC 137 on Oct. 29, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada, many questioned his status as the number two 145-pounder in the world. Tonight, he showed flashes of his past dominance by completing crushing Bart Palaszewski for three brutal rounds. He couldn't finish him, but I believe that is more of a testament to Palaszewski's toughness than it is of Hioki's inability to stop an opponent. Ryan Bader -- After losing two very embarrasing fights in a row, Bader has come back strong and won two big fights in a row. "Rampage" is easily the biggest name who has become a notch on his belt. Beating him in Japan is an even bigger feather in his cap. The victory puts him back where he was before he was annihilated by Jon Jones at UFC 126 on Feb. 5, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hopefully, he can maintain the momentum this time. Mark Hunt -- The former PRIDE legend proved at UFC 144 that you just cannot take him for granted. Many have tried to bury him, but he continues to knock the dirt off his coffin and he keeps putting on big fights. He has massive punching power, and if you make a mistake, he's going to end your night. Kongo made some big mistakes in how he approached Hunt and this fight, in general. But you have to credit the "Super Samoan" for handling his business. Tim Boetsch -- After basically taking a beating for two rounds, Boetsch had no choice but to come out and go for the finish in the final frame. That's exactly what he did, as he came flying forward and buried Yushin Okami under a barrage of big punches. The only real question is: What took him so long? It ended up being one of the better comebacks we've ever seen in the Octagon. Nicely done. Jake Shields -- It wasn't pretty, but he got it done. For almost three full rounds, Akiyama stuffed every takedown attempt with ease, but Shields never quit. He kept coming forward, throwing strikes (albeit, none of them damaging) and finally got the fight to his world in the third round. I'm not real interested in seeing him fight for a title anytime soon, but I have to tip my cap to him for his toughness. LOSERS Quinton Jackson -- I've always loved "Rampage." I love the howling. I love the powerbombs. I even love the inappropriateness. He's like a cartoon in real life and he was always fun. He was also one of the best and most dynamic fighters of his time. Sadly, that time is over. against Ryan Bader, Jackson couldn't defend the take down, couldn't keep up with him, in general, and just flat-out looked like a fighter from yesterday fighting a more current version of a mixed martial artist. It saddens me greatly to say it, but I think "Rampage" needs to call it a day. Joe Lauzon -- He got caught. It happens to the best of them. In his last fight, Lauzon looked great against Melvin Guillard, a superior striker, who got caught in Lauzon's web of a ground game. The problem at UFC 144 is that Lauzon's opponent, Pettis, has a very good ground game himself. Lauzon looked tentative from the get-go and the finish showed why that may have been the case. Lauzon is still relatively young and will have a chance to improve on this loss. It just hurts because it takes him down a couple of pegs. The lightweight division is too tough these days to lose a fight that way and still be knocking on the door of title contention. Frankie Edgar -- I don't like putting him on this list. Simply put, he fought like a warrior and has nothing to be ashamed of. But you can't look the past the fact that he was handily unseated. This was one of those "back to the drawing board" losses. If he wants to get his belt back from Henderson, he's going to have to work on a lot of things. Either that, or finally listen to the critics who have been saying he should be a featherweight for years now. Yushin Okami -- After the first two rounds, "Thunder" essentially had his fight with Tim Boetsch won. All he had to do was fight smart, stay on the outside and avoid damage. Okami seemed to underestimate Boetsch and perhaps got a little cocky. He paid a dear price for it and ended up in a puddle of embarrassment in front of his friends and family. Cheick Kongo -- I'm not a professional fighter. I'm also not a trainer or coach. I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn last night, but I know this: If you have an eight-inch reach advantage against a heavy-handed opponent who makes a living off getting inside and throwing punches, you should use said advantage. Instead of throwing kicks and keeping him at bay, Kongo played Mark Hunt's game and allowed him to get inside, land big strikes and put him down in record time. Poor showing for Kongo. Yoshihiro Akiyama -- His move from middleweight to welterweight was supposed to rejuvenate his career. It still might, but I personally didn't see anything that made me think the move was a big success. The problem is that he has to find somewhere that he fits in. Middleweight wasn't a great look for him. If he's gonna stay at 170-pounds, he'll need to step his game up big time. That's my list, but I'm curious to hear what yours looks like. Leave us a comment (or 144) detailing your big winners and lowly losers. Do it now! For complete UFC 144: "Edgar vs. Henderson" results, including blow-by-blow details of all the action, click here and here.

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UFC 144 results recap: Anthony Pettis vs Joe Lauzon fight review and analysis

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was coming out guns blazing last night (Feb. 25, 2011) as top lightweights Anthony Pettis and Joe Lauzon opened up the UFC 144 main card in Saitama, Japan. Fans were expecting something incredible to happen, and just like the previous six times Joe Lauzon stepped into the Octagon, there would be a fight night bonus awarded to a participant of his fight. Unfortunately for "J-Lau," this time it would be Anthony Pettis and Pettis alone who would be taking home that coveted bonus cash. So what did Pettis do to right the ship after two disappointing decisions in 2011? And where do both talented 155-pounders go from here? Follow me after the jump for our Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon UFC 144 post-fight review and analysis: Lauzon might be one of the most dangerous first round fighters in the UFC today, so Anthony Pettis came out cautiously, making sure to keep his defenses up and seemingly prepared for everything. He shrugged off a Lauzon takedown attempt and kept the Bostonian at bay with some heavy punches whenever he got in range. As both Lauzon and Pettis began to loosen up, Pettis decided to once again prove why he earned his "Showtime" nickname. With Lauzon at the perfect distance and totally anticipating a kick to the body, Pettis unleashed a beautiful left head kick which caught The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season five veteran square in the face and sent him reeling to the canvas. After what seemed like an eternity and some follow-up hammer fists, the referee stepped in and put a halt to the action which gave Pettis a knockout victory just 81 seconds into the fight. For Joe Lauzon, this has to be frustrating after finally working himself up into contention only to be brought back down to Earth again. He simply gave Pettis too much space and "Showtime" made him pay with a swift kick to the head. We didn't really get an opportunity to see that vintage "J-Lau" who blitzes his opponents and overwhelms them early on in a fight. Hopefully he's not too discouraged by the result and comes back stronger than ever next time around. Melvin Guillard had been campaigning for a rematch and after such a violent end to this fight, a rematch with "The Young Assassin" might actually be in order. Other possibilities for Lauzon should he accept them are Rafael Dos Anjos or Terry Etim. For Anthony Pettis, this was the old school Pettis we'd come to know and love during his time in the WEC. We thought we had lost him after two ho-hum fights in 2011, but that was the finishing instinct we all knew he was capable of. The Roufusport fighter looked tremendous last night and looked to be the clearly superior fighter. Perhaps it's time to give him the shot he was expecting to get in 2011. With the only other top contender's fight taking place in May, why not give Pettis a title shot next? His last fight with Benson Henderson was one for the ages so let's go and do it again. There is honestly no other fight that makes sense for him next other than a shot at the belt. Perhaps Gray Maynard, but that's a serious win-lose position for the UFC. Just go ahead and give him the shot. His "Knockout of the Night" award coupled with being the last man to defeat the current champion should be more than enough. So what did you think, Maniacs? Were you surprised with the result last night? Do you feel Pettis should get the next shot at the UFC title? Sound off! For complete UFC 144 results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here.

Posted in: ufc, fight, petti, lauzon, anthony

UFC 144 Results: Anthony Pettis Knocks Out Joe Lauzon

Anthony Pettis is the man who delivered the greatest kick in MMA history, and on Saturday night he added another highlight-reel kick to his resume: Pettis delivered a sensational head kick to knock Joe Lauzon out at UFC 144. Pettis landed a picture-perfect kick to the jaw of Lauzon to knock him down, then landed a couple of punches to the face on the ground to finish it before the referee could jump in. The fight lasted just 1 minute, 21 seconds. More Coverage: UFC 144 Results | Pettis vs. Lauzon Live Blog "I feel awesome," he said. "I'm the best in the lightweight division. I'm going to come for my title shot." Pettis threw hard kicks from the get-go, landing right from the start. Although Lauzon landed a couple of punches of his own, it was Pettis who was in control in the early going, and afterward Pettis said he wants the winner of the Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson fight next. "Hopefully whoever comes out tonight, I get the winner," Pettis said.

Posted in: ufc, petti, head kick, lauzon, kick

UFC 144 Results: Anthony Pettis Knocks Out Joe Lauzon In The First Round

Anthony Pettis defeats Joe Lauzon by knockout. The stoppage came at 1:21 in the first round. Early head kick from Anthony Pettis. He followed it up with a leg kick. Joe Lauzon came forward with punches but wasn't able to land anything. Anthony Pettis landed a side kick to the body and then followed up with a left high kick that came out of nowhere. Joe Lauzon was dropped and Pettis followed up with punches until the referee dove in to stop the fight. Joe Lauzon expected the kick to land low and left his head wide open. Anthony Pettis was the last WEC lightweight champion and was expected to be the number one contender when the company folded. Injuries to Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard forced him to take a fight against Clay Guida. Pettis lost his title shot in the loss. Joe Lauzon made his UFC debut with a knockout win over Jens Pulver. Since that win he has been unable to string together a group of wins to break into the top of the division. SBN coverage of UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson

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UFC 144 results: Anthony Pettis head kick knocks out Joe Lauzon

The UFC 144: "Edgar vs. Henderson" main card on pay-per-view tonight (Sat., Feb. 25, 2012) in Japan kicked off with a lightweight battle pitting former WEC champion Anthony Pettis against longtime contender Joe Lauzon. The winner wasn't promised a title shot but would most certainly be making their case for one, especially with Ben Henderson vs. Frankie Edgar going down later in the night. An impressive victory by either man would give them the leverage needed for a call out. It's no surprise, then, that when Pettis knocked Lauzon on his ass with a huge left head kick and finished him with punches he immediately climbed the cage and mock wrapped a belt around his waist. After a knockout victory in just over one minute, he's got every right to be doing so. Pettis opened up the offense by firing off a kick that slapped the side of Lauzon and sounded much worse than it was. His hope, I believe, was to use that as a pace-setter but Lauzon didn't back off in the slightest, maintain his aggressive stance and pressing the action. Big mistake. Pettis, a Duke Roufus trained kickboxer, unleashed a monster left high kick that fooled "J-Lau" bad enough to catch a knockout. Lauzon thought he was going low, and paid a heavy price for it. Anyone think Pettis should earn a title shot on this win? Remember, too, to check out our ongoing live coverage of the UFC 144 main card action by clicking here.

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UFC 144 Live Blog: Joe Lauzon vs. Anthony Pettis Updates

SAITAMA -- This is the UFC 144 live blog for Joe Lauzon vs. Anthony Pettis, a lightweight bout on tonight's UFC pay-per-view from the Saitama Super Arena. Lauzon (21-6) is on a two-fight win streak and coming off a 47-second submission win over Melvin Guillard. Pettis (14-2) defeated Jeremy Stephens last October at UFC 136 by split decision. Follow the live blog below. More Coverage: UFC 144 Results | Latest UFC News Round 1: Round 2: Round 3:

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Joe Lauzon's Third Vlog From Japan

submitted by jw1487 [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: joe, vlog, lauzon, jw, joe lauzons

Joe Lauzon excited about opportunity to fight in Japan against an opponent like Anthony Pettis

Joe Lauzon has been competing as a professional Mixed Martial Artist since he was a teenager, fighting fifteen times before making his infamous UFC debut against legendary lightweight Jens Pulver in 2006. However, despite his experience the 27-year has never been afforded an opportunity to compete in Japan…until now, that is. Lauzon faces Anthony Pettis later tonight as part of the main card for UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson. The event marks the UFC’s return to Japan after more than ten years away from the Asian nation, and, as mentioned, Lauzon’s first in the Far East. “I’ve always wanted to fight in Japan,” began Lauzon in a conversation with the UFC’s website promoting his bout with Pettis. “Before MMA was real big here, Japan was always the place to go. It’s turned around now, but before, when the UFC was just getting going and gaining all that momentum, Japan was the place to fight, so it’s pretty cool to go back there and be part of such a big card.” “The quiet fans are going to be a trip. I always hear my corner very clear and I’m very accustomed to their voices, so I can pick them up, but listening to the other corner and all that kinda stuff is all gonna be pretty cool. I think we’ll hear Joe (Rogan) and ‘Goldie’ (Mike Goldberg), and I’m looking forward to all of that,” Lauzon continued before referring to famed MMA promotion PRIDE as a core reason he fell in love with the sport. “I started training before I started watching the UFC, and honestly, I think I watched a little bit more PRIDE in the very beginning than I did the UFC. There were the entrances with the drums and there were so many people there and the whole entire thing is just a surreal experience.” Not only is “J-Lau” eager to fight in Japan but he’s pumped to have been paired with an opponent the caliber of Pettis. A former WEC champion, Pettis has won five of his last six bouts and brings a polished attack into the cage featuring slick striking, underrated BJJ, and unique athleticism. “I think Pettis is good everywhere,” Lauzon said, praising Pettis. “Everyone knows him as the kid that jumped off the cage, and he’s obviously got good kickboxing, but he’s good on the ground too. I think people forget that part about him.” Lauzon also made sure to point out he’s a bit better in the stand-up department than he gets credit for. Confident Lauzon Gives Fans a Glimpse at his Training in UFC 144 Vlog “Also, I don’t think he’s got a clear-cut advantage on the feet, like a lot of people are thinking. Everyone looks at me as ‘Oh, he’s got so many submissions,’ and this and that, but I think people forget that I’ve been hurting people with my punches and that’s been setting up my submissions. The last couple fights, I smashed guys on the feet, and then I took a submission once it hit the ground. So I don’t see it as this clear-cut striker vs. grappler match that a lot of people are seeing. I favor the ground over stand-up and I think Pettis favors stand-up over ground, but I think we’re both pretty even in a lot of areas, and I’m expecting a tough fight and an exciting fight. Most likely, the fight’s gonna end somewhere absolutely crazy, so I’m excited.” The two talented 155ers will mix it up on the PPV portion of UFC 144. Preliminary bouts begin at 7:30 PM EST on Facebook/FX with the featured fights starting at 10:00 PM EST. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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UFC 144 Fight Card Primer: Anthony Pettis Vs. Joe Lauzon

One of the most underappreciated bouts on the card could decide who faces the winner of the UFC 144 main event. On one side you have the last WEC lightweight champion and the guy with a move so awesome it has it's own name - "The Showtime Kick". On the other side you have a guy who seen as the lamb being led to slaughter in his last bout, but he persevered and picked up the signature win of his career so far. Anthony Pettis (14-2, 1-1 UFC) meets Joe Lauzon (21-6, 8-3 UFC). Pettis currently sits in the 10 slot at lightweight in the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings, while Lauzon is right behind him at 11. With a possible title shot on the line in this bout, the winner is likely going to move up a few spots over the next couple of months depending on how it plays out. This lightweight UFC 144 bout is the first fight of the main card, and will air live on pay per view. The PPV broadcast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. How do these two stack up? Pettis: 25 years old | 5'10" | 72" reachLauzon: 27 years old | 5'10" | 70" reach What have these two done recently? Pettis: W - Jeremy Stephens (SD) | L - Clay Guida (UD) | W - Ben Henderson (UD) Lauzon: W - Melvin Guillard (SUB) | W - Curt Warburton (SUB) | L - George Sotiropoulos (SUB) How did these two get here? Anthony "Showtime" Pettis is one of the brightest lightweight prospects in MMA, despite his uneven performances in the UFC so far. He debuted in the WEC in mid-2009 and picked up a quick win, but suffered a controversial setback in his second bout at WEC 45. Most cageside observers had Pettis winning two of three rounds over opponent (and fellow UFC 144 competitor) Bart Palaszewski, but some wild scorecards led to Bartimus picking up a split-decision victory. The setback didn't stop Anthony's momentum though, and three straight wins earned him a title shot against then-champion (and now UFC 144 main eventer) Ben Henderson. The bout was even going into the fifth round, but the Showtime Kick earned him the belt and a UFC lightweight title shot. Briefly. An Edgar/Maynard draw at UFC 125 killed that idea, and Pettis faced Clay Guida in his first UFC bout instead. And lost emphatically. He rebounded against Jeremy Stephens at UFC 136 though, and could possibly earn his stolen title shot with a win over Lauzon. Joe "J-Lau" Lauzon still holds the distinction of having one of the best UFC debuts ever. He knocked out legend Jens Pulver in just 48 seconds at UFC 63 as a 7-1 underdog. He then signed up for The Ultimate Fighter 5, where Pulver was actually one of the coaches (Lauzon was on B.J. Penn's team though). Manny Gamburyan bounced him in the semis, but Lauzon had already proven he was UFC-caliber. His problem going forward was that he would do very well against marginal competition, but come up short against top guys. He entered his UFC 136 bout against Melvin Guillard as a decided underdog despite his 7-3 UFC record, but proved the public wrong by dropping Guillard and choking him out in just 47 seconds. He's finally in the top-tier of the division, and defeating Showtime could lead to a tile shot. Why should you care? Showtime is flashy and effective. Lauzon is so much more than the sum of his parts. This bout has fireworks written all over it, and is an excellent choice to open the PPV. You can catch more UFC 144 preview content from Bloody Elbow after the jump. SBN coverage of UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson UFC 144: Rampage Jackson Misses Weight By Five Pounds, Loses 20% Of Purse While Fight Goes On - Brent Brookhouse UFC 144 Weigh-In Video And Coverage - Tim Burke UFC 144: Anthony Pettis Vs. Joe Lauzon Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 144: The Bloody Elbow Judo Chops Of Frankie Edgar Vs. Ben Henderson - Fraser Coffeen UFC 144: Edgar Vs. Henderson Staff Predictions - Tim Burke UFC 144: Jake Shields Wants UFC To Make Sure Yoshihiro Akiyama Doesn't Cheat - Brent Brookhouse UFC 144: Yushin Okami Vs. Tim Boetsch Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 144 Video: Dana White Video Blog Episode 2 - Kid Nate UFC 144: Rampage Jackson On The Streets Of Tokyo - Kid Nate UFC 144: Dana White Wants You To Know The UFC Didn't Kill PRIDE - Brent Brookhouse UFC 144: The Epic Drama Of Yoshihiro Akiyama - Fraser Coffeen UFC 144: Is Frankie Edgar Being Underrated Against Ben Henderson? - Fraser Coffeen UFC 144: Hatsu Hioki Vs. Bart Palaszewski Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 144 Roundtable: Can The UFC Succeed In Japan? - Tim Burke UFC 144 Predictions: Pros Slightly Favor Frankie Edgar To Beat Ben Henderson - Brent Brookhouse UFC 144: Takanori Gomi Vs. Eiji Mitsuoka Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 144 Judo Chop: Benson Henderson And The Miracle of Survival Part 2 of 2 - Ben Thapa UFC 144 Video: Under PRIDE Rules, Rampage Jackson Dominates Fight Against Ryan Bader - Anton Tabuena UFC 144 Video: Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson Fight Simulation And Prediction - Anton Tabuena UFC 144 Pre-Fight Press Conference Video - Tim Burke UFC 144: Yoshihiro Akiyama Leads The UFC Back To Japan - Kid Nate UFC 144: Should The Winner Of Joe Lauzon Vs. Anthony Pettis Get The Next Title Shot? - Brent Brookhouse UFC 144: Norifumi 'Kid' Yamamoto Vs. Vaughan Lee Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 144: Riki Fukuda Vs. Steve Cantwell Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 144 Judo Chop: Benson Henderson And The Miracle Of Survival Part 1 of 2 - Ben Thapa UFC 144: Edgar Vs. Henderson Countdown Show Full Video - Anton Tabuena UFC 144: Edgar Vs. Henderson Betting Lines - Tim Burke UFC 144: Rampage Jackson Is A Death Sentence For Ryan Bader According To Michael Bisping - Brent Brookhouse UFC 144 Manga-Style Promo Video - Kid Nate UFC 144: Takeya Mizugaki Vs. Chris Cariaso Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 144: Tiequan Zhang Vs. Issei Tamura Dissection - Dallas Winston

Posted in: ufc, vs, petti, henderson, lauzon

UFC 144 fight card: Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon prediction, preview and breakdown

In the stacked Lightweight division, mixed martial arts (MMA) fans get more exciting matches than any other weight class. And the showdown better Anthony Pettis and Joe Lauzon later this evening (Feb. 25, 2012) on the UFC 144 pay-per-view (PPV) main card from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, should meet high those expectations, accordingly. With a huge win over then-streaking Melvin Guillard last October, Lauzon put a real feather in his cap with the most impressive win of his career. Once relegated as a submission specialist with a ground-based game, his willingness to find an opening on the feet against the dangerous "Young Assassin" showed real confidence in his stand up. Facing Pettis, Lauzon may well have to rely on it because the former World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) champion has worked readily on improving his wrestling, and his takedown defense. Mat-smashed in a frustrating decision loss to Clay Guida last summer in a bout that derailed his hopes for a title shot, Pettis rebounded with a workmanlike decision over durable Jeremy Stephens, showing maturity and patience. Both bring some name value and momentum into this bout as somewhat relevant, if not truly elite, 155-pound contenders. An impressive win could vault either of them back into the top 10. Style-wise, however, this is probably a match up that favors Pettis. Lauzon isn’t a power wrestler and isn’t as dynamic on the feet, but he has a knack for making things happen and pouncing on opportunities. Lauzon has also come up short in previously similar fights – showdowns against better levels of competition in Kenny Florian, Sam Stout and George Sotiropoulos – and needs a win to show he can compete at this level. Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the UFC 144 fight between Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon: The Breakdown Pettis’ patience against Stephens was a definite plus, as he didn’t try to do too much, instead working small but definitive advantages to carve out a close decision win. The good thing about Pettis is his upside when it comes to grappling. Training with Olympian Ben Askren has worked wonders for his wrestling, but he’s still got a decent amount of room to improve. His stand up is outright dazzling at times, delivering unorthodox attacks with smooth mechanics to slam-bang effect. He’s also shown the requisite gameness any lightweight will need, as in the decision loss to Guida, he never stopped battling for subs and largely shut down Guida’s ground and pound in what was a stalemate at times on the ground. Lauzon is probably Pettis’ equal when it comes to Brazilian jiu-jitsu and submissions, but he may not have the physical strength to control and set up Pettis for these attempts. Lauzon’s got to make something big happen early and disrupt Pettis' standing rhythm, otherwise he’ll get kicked and combo-filleted in what will be an increasingly one-sided fight. Another factor is Pettis’ takedowns, which he used to smart effect to pull out close rounds with late ones in rounds over Stephens. That’s another go-to tactic for Pettis and Lauzon will have to deny him, a tall order for a fighter whose takedown defense is average, at best. The Pick This is a match designed to give Pettis some experience, and a win. Styles make fights, and while Lauzon looked great dismantling the talented, but erratic, Guillard, Pettis is not Melvin, whose incredible physical gifts are constantly undercut by the mental gaffes he makes that lose otherwise winnable fights. Lauzon is a tough customer, and he’ll be forced to engage Pettis on the feet, where "Showtime" will pile up points with solid strikes and increasingly accurate kicks. He’ll also score takedowns as needed and bloody up Lauzon with ground and pound and a punishing pace. This one will be entertaining as long at goes, with Pettis proving too much in a vicious scrap, emerging with a third-round technical knockout from strikes on the ground. Pettis via technical knockout Be sure to join MMAmania.com this evening for LIVE, detailed UFC 144 results of all the "Edgar vs. Henderson" pay-per-view (PPV) action. It will include blow-by-blow coverage of the Facebook video stream, FX "Prelims" bouts, and of course, the PPV broadcast. We'll start RIGHT HERE at around 7:30 p.m. ET and carry straight on through early Sunday morning. Jason Probst can be reached at www.twitter.com/jasonprobst and at jason@jasonprobst.com.

Posted in: fight, decision, petti, ground, lauzon

UFC 144: Go Ahead, Overlook Joe Lauzon’s Boxing

Time and again, fans, fighters, and pundits alike have overlooked Joe Lauzon's boxing abilities. That's okay, just go ahead and overlook him, Lauzon will keep changing minds, one fight at a time.

Posted in: time, boxing, joe, lauzon, fans fighters

UFC 144: Anthony Pettis Vs. Joe Lauzon Dissection

"Showtime Kick" auteur and WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis meets Joe Lauzon in a lightweight clash at UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson from Tokyo's famed Saitama Super Arena on Saturday night. The career-boosting capabilities of one highlight-reel, cage-walking kick was evinced by Anthony Pettis (14-2) when he dethroned UFC 144 main-eventer Ben Henderson in the WEC promotion's farewell event. Pettis swallowed the blue pill and spat in the face of Sir Isaac Newton's equation by levitating off the fence wall and flattening Bendo with an unforgettably creative flying roundhouse kick. Pettis earned the 155-pound strap just as the promotion's doors closed. Ending on a four-fight roll, Pettis forged five wins in six turns in the WEC and finished all victories excluding Henderson (Mike Campbell, Alex Karalexis and Shane Roller by submission, Danny Castillo by head-kick TKO). His lone blemish was a competitive split decision against another UFC 144 cast member in Bart Palaszewski. Initially slated to challenge for the UFC lightweight belt after crossing over from the WEC, the draw resulting from the second Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard affair delayed his title aspirations. Admirably opting to challenge a top contender rather than stay idle awaiting his title shot, Pettis tangled with Clay Guida but had no recourse for his voluminous mop and boundlessly tenacious wrestling. The loss was the second of Pettis' career and inevitably deflated the lofty aura he soared in on. More UFC 144 Dissections Okami vs. Boetsch | Hioki vs. Palaszewski | Gomi vs. Mitsuoka | Yamamoto vs. Lee Fukuda vs. Cantwell | Mizugaki vs. Cariaso | Zhang vs. Tamura Bostonian Joe Lauzon (21-6) reinforced his propensity to pull off shocking upsets in his last foray by blasting an overconfident Melvin Guillard with a meathook in the first round. The stiff blow staggered Guillard just long enough for Lauzon to attach himself and encircle the throat for a dramatic rear-naked choke victory in the first. Lauzon flaunted his party-pooper costume in his UFC debut as well. He burst onto the big stage by unleashing an ungodly barrage of leather that separated former champion Jens Pulver from consciousness in less than a minute at UFC 63. He then signed up for TUF 5 and advanced to the semis with wins over Brian Geraghty and Cole Miller, but was scratched from the brackets by brawling Judoka Manny Gamburyan. "J-Lau" capitalized on two less than illustrious opponents by snaring submissions on Brandon Melendez and Jason Reinhardt before dipping into the upper-echelon of the division with mixed results. Lauzon split his next six with losses to Kenny Florian (TKO), Sam Stout (decision) and George Sotiropoulos (submission) and defeats over Kyle Bradley (TKO), Jeremy Stephens and Gabe Ruediger (submissions). He's pieced together two more sub-wins in a row with an elaborate "Trimura" catch on Curt Warburton and the aforementioned Guillard choke. Gifs and analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson Both Pettis and Lauzon are among the more innovative lightweights in the UFC, they just use different canvases for their artwork -- Pettis on the feet, as depicted to the right, while Lauzon is a mat-moster with submission complexity. Pettis' dynamic striking is rooted in Taekwondo where he's billed as a third-degree black belt, and the tutelage of kickboxing swami Duke Roufus has fortified his stand up into a dangerously unorthodox arsenal. Pettis has fast and precise boxing and uncorks high kicks seamlessly with no set up or forewarning. TKD is not the only traditional martial art that sparkles in his striking acumen, as Pettis has consistently executed a surprisingly wide array of Capoeira kicks as well. His use of the Au Batido and Martelo techniques warranted a Kid Nate Judo Chop that's well worth revisiting. His guard is also smooth and diverse and it's not quite as formidable as his striking, but perfectly adequate as a secondary aspect. Wrestling is the only area Pettis doesn't excel in, yet he's shown excellent composure and technique in repelling takedowns and getting back to his feet. Lauzon has an applause-worthy approach against superior strikers, which is merely to squeeze the trigger with conviction and unload a ferocious volley of punches. Defensively, he protects his chin well and isn't overly concerned with being susceptible to takedowns as it only puts him in his preferred phase of combat. Like Pettis, Lauzon isn't a credentialed wrestler but his willpower, aggression and determination makes him a legit takedown threat. Complementing his attempts well with his hands, Lauzon will rifle for doubles from outside or swallow up space and lock horns in the clinch to work from there. Here Lauzon unveils his dual-pronged assault of blazing the cannons on the feet, once again scoring with his trusty left hook, and treacherous submission grappling. After crushing him with a hell-fire combination, Lauzon craftily snatches a kimura when Warburton is in the process of placing his back on the fence to regain his footing. If there was such a thing as wild and risky brawling with submissions, that'd be Lauzon's calling card. He pounces on every opportunity and maliciously wrenches holds with reckless abandon. Lauzon has a solid guard but he's especially fearsome from the top, where he power-passes to half-guard and side control while thwacking heavy punches and elbows and hunting for kimuras and chokes. Lauzon's assertive ground tactics are subtly unique and difficult to prepare for. Pettis has to assume the role of the polished technician and employ intelligent footwork to stay in open space while knifing tight counter-shots while Lauzon's in hot pursuit. He can still look to land the knockout or drench Lauzon with a stylish kick, but must do so sparingly and pick his spots very carefully. Pettis has never been finished by strikes and has a beefy chin and should have the grappling awareness to survive his fair share of sequences on the ground ... though he's in trouble if Lauzon can get on top and limit his options by stuffing Pettis against the cage. My Prediction: Anthony Pettis by late TKO. All gifs via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com Poll Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon Pettis Lauzon 21 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, submission, vs, petti, lauzon

UFC 144 videos blog featuring Joe Lauzon (Episode 3)

Scrappy lightweight contender Joe Lauzon, who is scheduled to face off against Anthony Pettis at UFC 144 this Saturday night (Feb. 25, 2012), gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at his trip to the Saitama Super Arena for the upcoming "Edgar vs. Henderson" pay-per-view event in Japan. For episode one, including his training footage, click here. Episode two's arrival in Japan right here and for our extensive preview covering the Lauzon vs. Pettis fight click here.

Posted in: anthony pettis, episode, japan, lauzon, japan right

Melvin Guillard hopes Anthony Pettis wins this weekend at UFC 144 so he can get a rematch with Joe Lauzon.

The statistics of the UFC’s long history of rematches tell you absolutely nothing about what would become of a rematch with Joe Lauzon and Melvin Guillard. About half the time, the fighter who won the first time ended up winning the second time, the other half of the time, the fighters went 1-1, requiring a rubber match that yields even less conclusive data. In Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard’s situation, they’re actually 1-1-1, so we still need to see a definitive rubber match. Yes, we do. Stop trying to fabricate a counter-argument, they’re not finished fighting until we see them fight for a fourth time. We miss the days when fighters were less well-rounded and the outcomes of their fights were more decisive. So does Melvin Guillard, who continues to insist that he’d beat Joe Lauzon nine times out of ten, and remains disgruntled with Joe Lauzon's choice words for their last fight. A few week ago, Melvin came off a loss to Jim Miller and promised to devote an entire year to BJJ in order to never succumb to another submission defeat again, but today, he’s firing back at Lauzon’s comments from earlier in the week via MMAWeekly. “Lately on my Twitter some posts have been popping up and I’m like what the hell is this? So I’m looking and next thing I know it’s people talking about Joe Lauzon hit the nail on the head, he was right, so I went in and read the article and all of a sudden he’s blasting me talking about he slapped me and he choked me out, and Melvin’s going around telling everybody I got lucky. I never said the dude got lucky. I said it was a good fight, I always gave Joe Lauzon the respect that was due, and I thought he was the better guy that day. Did I think the fight was a fluke on my part? Yeah, the fight was a fluke on my part, but I never took anything from him. So I guess he misinterpreted what I said.” “The new me, I’m trying to be respectful and handle it the right way, but at this point right now I’m kind of fed up with it. The old me is about to come out on Joe Lauzon. He’s about to take Rich Clementi’s place of being that guy that I just don’t like… For me, I feel disrespected because I’ve done nothing but talk Joe Lauzon up, even when a lot of interviews and fight analysts were still not giving him the credit that was due saying that 9 out of 10 times he would win that once, and I would win the other nine. So people were bashing him and it wasn’t even me, and I’m standing up for him saying that Joe Lauzon is a top competitor, he can be in the top five, top ten or whatever. Now he’s blasting out at me and I have not said anything bad towards Joe Lauzon.” “In the 10 losses I have in my MMA career, I haven’t rematched anyone I’ve lost to. Not once, I’ve never really cared for rematches because I felt they won, now I’ll move on. Right now, I’m at the point where this fight means something to me, I have something to prove against Joe Lauzon, so this is a rematch I’m asking for… Right now, I’m looking to watch the fights in Japan and I’m praying that he loses to (Anthony) Pettis because I want a rematch against Joe Lauzon. I don’t want to fight nobody next but Joe Lauzon… I don’t even care how it goes, I just want to see Pettis win and I want an immediate rematch with Joe Lauzon. Hopefully, I can get that rematch by fourth of July in Vegas… I’m tired of just being nice to these guys, I try to be nice, not befriend them, but be nice and respectful when I see them around. I feel like I’m being slapped in the face being that guy.” If a rematch transpires, I the only certainty is that I will be watching it. With regards to an outcome, odds makers have proven that they are not to be trusted whenever they’re leading you to believe that you should bet against Joe Lauzon. These are the same odds makers that said Frankie Edgar could never beat anyone in his entire career. Props to all of you who saw through these lies.

Posted in: fight, joe, ’m, joe lauzon, lauzon

Joe Lauzon expects to "do what he wants" against Anthony Pettis

Veteran Lightweight contender Joe Lauzon, who will look to take one step closer to title contention with a victory over Anthony Pettis in Japan, discusses his opponent, as well as his expectations for the fight. Lauzon is confident in his all-around skill-set and says he expects to "do what he wants" against the former WEC champ.Further Reading: Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson LowKick.com Staff Predictions

Posted in: anthony pettis, lauzon, title contention, allaround skillset, fight lauzon

Joe Lauzon's 2nd blog from Japan

submitted by jw1487 [link] [comment]

Posted in: joe, blog, japan, lauzon, jw

Fired Up Melvin Guillard Wants A Rematch With Joe Lauzon

A war of words is brewing between Melvin Guillard and Joe Lauzon… after their fight. It usually happens the other way around, but not this time. Guillard inadvertently started it when he told reporters he beat himself after Lauzon choked him out in 47 seconds at UFC 136. We hear that a lot from fighters, but in this instance, the person who won said wait a second, I’m pretty sure I’m the reason you lost that fight. “I keep seeing all these interviews where (Guillard) is like, ‘Oh, Joe didn’t beat me. I beat myself,’” Lauzon testily said. “No, I smacked you in the face with my fist, and you went down and I choked you. I’m pretty sure I’m taking credit for that.” Not exactly an untrue statement, but it set Guillard off anyways. Guillard went off on a rather lengthy tirade about Lauzon’s comments and respecting his fellow fighters. Ultimately, what it boiled down though is that Guillard wants a rematch. “The new me, I’m trying to be respectful and handle it the right way, but at this point right now I’m kind of fed up with it. The old me is about to come out on Joe Lauzon. He’s about to take Rich Clementi’s place of being that guy that I just don’t like,” Guillard said. “Right now, I’m looking to watch the fights in Japan and I’m praying that he loses to (Anthony) Pettis because I want a rematch against Joe Lauzon. I don’t want to fight nobody next but Joe Lauzon,” Guillard said. “I don’t even care how it goes, I just want to see Pettis win and I want an immediate rematch with Joe Lauzon. Hopefully, I can get that rematch by fourth of July in Vegas.” I’m not sure a rematch is really warranted even if Lauzon loses this weekend, but hey if Guillard thinks it was just a fluke and these guys have beef, then why not? I’m sure Joe wouldn’t mind proving it wasn’t as long as he doesn’t leave Japan with a title shot. Image via Esther Lin for MMA Fighting

Posted in: joe, rematch, guillard, joe lauzon, lauzon

UFC Quick Quote: Melvin Guillard is praying Joe Lauzon loses to Anthony Pettis

"In the 10 losses I have in my MMA career, I haven't rematched anyone I've lost to. Not once, I've never really cared for rematches because I felt they won, now I'll move on. Right now, I'm at the point where this fight means something to me, I have something to prove against Joe Lauzon, so this is a rematch I'm asking for. Right now, I'm looking to watch the fights in Japan and I'm praying that he loses to (Anthony) Pettis because I want a rematch against Joe Lauzon. I don't want to fight nobody next but Joe Lauzon. I don't even care how it goes, I just want to see Pettis win and I want an immediate rematch with Joe Lauzon. Hopefully, I can get that rematch by fourth of July in Vegas." -- As if it wasn't enough for Joe Lauzon to rock and submit Melvin Guillard in just 47 seconds at UFC 136 last Oct. 8, 2011, in Houston, Texas, "J-Lau" also rubbed some salt in the wound by bagging on "The Young Assassin" via Twitter when he was choked out by Jim Miller in his very next fight. That, combined with some other assorted trash talk, has Guillard seeing red and eagerly awaiting the result of this Saturday night's (Feb. 25, 2012) UFC 144 bout between Lauzon and Anthony Pettis. In the event the latter emerges victorious, Guillard has UFC matchmaker Joe Silva on speed dial and ready to annoy for a rematch, preferably by the Fourth of July weekend fight card in Las Vegas. That's what he tells MMAWeekly.com, anyway. He's not exactly in a good position to be asking for anything, considering he's lost two fights in a row, both by submission and both inside the first round. But a Lauzon loss would open up his dance card, so why not? Any Maniacs want to see Lauzon vs. Guillard part deux?

Posted in: fight, joe, rematch, joe lauzon, lauzon

Melvin Guillard responds to Lauzon, wants rematch.

submitted by dp517 [link] [14 comments]

Posted in: rematch, melvin guillard, guillard, melvin, lauzon

Anthony Pettis: Watch for Something New Against Joe Lauzon

Anthony Pettis has seen Joe Lauzon come out firing before.

Posted in: anthony pettis, petti, joe lauzon, lauzon, anthony

Read the full article at Sherdog

Angry Melvin Guillard calls out Joe Lauzon

It appears Anthony Pettis is not the only UFC lightweight with Joe Lauzon on his mind. While Pettis locks horns with Lauzon this weekend at UFC 144, Melvin Guillard has set his sights back on the Massachusetts’ fighter stemming from what he feels is gross disrespect on the part of “J-Lau”. The two faced off in October where Lauzon pulled off what many felt was an upset by finishing Guillard early in the bout. Guillard lashed out at Lauzon in a recent interview with MMAWeekly where he explained he’ll be pulling for Pettis on Saturday night in hopes of getting a second shot at the 21-6 grappler. “I never said the dude got lucky. I said it was a good fight, I always gave Joe Lauzon the respect that was due, and I thought he was the better guy that day. Did I think the fight was a fluke on my part? Yeah, the fight was a fluke on my part, but I never took anything from him,” he responded on the topic of some public statements from Lauzon questioning Guillard’s abilities and demeanor relating to their previous pairing. Guillard Elaborates on “Fluke” Comments “In the ten losses I have in my MMA career, I haven’t rematched anyone I’ve lost to. Not once, I’ve never really cared for rematches because I felt they won (and) now I’ll move on. Right now, I’m at the point where this fight means something to me, I have something to prove against Joe Lauzon, so this is a rematch I’m asking for,” Guillard continued, saying Lauzon had replaced Rich Clementi as a peer his genuinely dislikes. “I hope it happens but if it don’t, I feel sorry for whoever I fight next. I can still be the good Melvin, the good ambassador for the sport, but a little part of the old me is starting to want to come out. I’m tired of just being nice to these guys, I try to be nice, not befriend them, but be nice and respectful when I see them around. I feel like I’m being slapped in the face being that guy,” concluded Guillard. “So I guess if I want respect from the fighters, I’m going to have to go get it.” “The Young Assassin” holds an overall record of 29-10 with nineteen TKOs but has been submitted in two consecutive clashes including against Lauzon and Jim Miller. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: fight, guillard, ’m, joe lauzon, lauzon

UFC 144 videos blog featuring Joe Lauzon (Episode 2)

Scrappy lightweight contender Joe Lauzon, who is scheduled to face off against Anthony Pettis at UFC 144 this Saturday night (Feb. 25, 2012), gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at his trip to the Saitama Super Arena for the upcoming "Edgar vs. Henderson" pay-per-view event in Japan. For episode one, including his training footage, click here. For our extensive preview covering the Lauzon vs. Pettis fight click here.

Posted in: ufc, anthony pettis, petti, click, lauzon

Melvin Guillard Done Playing Nice, Gunning for Rematch with Joe Lauzon

Melvin Guillard is gunning for a fight and his sites are targeted on one person: Joe Lauzon.

Posted in: joe, melvin guillard, guillard, melvin, lauzon

Joe Lauzon UFC 144 Travel Vlog

submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: ufc, vlog, lauzon, mattyblayze, travel

Fight Day: Joe Lauzon UFC 144 Pre-Fight Video Interview

UFC lightweight contender Joe Lauzon talks to HeavyMMA's Megan Olivi in Japan about his pay-per-view opener against Anthony Pettis at UFC 144.

Posted in: ufc, anthony pettis, joe, lauzon, payperview opener

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

UFC 144's Joe Lauzon hopes to parlay 'Fight of Year' into immediate title shot

TOKYO - Veteran lightweight Joe Lauzon is seeking the just the second three-fight win streak of his octagon career, and he's hoping to do it in "Fight of the Year" fashion. But as he winds down the preparation for his UFC 144 bout with Anthony Pettis, Lauzon has much more on his mind. Quite simply, Lauzon is hoping to parlay a win into a shot at the 155-pound title.

Posted in: octagon career, joe lauzon, lauzon, parlay fight, year fashion

Joe Lauzon - Shedding The Underdog Tag

They called it a major upset. Why? That’s a mystery, considering that Joe Lauzon had gone 7-3 in his previous 10 UFC bouts, ending five of them via the ground game that was opponent Melvin Guillard’s Achilles heel in the Octagon. But when October 8, 2011 rolled around in Houston, Texas, many fans and pundits feared for Lauzon’s health against the Louisiana knockout artist dubbed “The Young Assassin.” New England’s “J-Lau” wasn’t shaking though. “I knew that Melvin was most dangerous when people are scared, so I wasn’t gonna be scared,” said Lauzon. “I might have gotten knocked out because of it, and he might have beat me, but I wasn’t gonna make it easy. I was gonna come forward and fight hard, and if I lost, I lost. At least I didn’t make the mistake I knew beforehand, which was if I came out tentative, then he would eat me up.”Lauzon did a complete 180 from tentative, dropping Guillard early and then finishing him off with a textbook rear naked choke. The whole fight took just 47 seconds. And while the fans screamed upset, Lauzon didn’t take the lack of pre-fight faith in his abilities personally.“I think a lot of people were surprised by it, but I wasn’t surprised at all,” he said. “I didn’t think it was gonna end exactly like that, but I one hundred percent expected to beat Melvin. And I wasn’t insulted. What I may see as a clear cut advantage on my side, other people might think that I’m way outmatched, or vice versa. They might think I have a clear cut advantage on something, but it’s a lot closer than they think. So I don’t really get too upset on things like that. It was definitely an upset in a lot of people’s eyes, but I was really confident.”More than four months later, Lauzon’s days of creeping up on unsuspecting opponents appear to be a thing of the past. On Saturday night, he faces dynamic rising star Anthony Pettis in a UFC 144 main card bout at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, and the talk isn’t of Lauzon upsetting “Showtime,” but of him being in the lightweight title picture with a victory. That’s heady stuff for the 27-year old from Bridgewater, Massachusetts, one of many things on his proverbial table at the moment, including the fact that he’s fighting in one of most fighters’ bucket list destinations – Japan.“I’ve always wanted to fight in Japan,” said the eight year pro. “Before MMA was real big here, Japan was always the place to go. It’s turned around now, but before, when the UFC was just getting going and gaining all that momentum, Japan was the place to fight, so it’s pretty cool to go back there and be part of such a big card. The quiet fans are going to be a trip. I always hear my corner very clear and I’m very accustomed to their voices, so I can pick them up, but listening to the other corner and all that kinda stuff is all gonna be pretty cool. I think we’ll hear (commentators) Joe (Rogan) and Goldie (Mike Goldberg), and I’m looking forward to all of that. I started training before I started watching the UFC, and honestly, I think I watched a little bit more PRIDE in the very beginning than I did the UFC. There were the entrances with the drums and there were so many people there and the whole entire thing is just a surreal experience.”And in a place where the fighting culture celebrates not just the winners, but those who deliver compelling fights, Lauzon and Pettis are a perfect fit. Plus, Lauzon believes that though he has been painted as the groundfighter going up against a striker in Pettis, things may stray from that perceived script on fight night, not surprising considering that Lauzon’s standup has looked extremely sharp in his last three bouts against Gillard, Curt Warburton, and George Sotiropoulos, and that Pettis’ wrestling was solid in his recent win over Jeremy Stephens.“I think Pettis is good everywhere,” said Lauzon. “Everyone knows him as the kid that jumped off the cage, and he’s obviously got good kickboxing, but he’s good on the ground too. I think people forget that part about him. Also, I don’t think he’s got a clear-cut advantage on the feet, like a lot of people are thinking. Everyone looks at me as ‘oh, he’s got so many submissions,’ and this and that, but I think people forget that I’ve been hurting people with my punches and that’s been setting up my submissions. The last couple fights, I smashed guys on the feet, and then I took a submission once it hit the ground. So I don’t see it as this clear-cut striker vs. grappler match that a lot of people are seeing. I favor the ground over standup and I think Pettis favors standup over ground, but I think we’re both pretty even in a lot of areas, and I’m expecting a tough fight and an exciting fight. Most likely, the fight’s gonna end somewhere absolutely crazy, so I’m excited.”Yet despite Lauzon’s penchant for highlight reel finishes, the way he sees it, none of that is possible without having a firm grounding in the fundamentals – both standing and on the ground – that he works on with guys like boxing coach Steve Maze and grappling guru Ricky Lundell.“The fundamentals are the most important thing,” he said. “I learned early on, doing jiu-jitsu and grappling and things like that, rather than being really, really good at a couple moves, I wanted to just know 50 moves and be able to impress people and do things like that. But as I got better, those 50 moves weren’t working on people. I had maybe a couple moves that would work on someone that was good. So instead of me trying to learn all those different moves, I just try to focus on the fundamental stuff. That’s all I really care about. You’ll never see me do anything super fancy in a fight, boxing or wrestling wise. I want to be really, really good at the fundamentals. Grappling, I could do a little bit more because I’ve been doing it for so long and I’m so confident and things like that. But if I’m in camp, I’m not trying to go ‘oh, this is a new, cool move;’ I’m trying to do all the things that I already know and tighten things up and get better. One of the things BJ (Penn) said to me on The Ultimate Fighter was that it’s just advanced basics. You have to know the basics inside and out. Whereas someone might know a couple details on it, you’ve got to know all the details on it. You have to know it better than the other guy, and that’s how you’re gonna win. You’ll shut down his basic movements, which are the building blocks for everything else they do.”In other words, you have to know the rules before you can break them. And now that Lauzon has put in endless hours in the gym and has compiled close to 30 pro fights, he has earned the right to mix things up a bit and add his own particular flair to the basics.“People think I do a lot of crazy stuff now,” he said. “I used to do so much crazier stuff before. I toned it down, but because I’ve got nine years of doing off the wall stuff, it works out for me. If you’ve got really good fundamentals, then it’s easy to figure out some of the crazier stuff and go outside the box a little bit. But if you don’t know those very basic building blocks, it’s really, really tough to start doing more advanced stuff.”It’s around this time that it’s safe to start getting excited about this fight, not just because it’s a meeting of two of the top 155-pounders in the game, but two of the most exciting. Yet after nabbing post-fight bonuses in nine of 11 UFC fights, does Lauzon start expecting them?“I don’t start counting the money, but it’s gonna be sad when I have a fight and I don’t get a bonus,” he laughs. “But I’m more focused on putting a good fight and winning than I am about saying ‘oh, I’m definitely gonna try and get a bonus.’ And the way I fight brings lots of bonuses my way, so I don’t think about it too much.”

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Joe Lauzon Would Rather Finish Fights Than Have Great Cardio

“I catch a lot of crap sometimes about gassing and cardio and things like that. But I come out and I push hard. I can be in great shape, but when you push as hard as I push, it’s tough to maintain that pace… On one hand I could … be like everyone else and have great cardio and never finish fights, but I would rather push and try to finish people. And you know what, if I get tired because I was trying to finish guys? I can deal with that. I don’t ever want to be a guy that never finishes anyone but is known for having great cardio… We’re just going to put it on [Anthony Pettis]. I’m sure his gameplan is going to be to kind of ride out the pressure, pace in the first, and then take it to me in the second. But a lot of other guys have had that same gameplan and I’ve still overwhelmed them in the first. Like I said, it’s easy to have great cardio when you’re not really doing a whole lot of work.” — Joe Lauzon on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani talking about the correlation between finishing fights and cardio Joe Lauzon’s alright in my book. I’ll take a guy who goes for the finish any day over a guy who conserves his energy and point fights his way to a decision. That said, I’m not the guy in the cage either who’s job or a title run is on the line. There’s an incredible amount of pressure on fighters to win in the UFC, so I can see why some fighters choose to take the safer paths to victory. I’ll always have a little more respect for the guys who really go for it though. As for his fight with Anthony Pettis this weekend, there could be a title shot at stake. Lauzon explained in the interview that he and Pettis were led to believe that one of them could be a last-minute replacement for Ben Henderson in case something happened to him. “From talking to Joe Silva, he kind of led me to believe a little bit that part of the reason why me and Pettis were going out there was because if something happened with Ben, then one of us would step up and fight for the title. He didn’t completely come out and say it, but he was like, ‘it would be a really good thing to have two top-ranked guys out there in case something happened with Ben.’” Does that mean Lauzon vs. Pettis is a number one contender fight? Not necessarily, but it definitely sounds like a possibility if one of them puts on a impressive performance Saturday night. Nate Diaz and Jim Miller are also looming out there, but they don’t fight until May, so the timing is definitely in Lauzon and Pettis’ favor. Lauzon also said he was a little irritated with Melvin Guillard for telling everyone he beat himself. Joe’s response: “No, I smacked you in the face with my fist, and you went down and I choked you. I’m pretty sure I’m taking credit for that.” Nice one, J-Lau. Image via Dave Mandel for Sherdog

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UFC 144 Preview: Joe Lauzon/Anthony Pettis and Hatsu Hioki/Bart Palaszewski

MMAFrenzy kicks off our main card coverage of UFC 144 with a pair of breakdowns of Saturday’s card. Each day we will breakdown a pair of fights leading up to our breakdown of the UFC lightweight title fight between Ben Henderson and champion Frankie Edgar. Today’s feature previews two main card matchups, with a lightweight battle between Joe Lauzon and Anthony Pettis, along with a featherweight showdown between Bart Palaszewski and Hatsu Hioki. Keys for Joe Lauzon (Chris Leslie): It seems that the sure way to seal a Lauzon win is to bet against him. For some reason, that seems to be the key. However, that’s not the only reason for his success. Lauzon has improved his striking greatly over the years but it is in his best interest to keep Pettis tied up through clinch work on their feet and using top control BJJ to control the posture of Pettis. Doing so would not allow Pettis to use his very impressive guard but it can also also Lauzon to try for his own submissions. If Lauzon can dictate the pace of the fight, look for him to be getting his hand raised this Saturday Keys for Antony Pettis (Bryan Robison): When looking over Joe Lauzon’s career, the fighters that put a loss on his record are the ones that can make it through the first round. Lauzon is a quick starter, and is able to overwhelm many of his opponents. This is something Pettis cannot overlook, as he has not had a fight that failed to make it to the third round in nearly two years. We saw a different Pettis in his most recent fight, a victory over Jeremy Stephens at UFC 136 in October. He was much more calm and easy in the Octagon compared to what we had gotten used to from Pettis. He showed more wrestling than he had ever displayed before. Is that a sign of the “new” Pettis, or was it a style tailor made to defeat Stephens? That is to be determined. Concerning Lauzon, Pettis is not as decorated in Jiu-Jitsu, but he can hold his own. He has a strong triangle choke, so he is able to fight offensively off of his back. But he would be best served keeping the fight on the feet, where he can methodically attack Lauzon, and gradually wear him down. While another “Showtime Kick” is unlikely, “Showtime” does have an opponent who will be willing to strike with him Keys for Bart Palaszewski (Chris Leslie): The breakdown for this one is pretty simple. The longer this fight stays standing, the more likely Palaszewski is to pull out the victory. Palaszewski has a lot of power in his hands and that needs to be what he tries to decide the fight with. The real x-factor here is whether his hands can hold up over the fight. Palaszewski has had multiple hand breaks over the years and those never really go away. If this fight drags on, that could be a big thing to watch. Keys for Hatsu Hioki (Bryan Robison): Hioki did not have an impressive debut in the UFC. This has become a pattern for many Japanese fighters that transition to the cage. While he has not been overly dominating over the last few years, Hioki brought a strong reputation over with him as he fought George Roop in his UFC debut last October. He was able to escape with a split decision win, but was not overly impressive. Now Hioki fights another dangerous fighter in Bart Palaszewski. In order to win, Hioki will have to make it look very similar to his first fight. Unfortunately for Hioki, Palaszewski has even stronger striking than Roop, and also has a strong submission game. In order to get a win in his home country, Hioki will need to be much more aggressive than he was against Roop. Palaszewski certainly will be looking for ways to expose Hioki on the feet. While “Bartimus” is strong in Jiu-Jitsu, he can be taken down and overpowered, which is something Hioki will look to do. For complete coverage of UFC 144, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com

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It's Time to Stop Doubting Joe Lauzon

In a sport overflowing with tatted-up, Affliction T-shirt-wearing, muscle-bound maniacs, it’s almost comical to see someone like UFC 144’s Joe Lauzon step into the cage. Some would probably even laugh at the idea that he is a professional fighter if they didn’t already know it.

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Joe Lauzon is tired of Melvin Guillard pretending like he didn’t get slapped and choked

Joe Lauzon spends a lot of time playing video games. With the technological advancements in UFC Undisputed 3, an actual fight with Melvin Guillard was completely unnecessary because the game’s AI had already declared him the winner before the second round in any probable scenario. If Melvin threw a kick, Lauzon would catch it and get the fight to the ground. If Melvin would punch, he would duck and take the fight to the ground. Or, If Melvin decided to bounce in and out of the pocket with a hit-and-go strategy; Lauzon was prepared to counter with the appropriate combination to shift Melvin’s equilibrium just long enough to get the fight to the ground. You see, you’d be irresponsible to act like odds-makers and assume that videogames aren’t sophisticated enough to determine a more probable outcome. Most gamers would agree. At this point, all that Joe Lauzon vs. Melvin Guillard banter seems irrelevant considering the fight is over and the outcome is sealed in Wikipedia’s library of record keeping until someone gets bored and screws it all up. However, J-Lau has had enough of Melvin Guillard telling the world that he didn’t get ‘beat’, but rather, that he beat himself. In an interview with BJPenn.com, he had this to say about the situation: “Whenever I see Melvin he is always super nice you know, before the fight and after the fight he is always ‘Hey how you doing?’ always really friendly. But then in interviews I see [him say] ‘Well Joe didn’t beat me, I beat myself.’ It’s like no, I slapped you in the face with my fist and then you went down and I choked you. I’m pretty sure I am taking credit for that. I kind of feel we set the gameplan for beating Melvin. You come forward you don’t act scared of him and let him get off and he kind of falls apart a little bit. That’s exactly how Miller went. Our fights were almost identical… It’s like, how do you lose two fights in the exact same way? What kind of progress or improvement did Melvin show since when I fought him?” Melvin Guillard has vowed to drastically improve his iiu-iitsu game over the next year at the Blackzillians’ camp. We certainly hope he does because we’re huge fans of anyone who walks into the octagon looking like a miniature Simon Phoenix. We also hope that someone educates him on the MMA omen that overshadows his past two losses when he weighed in and/or walked out to the cage wearing sunglasses indoors.

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According to Lauzon, his fight against Pettis at UFC 144 is probably for the #1 contender slot.

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Joe Lauzon to Melvin Guillard, "I Slapped You With My Fist And Choked You Out!!"

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Joe Lauzon Relishing Role of Underdog, Unapologetic About Aggressive Style

Ask Joe Lauzon about the last time he was the favorite in a big fight and you'd probably be met with silence. At least, if it did happen, he doesn't remember. Somehow, after ripping through eight stoppage wins in over half a decade with the UFC, Lauzon remains the quintessential underdog. A congenial assassin trapped in a computer technician's frame. So ask him about facing Anthony Pettis as a 2-to-1 dog at UFC 144, and he'll tell you, any other way just wouldn't be his style. "I like flying under the radar," Lauzon said to Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. "I'm not really the guy that's looking to get all kinds of respect and appreciation, and all that kind of stuff. I like to go and have good fights. I like to have exciting fights. I have no problem being the underdog." Though the title of perennial dark horse comes at a price, and even in victory, a lack of respect often lets its presence be known. Lauzon discovered as much in the aftermath of the biggest, and most stunning, win of his career -- a 47-second shellacking of Melvin Guillard at UFC 136, where, by the way, he was pegged as a three-to-one dog. "I keep seeing all these interviews where (Guillard) is like, 'Oh, Joe didn't beat me. I beat myself,'" Lauzon testily said. "No, I smacked you in the face with my fist, and you went down and I choked you. I'm pretty sure I'm taking credit for that." Even now, after a triumph so dominant in its result, respect seems hard to come by. Following the upset, Guillard went on to lose to Jim Miller in bizarrely similar fashion -- "How do you lose two fights the exact same way?" Lauzon offhandedly mused -- and now Miller has a date with Nate Diaz as the headlining attraction of UFC on Fox 3. Many assume the bout will determine the lightweight division's next number-one contender, but with the help of a little inside information, "J-Lau" isn't sleeping on his own chances. "[Because of] the timing of (Miller vs. Diaz), I think that still puts me and Pettis as the No. 1 contender fight," Lauzon explained. "Just because I don't think that Frankie (Edgar) or Ben (Henderson) are going to want to wait six or seven months before they actually fight again. "From talking to Joe Silva, he kind of led me to believe a little bit that part of the reason why me and Pettis were going out there was because if something happened with Ben, then one of us would step up and fight for the title. He didn't completely come out and say it, but he was like, ‘it would be a really good thing to have two top-ranked guys out there in case something happened with Ben.'" The merit of Lauzon's statements can be left to be debated by fans, but there remains one irrefutable backer of his point. The man comes to fight. From the moment the cage doors swing shut, to the moment Bruce Buffer tallies the official results, Lauzon has never left his employers unhappy, and his ridiculous collection of eight ‘Fight Night' bonuses can attest to that. The weird thing is, no one ever suspects it either. With teenage features and a Twitter account populated with video game references, it's easy to assume the kid from Massachusetts with the funny nickname is out of his league. But underneath Lauzon's affable demeanor lies a slumbering lion just waiting to be awoken, sometimes even to a fault. "I catch a lot of crap sometimes about gassing and cardio and things like that," Lauzon said. "But I come out and I push hard. I can be in great shape, but when you push as hard as I push, it's tough to maintain that pace." "On one hand I could ... be like everyone else and have great cardio and never finish fights, but I would rather push and try to finish people. And you know what, if I get tired because I was trying to finish guys? I can deal with that. I don't ever want to be a guy that never finishes anyone but is known for having great cardio." The words are likely music to Dana White's ears, and with another decisive win it would be hard to deny Lauzon's credentials for title contention. But could history repeat itself? The 27-year-old is once again a significant long shot heading into Sunday's event, but at this point it would almost seem odd if he wasn't. The real question is, will Anthony Pettis be able to succeed where so many others have failed? "We're just going to put it on him. I'm sure his gameplan is going to be to kind of ride out the pressure, pace in the first, and then take it to me in the second. But," Lauzon finished matter-of-factly, "A lot of other guys have had that same gameplan and I've still overwhelmed them in the first." "Like I said, it's easy to have great cardio when you're not really doing a whole lot of work."

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The MMA Hour - Episode No. 119 - Joe Lauzon

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UFC 144 fight card: Joe Lauzon vs Anthony Pettis preview

Two of the most exciting lightweights in the UFC will clash next Saturday night (February 26, 2012) as bonus hog Joe Lauzon takes on former WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis on the UFC 144 main card in Saitama, Japan. Lauzon is on a modest two fight winning streak, but that includes a huge upset victory over Melvin Guillard at UFC 136 in which Guillard was potentially one win away from a title shot. The former cast member of The Ultimate Fighter season five always puts on a show, as evidenced by his eight UFC fight night bonuses. He'll be looking to win his seventh straight next Saturday night. Anthony Pettis has a reputation for being one of the most unpredictable and interesting lightweights on the planet. We could talk about his "Showtime Kick," which set the MMA world on fire at the end of 2010. After missing out on a title shot last year, he's back on the winning track and hoping to potentially regain his number one contender status. He'll have to get through Lauzon first, however. Will Lauzon earn a win bonus on top of a fight night bonus? Can Pettis put on a show and become a potential title challenger with a big win? What's the key to victory for both men next Saturday night? Let's find out: Joe Lauzon Record: 21-6 overall, 7-3 in the UFC Key Wins: Melvin Guillard (UFC 136), Jeremy Stephens (UFC Fight Night 17), Jens Pulver (UFC 63) Key Losses: George Sotiropoulos (UFC 123), Sam Stout (UFC 108), Kenny Florian (UFC Fight Night 13) How he got here: Joe Lauzon has faced some seriously stiff competition in his seven and a half year MMA career. The native Bostonian competed primarily on the east coast circuit early in his career, earning a victory over eventual WEC champ Mike Brown but coming up short to the likes of Jorge Masvidal, Ivan Menjivar and Raphael Assuncao. Lauzon won three fights in one night on April 1, 2006 to punch his ticket to the UFC where he was expected to be thrown to the wolves against former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver. Instead, he clipped Pulver, knocking "Lil Evil" out in just 47 seconds in one of the biggest upsets of that year. Despite his incredible showing, Lauzon would instead take a spot on season five of The Ultimate Fighter, where "J-Lau" was the favorite to win the show. Instead, he would be upset by eventual finalist Manny Gamburyan in the semifinals. Since the show, it has been feast or famine for Lauzon. He's won seven fights in the promotion and has scored three losses against three of the division's best in Sam Stout, Kenny Florian and George Sotiropoulos. Lauzon has turned into a bonus hog in his recent fights, taking home "Fight of the Night" in all of his three Octagon losses and winning "Submission of the Night" in his four most recent victories. He's coming off the biggest victory of his career, a huge upset against Melvin Guillard at UFC 136 in which he stunned "The Young Assassin" with a left hand and then choked him out in less than a minute. He's hoping to enter title contention if he can get past former WEC champion and number one contender Anthony Pettis next Saturday night. How he gets it done: Lauzon really hunts for submissions in his fights. He's got a very aggressive guard with sweeps and attacks of the arm but he's also got some competent striking, something he showcased against both Jens Pulver in his UFC debut and in his most recent fights against Kurt Warburton and Melvin Guillard in which he stunned his opponents on the feet before pouncing with submissions on the ground. Lauzon would be unwise to stand at a distance with Pettis though, as he's going to be dealing with a proficient puncher and an even better kicker. His key to victory is to do what he always does and really get in "Showtime's" face with aggressive strikes, either hoping to hurt the Milwaukee-native standing or get in close enough to score a takedown and work from top control. If Lauzon does anything in the stand-up, he needs to get inside. He can't afford to give Pettis the proper range to blast him with his wide array of kicking attacks. Anthony Pettis Record: 14-2 overall, 1-1 in the UFC Key Wins: Ben Henderson (WEC 53), Jeremy Stephens (UFC 136), Danny Castillo (WEC 47) Key Losses: Clay Guida (Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale), Bart Palaszewski (WEC 45) How he got here: Anthony got his start in the Gladiator Fighting Series, going 8-0 on the Wisconsin local circuit with seven of those wins coming by way of first round stoppage. Pettis would earn a trip to the WEC and he would debut with a triangle choke submission over Mike Campbell in June of 2009. After suffering a split decision setback to Bart Palaszewski, "Showtime" would kick into high gear with three consecutive stoppage performances against the likes of Danny Castillo, Shane Roller and Alex Karalexis. His career defining fight would be his title shot against then-WEC lightweight champion Ben Henderson in the final World Extreme Cagefighting event ever, WEC 53. With the WEC title (and a shot at UFC gold) on the line, Pettis and Henderson put on a performance for the ages and you all should know how it ended by now. Final minute of the fight and "Showtime" pulls off the craziest kick in MMA history to score a near fight-ending knockdown that sealed the victory for the youngster. Pettis chose to forgo his UFC title shot and, rather than wait, he accepted a bout with Clay Guida, but couldn't handle "The Carpenter's" wrestling skills and would lose a decision. He showcased offensive wrestling skills of his own in his last fight against Jeremy Stephens, winning another close decision. Now back on track, a victory over Joe Lauzon next Saturday night would put him right back into the mix. How he gets it done: What makes Pettis so fun to watch is his willingness to think outside the box and try crazy new things. It's not just the "Showtime kick" either. Pettis has been willing to throw anything from crazy capoeira kicks to insane cage somersault sweeps from mount. That's part of what makes him great, but can also be a hindrance. At times, he's looked to do something crazy rather than to actually be effective and win.. Look for Pettis to really work his kicking game. Only fellow UFC lightweights John Makdessi or Edson Barboza rival"Showtime" in flashy kicks. He's got very powerful leg, body and head kicks if he's allowed to get in the proper range. With Lauzon not having much of a kicking game at all, this could make a huge difference in the fight. Pettis also rivals Lauzon on the ground as he's very active with submissions, sweep attempts and guard passes. If anyone takes this fight to the canvas, it might just be Pettis. He showcased some improved offensive wrestling in his last fight with Jeremy Stephens and he might utilize it again to try and stifle Lauzon. Conditioning could be at play here. Lauzon can last all three rounds fine if he paces himself, but he tends to really push the pace and expend a ton of energy early in his fights. If Pettis can be patient and not let himself get drawn into a wild exchange in the first few minutes, he could take over in the second and third round. Fight X-Factor: The biggest X-Factor for this fight is the first round. That's where Joe Lauzon is the most dangerous, when he comes out guns blazing with both his striking and ground attack. He's likely going to be expending a ton of energy early so Pettis has to be vigilant and prepared for this. If he gets overwhelmed early, he'll only have himself to blame. Expect Pettis to fight defensively early on, perhaps just waiting long enough until Lauzon tires himself out and then he'll strike back hard. Depending on how the first round goes, the rest of the fight should be very simple to foresee Bottom Line: The possibility for this fight being boring is almost nonexistent. Joe Lauzon has won a ridiculous eight fight night bonuses in his UFC career thus far, out of 11 career UFC fights (and I don't think the bonuses existed back when he KO'd Pulver). He's also won a bonus a ridiculous six times in a row. Pettis was a bonus-hound as well in the WEC, winning the triple crown of Knockout, Submission and Fight of the Night while there. As long as Lauzon pushes a pace and Pettis is forced to keep up with him and go toe-to-toe, this is going to be one of the best fights of the entire card. Both men are capable of tremendous excitement and this fight has serious potential. The only cause for concern is the Anthony Pettis that showed up to fight Jeremy Stephens, as he seemed more intent on winning than being entertaining. He might simply try to smother Lauzon and stifle him, although that's a very slim possibility as I doubt Lauzon would let him do that. Get your popcorn ready for this one. Who will come out on top at UFC 144? Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Which lightweight will become one step close to a potential title shot with a huge victory next Saturday night on the main card of UFC 144 in Japan? Anthony Pettis Joe Lauzon 3 votes | Results

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Joe Lauzon gives fans “behind the scenes” glimpse at training camp for UFC 144

Typically the only look the public gets at a UFC fighter’s preparation for an upcoming bout comes on one of the organization’s Countdown or Primetime shows. However, when it comes to Joe Lauzon’s training for a fight with Anthony Pettis later this month “J-Lau” himself is pulling back the curtain, even capturing the UFC’s production crew in the process. Lauzon recently released a “behind the scenes” video featuring his work on an upcoming Countdown special attached to UFC 144 as well as a first-person view of his sparring sessions thanks to a helmet-cam concept. Check Out this Extended Preview for February 25′s UFC 144 Though the only Lauzon to speak in the clip is younger brother (and fellow fighter) Dan Lauzon, rarely do fans get the kind of access provided in his vlog. Watch the full video below: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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Joe lauzon's UFC 144 Vlog 1- Featuring the head cam of doom

See, what Joe Lauzon needs to do here is expand on his behind the scenes look of a fighter doing the UFC countdown show. Lets get another camera crew in there to document the behind the scenes of the people documenting the behind the scenes. Kind of a Russian doll situation where instead of porcelain dolls you have multiple camera crews documenting each other while a camera crew documents a fighter. We could spin down the rabbit hole further but it needs to be cut off at roughly four crews. I've thought this through. Any more than that and it would get really cramped in the gym and Joe needs his space. Always give Joe Lauzon his space, not to mention we have to think about the sanity of the guy who needs to edit all this footage together. Watch Joe Lauzon's UFC 144 Vlog numero uno, in which he has a head cam. [Source]

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Joe Lauzon video blog for UFC 144 (Episode 1)

Scrappy lightweight contender Joe Lauzon, who is scheduled to face off against Anthony Pettis at UFC 144 on Feb. 25, 2012, gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at his pre-fight training camp for the upcoming "Edgar vs. Henderson" pay-per-view event in Japan. For more on Joe Lauzon vs. Anthony Pettis at the Saitama Super Arena click here.

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Joe Lauzon UFC144 Video Blog 1

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Live Chat w/ Joe Lauzon starting in a few minutes

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Melvin Guillard: “I really feel in my heart the Lauzon fight was a fluke.”

This past Friday night fans saw a new Melvin Guillard take to the Octagon against Jim Miller. While the end result of their headlining bout at UFC on FX 1 may have been all too familiar a sight, prior to the submission loss Guillard maintained his composure in the cage rather than constantly charge at his opponent. And, according to “The Young Assassin”, he also felt much more comfortable with defending submissions on the ground even though he was unable to stop Miller’s widely respected grappling attack in the end. Guillard spoke about his loss at the post-event press conference where he discussed the fight’s finish and gave full credit to Miller for living up to his reputation on the mat. “I’ve been working on my back escapes, and it’s crazy, but I knew exactly what to do to get him off my back but when he grabbed me, he had it tight and at that point I couldn’t do anything,” said Guillard of Miller’s Rear-Naked Choke. “A lot of people criticize my ground game I’m not gonna sit here and think that I have the best ground game because obviously I don’t. I’ve lost fights on submissions,” the 28-year old continued before saying the defeat didn’t rub him the wrong way like his previous stumble did. “But to lose to a guy like Jim, I wasn’t emotional about this loss like I was about the (Joe) Lauzon fight because I really feel in my heart the Lauzon fight was a fluke. I had Jim hurt and I wanted to be patient and I backed off when I could’ve probably swarmed him. It could’ve been a different result. But I don’t regret anything I did tonight. I think I went in and executed my game. I fought one of the best guys in this division and I think I sent a message to a lot of guys.” Footage of Guillard breaking down emotionally backstage after his submission loss to Lauzon was featured in a Dana White vlog chronicling UFC 136 where the match-up took place. Lauzon dropped Guillard, the vastly superior striker, in the opening moments of their bout and sunk in a RNC for the victory. Check out what Guillard, Miller, and the rest of the UFC on FX lineup had to say at the post-event presser below:

Posted in: fight, ’t, miller, guillard, lauzon

"Not Your Average Joe" Yahoo Article on Joe Lauzon

submitted by garyp714 [link] [comment]

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Melvin Guillard: “I won’t be reckless…”

Last October, UFC lightweight Melvin Guillard found himself in an envious position. The 28-year old slugger had won five straight fights and was poised to earn a title-shot with a win over Joe Lauzon at UFC 136, a match-up most labeled as being his to lose as long as he could keep Lauzon from taking him down. However, when things were said and done, it was Lauzon who landed a knee-knocking strike rather than power-puncher Guillard. Shortly thereafter the fight was over and Guillard was back at the drawing board. In less than a minute Guillard learned a valuable lesson and one he will carry with him into tomorrow night’s headlining fight at UFC on FX when he faces Jim Miller, also an apt grappler with decent striking similarly to Lauzon. “The Young Assassin” spoke some about his upcoming bout, saying he has no intention of repeating his performance from the Lauzon loss. “What happened last time was a mistake,” Guillard explained in a press release promoting the show. “I rushed in so hard and fast I was stunned with a jab and from there I lost the fight. It was kinda dumb, but I am young enough to learn as long as realize the mistake. I made the mistake, it didn’t just happen, I know that but I also know I’m still one of the best fighters in the division.” To help erase the memories of fans with the October loss firmly implanted in their minds Guillard made it clear he’ll still be looking for a finish against Miller – it just won’t come as the result of throwing caution to the wind and going all-out right off the bat. “I am looking at making a statement on FX against another top guy in the division. He’s one of the best fighters in the world at this weight and it is a great main event,” Guillard continued before adding, “I won’t be reckless, but you will see what I can do on FX Friday night. You will see the Young Assassin!” Guillard holds an overall record of 29-9-2 with nineteen TKOs including past wins over Shane Roller, Evan Dunham, and Dennis Siver. Other bouts at UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller include Josh Neer vs. Duane Ludwig and Christian Morecraft vs. Pat Barry. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, fight, ’t, guillard, lauzon

Melvin Guillard Doesn't Believe He Lost Anything Against Joe Lauzon

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, NewsAfter a setback at UFC 136, Melvin Guillard's climb back up the UFC's 155-pound ladder begins Friday night against Jim Miller at UFC on FX Fight Night. MMAFighting.com recently spoke to "The Young Assasin" about what went wrong in his most recent loss against Joe Lauzon, why he decided to leave Greg Jackson's camp, and why he considers this upcoming fight against Miller to be a "blessing." Check out the interview below. Ariel Helwani: Why did you decide to leave Jackson's for the Blackzilians in Florida? Melvin Guillard: [There's] just some things I like about the training here and the place where it has me set mentally. I have a better mental game here. You know, I don't want to go too much into comparing both gyms, but like I said in the past, both gyms are great, just one is giving me something that the other didn't. So I have to look out for my interests and make sure what's best for me at the end of the day so I can become a world champion. Did your loss to Joe Lauzon prompt the move? Oh, no. No, no, no, no. The loss had absolutely nothing to do with it. What coach Greg [Jackson] and coach [Mike] Winklejohn have done for me, I will always be grateful for. The tools they've given me, the things they showed me while I was there ... No, the loss to Lauzon had absolutely nothing to do with my decision. This was a decision that I chose for myself because I just felt like it I had to give myself a different look. You know, coach Greg and those guys are some busy guys, they got a lot of high-profile fighters there, and they just couldn't give me the one-on-one time that I needed, at certain times, and that was part of my decision, as well. How did they react to you telling them that you were leaving their camp? Everybody is okay with everything. There's no hard feelings. If I would have to go back that way, that direction, the door's always open for me. At the end of the day, it's business. I learned the hard way, you can't get emotionally attached in this business because you see some guys get attached to certain trainers and they get stuck at a point in their life where they're not getting better. For me, that wasn't the case, but I just felt like I wanted to make this change to see if it works. It's something that I'm trying out, and if it don't work, and if I had to go back to Jackson's, I don't think they would be upset about that. Why do you think your fight against Lauzon at UFC 136 turned out the way it did? I was just impatient. I rushed myself. I rushed my attack and I ran into a stiff jab. I don't take anything away from Joe. He capitalized on my mistake. That's the thing about this level of competition, if you make a mistake and you capitalize on it, you see what happens. You can end up having a short night. So that's what happens. That's the only thing, to me, that Joe Lauzon did that I didn't do. I made the first mistake and he capitalized on it. He said after the fight that he believed you were looking past him. Is that accurate? Nah, I never look past anyone. I never look past any fighter; I take every fight serious. I wouldn't have asked to fight the guy if I didn't think he was tough. I wanted to fight in Houston, and I begged them to let me fight in Houston, and I had a minor setback. Did I ever for once think that Joe Lauzon would be a walk in the park? No. Joe Lauzon is a very tough competitor, and I take my hat off to the guy. He was the better guy that night. Did you feel as though all the talk about you being so close to a title shot put too much pressure on you? No, nothing got to me, man. I was just excited to fight in front of friends and family, which I haven't done in years, since my dad had passed. To me, that's what it was all about. It wasn't about the job itself, there was no stress there. I was just impatient. I just rushed my attack, and I got caught. Dana White's video blog showed how emotional you were after the fight. Could you describe how you felt once the moment sunk in? I walked in the back, and I was with Dr. Tripp, my judo coach, and me as a student to my craft, when I see my coaches, sometimes I feel like I let them down. At that point I felt like I let myself down because for that short period of time that you guys saw me break down and have my moment, it ran through my mind, Man, I asked for something, I failed, and now I may not get that opportunity to fight for that world title. That's what went through my mind and it hurt for a minute. But then, just instantly after it happened, I got up and was like, I can't let this beat me. No matter if I have to go back three fights, two fights, one fight, I have to go back and fight my way back to the top again because, rightfully so, when someone beats you that guy takes your place. And then I was blessed with this fight with Jim Miller. To be able to come back and fight another top contender guy, who also had a loss, that's just the way the cards were played. I don't think I lost or gained anything from the Joe Lauzon fight. I definitely didn't lose anything, and I know I didn't gain anything. The only thing that I would say I gained was I learned how to be patient because I was impatient with my attack. What was your reaction when they offered you this fight, considering it's a main event fight on FX against another top contender? I was humbled. I'm always a humble guy, but I felt like it was a blessing from above. I felt like the owners understand that sometimes we have a bad night. But I don't want to have a bad night two nights in a row. That's up to me to prevent that from happening. But as far as that goes, I'm just blessed to have understanding bosses. Some people work for Fortune 500 companies, they make a mistake and it costs their job a bunch of money, they might lose their job. In my situation, I'm not going to say I cost them any money, but I still have to go in there and prove myself. I have to prove that Melvin is going to always be a part of the elite, because in the UFC, there's no going backwards. Once you're not the top elite, you're pretty much on your way out the door because they're going to bring in other guys in. My main goal is to stay at the top of the heap. I'm not in a rush for the title. After the Lauzon fight, maybe I should go back and fight maybe two or three fights, at the most, and then that'll determine if I really belong in the position to fight for a title. I read that you said recently that the UFC told you this was a No. 1 contender fight, which raised eyebrows since you are both coming off losses. Was that taken out of context? Yeah, people take stuff out of context. A contender fight in the UFC ... you can have two, maybe three, No. 1 contenders. At one point, it was me, Jim Miller, and possibly Ben Henderson and Donald Cerrone. There were four of us that they were talking about possibly being in No. 1 contender fights. People take that No. 1 contender stuff out of context a lot. That's not my worry. My worry is to go and do my job and see what happens from there. I'm not looking past Jim Miller, like I never looked past anybody. You have to take every fight one fight at a time, and like my coach told me back in 2005, Warren Donnelly, when I fought Marcus Davis, he was like, 'Every fight from here on out is a title fight and you always have to make sure you fight to stay in.' That's been my whole goal, my whole purpose of being in the UFC the last seven years, you gotta fight to stay in. If I start worrying about chasing the title belt, I lose sight of the bigger picture, and next thing you know, I end up without a job. Because if you really look back at season 2 [of The Ultimate Fighter] alumni, it's only me and Rashad [Evans] left. Everybody else has been cut. So I focus more on that part of job, and I always go in there, win or lose, I always leave with my head up and I always give the fans a great, explosive fight. That's the way I fight. Did you watch Miller's fight against Henderson and have you been able to pinpoint why he lost that fight? Yeah, I've watched all of his fights, but I don't get caught up on trying to figure out what he's great at. I watch tape to see what he does repeatedly, like, the things a person does repeatedly are the things that when you're in the heat of battle you're going to go back to doing those things. Those are the things I look for. As far as worrying about his last fight, man, he could have been sick, he might have not been sick. He could have just gotten outworked. We don't know. The only person who knows that is Jim. So, I'm not going in there to fight Jim Miller's fight, I'm going in there to be me and that's the way I fight all my fights. What do you think about his striking? I think his striking is mediocre. I think he can knock guys out, but I don't think his striking is as sharp as mine. I honestly think it's going to be more me fighting off a wrestling match and him looking for something there. Is it safe to assume you want to keep this fight standing? I'll take the fight wherever it goes. I've been working the last seven weeks with my BJJ instructor here. I do privates here everyday. I'm working with the Dutch kickboxing coach. So I'm confident to go wherever, and I'm not saying I'm going to pull of a submission, but I know I can damn well fight him off right now. I can damn well defend the submission the way I need to because I've been taught the proper way. I'm okay with wherever this fight goes. Does it feel different to be going into a fight for the first time in a while coming off a loss? No, I feel comfortable, not cocky. People take that out of context too. I feel very confident going into this fight. I feel great; my cardio is great. I've had a great training camp. I worked my butt off for this training camp. This has been one of the toughest training camps, but coming off a loss has not played into my mind. I've already put the Joe Lauzon fight behind me, and I'm looking forward, I'm not looking back. I'm not even looking back on all the five fights I've won. I'm looking forward to what's next and that's the way it's supposed to be. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Check out this Awesome Drawing of Joe Lauzon

submitted by nooger [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: joe, check, joe lauzon, nooger, lauzon

Melvin Guillard Says Jim Miller Fight At UFC on FX 1 Is A Number One Contender’s Match

The biggest thing I learned (from loss to Joe Lauzon) was to be patient and not rush myself. The only reason he won that was because I rushed myself. I was rushing my shots trying to hit and I actually ran into a stiff jab that rocked me. By the time I hit the canvas and could shake it off he was already on my back. So it’s a life lesson, you know what I mean? I walked away with no scratches, no bruises. And now I’ve been blessed even more after a loss, the first time in my UFC career, they’re actually giving me a number one contender fight against Jim Miller… So I’m excited and that goes to show that I didn’t lose anything from that loss, but I got to learn something. — Melvin Guillard talking to MMA Canada TV about his loss to Joe Lauzon and fighting Jim Miller for a title shot Um, does Melvin Guillard know something we don’t? Melvin Guillard was in line to fight for the lightweight title and if he had beat Joe Lauzon at UFC 136, there’s a good chance he would be fighting Frankie Edgar for the lightweight title next month, not Ben Henderson, but he didn’t. He loss that fight in the most decisive way possible. I could see throwing him back “in the mix” if beats Jim Miller, but it would pretty much impossible to justify giving him a title shot over the Joe Lauzon vs. Anthony Pettis winner or even Nate Diaz at this point. More than likely there was just some miscommunication somewhere along the way, but if it is true, how pissed are you if you’re Lauzon, Pettis or Diaz? Image via Dave Mandel for Sherdog

Posted in: title shot, loss, guillard, joe lauzon, lauzon

Dan Lauzon makes it four in a row with KO of Anthony Kaponis at Premier Fighting Championship

Massachusetts MMA promotion Premier Fighting Championship returned the Mullins Center in Amherst for the first time since April. PFC 7 was headlined by a lightweight bout between three time UFC vet Dan Lauzon (16-4) and Anthony Kaponis (4-4). Lauzon bided his time briefly before he shutdown Kaponis. The first counter punch combo thrown by Lauzon dropped Kaponis to the floor. Lauzon followed Kaponis down to the mat and halted the fight with a handful of power punches that left his opponent unconscious. The official time of the knockout win for Lauzon came at the 1:42 mark of round one. Only 23 years old Lauzon has won four straight since being released by the UFC in June 2010. A all action fighter, Lauzon is now 16 for 16 in finishing opponents and has still not won a fight by decision in his five year career. With a 0-3 record in the UFC behind him, Lauzon could be called back up to Strikeforce or perhaps Bellator in 2012 if he continues to dominate of the local MMA scene. In the co-main event two UFC welterweight Ricardo Funch (8-2) returned to the cage for the first time since being released by the national promotion. Three time Bellator winner Ryan Quinn (6-3-1) looked to use Funch as a launching pad for a full time gig off the regional circuit. In a back and forth fight Funch's pressure and cage control wore down Quinn over the course of three rounds. Funch would walk away with a unanimous decision win over Quinn. The win snapped a two fight skid for Funch. Premier Fighting Championship 7 resultsAmherst, MADan Lauzon def. Anthony Kaponis by KO 1:42 R1Ricardo Funch def. Ryan Quinn by Unanimous Decision Abner Lloveras def. Rich Moskowitz by Unanimous DecisionTyson Chartier def. Barrington Douse by Submission Guillotine Choke R1Lowell Zangri def. Josh Mellen by Submission Guillotine Choke 1:13 R1Mike Flores def. Fred Mandracchia by TKO (Strikes) 0:12 R1Rob Font def. Matt Tuthill by Submission Rear Naked Choke 2:32 R1

Posted in: time, submission guillotine, lauzon, funch, kaponi

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Dan Lauzon's fight last night. <crosspost>

submitted by bjjnoob [link] [comment]

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MMAWeekly Radio Monday: Joe Lauzon, Brittney Palmer, Myles Jury Plus Weekend Wrap-Up

MMAWeekly Radio returns for a big Monday show with guests including Joe Lauzon, Octagon girl Brittney Palmer and TUF 13's Myles Jury.

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Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon locked in for UFC 144

It turns out Las Vegas will not get a lightweight clash between future title contenders Anthony Pettis and Joe Lauzon, as their match up will take place from Japan instead in February at UFC 144. Pettis and Lauzon did a great job of setting up their match through social media and interviews, as both men felt like they would be a good test for the other. “Showtime” is 5-1 in his last six fights, while “J-Lau” is coming off a submission victory over Melvin Guillard. The match-up was announced through the UFC’s website. The UFC’s return to Japan on February 26 is also expected to feature UFC lightweight champ Frankie Edgar defending his title against Ben Henderson. Henderson’s last loss came at the hands of Pettis when the two met for the WEC 155-pound title last year meaning a win over Lauzon should thrust the Roufusport product back into the spotlight. Other fights at UFC 144 include Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Jake Shields and Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, title, petti, melvin guillard, lauzon

Joe Lauzon vs. Anthony Pettis Confirmed for UFC 144 in Japan

Two of the UFC's most exciting lightweights had been calling each other out and the bout was rumored for a Las Vegas event, but now the UFC has confirmed that Joe Lauzon and Anthony Pettis will instead collide in Japan at UFC 144 in February: Verbal agreements are in for a match between two of the most exciting lightweights in the sport as Joe ‘J-Lau’ Lauzon will face Anthony ‘Showtime’ Pettis February 26th in Saitama, Japan," confirmed UFC president Dana White today. Both men are coming off impressive wins, with Lauzon derailing Melvin Guillard's title aspirations in less than a minute, while Pettis showed his willingness to follow a careful gameplan when he defeated the always-dangerous Jeremy Stephens via decision with a methodical, takedown-based attack. UFC 144 is expected to take place at the Saitama Super Arena on February 26th. Joe Lauzon (21-6)Win Melvin Guillard (submission - RNC) - UFC 136Win Curt Warburton (submission - kimura) - UFC on Versus 4Loss George Sotiropoulos (submission - kimura) - UFC 123 Anthony Pettis (12-2)Win Jeremy Stephens (unam. decision) - UFC 136Loss Clay Guida (split decision) - TUF 13 FinaleWin Ben Henderson (unam. decision) - WEC 53 UFC 144 Coverage

Posted in: ufc, decision, petti, lauzon, anthony

Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon latest fight scheduled for UFC’s return to Japan

There appeared to be little doubt lightweights Anthony Pettis and Joe Lauzon were destined to collide in early 2012 after both fighters openly, albeit respectfully, requested they be matched up as a means of propelling one into title-hunt based on successful showings in recent performances. Possible became probable Tuesday night when the UFC announced both sides had officially agreed to the encounter. However, rather than face off over Super Bowl Weekend as expected, Lauzon and Pettis will join headlining peers Frankie Edgar and Ben Henderson in Japan on February 26 for UFC 144. Lauzon is on the heels of one of his biggest wins to date, submitting the streaking Melvin Guillard less than a minute into their melee at UFC 136 to pick up his sixth straight event-specific bonus. The 27-year old self-labeled “computer nerd” has finished all twenty-one of the opponents he’s beaten, an extraordinary feat considering some of triumphs including victories over Mike Brown and Jeremy Stephens. Lauzon Not One to Be Bullied or Intimidated The latter is an adversary the 14-2 Pettis knows well, having fought Stephens last month on the same card where Lauzon picked up his victory over Guillard. Pettis came away with a Split Decision win after opting to play it somewhat safe in comparison to a few of his previous pairings including a superb scrap with Henderson where he landed his infamous “Showtime Kick”. In addition to Edgar’s title-defense against “Bendo”, UFC 144 is also scheduled to feature Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Jake Shields and Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, vs, petti, ben henderson, lauzon

Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon official for UFC 144 in Japan

A key lightweight bout between former WEC champion Anthony Pettis and fellow UFC contender Joe Lauzon is set for February's UFC 144 event. Although reported as a possibility for UFC 143 in Las Vegas, it'll instead take place later in the month in Japan. UFC officials announced the fight overnight.

Posted in: ufc, petti, japan, lauzon, anthony

The Fighting Life: Joe Lauzon (Part 2)

Joe Lauzon discusses his tough loss to Kenny Florian, the epic win over Melvin Guillard and his use of social media in part 2 of our in-depth interview.

Posted in: joe, part, melvin guillard, lauzon, kenny florian

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

UFC Confirms Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon For UFC 144 In Japan, Not UFC 143

There’s been a change of plans in the Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon fight. They’re still fighting, but not at UFC 143 as previously expected. Instead they’re going to take the long flight across the Pacific to face off at UFC 144 in Japan. The UFC confirmed the news with MMA Fighting earlier this evening. With that addition the Japan currently looks like this: Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Jake Shields Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon Image via Dave Mandel for Sherdog

Posted in: ufc, vs, japan, lauzon, dave mandel

Joe Lauzon vs. Anthony Pettis Moved to UFC 144

Frankie Edgar and Ben Henderson won’t be the only top lightweights squaring off at UFC 144, as a 155-pound matchup between Joe Lauzon and Anthony Pettis has been moved to the Feb. 25 event in Saitama, Japan from a rumored spot on UFC 143 earlier in the month, the UFC announced Tuesday night. Lauzon and Pettis both picked up wins at UFC 136 in October, as Lauzon (21-6) stunned Melvin Guillard with a 47-second submission of one of the division’s top contenders, while the former WEC champ Pettis (12-2) rebounded from a debut loss to Clay Guida with a decision win over Jeremy Stephens. Edgar defends the lightweight title against Henderson in the UFC 144 main event, while the card also includes Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch and Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Jake Shields. For complete coverage of UFC 144, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.

Posted in: ufc, vs, petti, debut loss, lauzon

Lauzon vs. Pettis Shifted to UFC 144 in Japan

Anthony Pettis and Joe Lauzon will indeed meet in the Octagon, but the fight has been shifted to UFC 144 in Japan.

Posted in: ufc, petti, joe lauzon, japan, lauzon

Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon Set for UFC 144 in Japan

Anthony Pettis was on an all time high before Gray Maynard and Frankie Edgar put on a classic that required an end to their trilogy. In between injuries, and a questionable decision, Pettis would find himself on the losing end of a decision to Clay Guida: fresh off a loss to the man Pettis beat at the WEC's final show. Pettis' hype cooled considerably when he put on a lackluster performance against Jeremy Stephens. You could sense the betrayal of Pettis' longtime fans: 'fine, you couldn't stop Guida form taking you down, but Stephens?! Didn't he get fireman carried into oblivion by Joe Lauzon?' Well, speaking of Lauzon, MMAFighting is reporting that Pettis will fight Lauzon in Japan at UFC 144. Lauzon is coming off his biggest victory to date, over Melvin Guillard (in terms of scale, his win over Jens Pulver was probably a bigger upset at the time, but the Guillard win feels more significant). It's another fight fleshing out a card that has long been criticized as a 'vanity show', but that is nonetheless filling out nicely as a solid card with Edgar set to defend his title against Benson Henderson a fight this is a classic even on paper, in addition to Okami and Akiyama fighting on that card. It's difficult to say much on the matchup itself. Pettis has regressed a bit, and simply did not look good against Jeremy Stephens, who out muscled him, and controlled him for good portions of the fight. It was essentially a wrestling rally in the 3rd that earned Anthony the victory. I still feel like Lauzon is a bit of a paper tiger. He's a quality fighter, but he won't have the advantage on the feet, and won't likely finish with a submission. And then there's his cardio issue. Lauzon is a front runner through and through: the difference is Pettis won't get overconfident the way Guillard did, nor does he consider jiu jitsu an affront to his style. But it's still a highly interesting matchup. For all of Lauzon's faults, he's not the kind of fighter you take lightly. And he has no problem taking the fight to his opponents. I feel like this fight should be a co-main for a FOX card (teaching Zuffa once again that if there's anyone you can rely on, it's the LW's). But it's happening anyway, therefore I can't complain. LW continues to bring the goodies, especially with Donald Cerrone vs. Nate Diaz also on the horizon. Poll Who takes this matchup? Pettis: it'll be like the Lauzon/Stout fight but worse. Lauzon: it'll be like the Pettis/Stephens fight but without wasted clinch battles. 0 votes | Results

Posted in: fight, jeremy stephens, petti, card, lauzon

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The Fighting Life: Joe Lauzon (Part 1)

In part 1 of his latest edition of The Fighting Life, Duane Finley talks to UFC lightweight contender Joe Lauzon about his beginnings in the sport and being a perpetual underdog.

Posted in: joe, life, part, lauzon, duane

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon Set for UFC 144 In Japan

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, NewsA lightweight meeting pitting Anthony Pettis and Joe Lauzon has been agreed to for UFC 144 in Japan, MMA Fighting has learned. The UFC confirmed the matchup to MMA Fighting's Ben Fowlkes on Tuesday. The matchup had previously been rumored, with a possible date in Las Vegas. Instead, it will go international. The fight should prove to be a high-octane battle between two of the division's most offensive-minded fighters. Lauzon is riding a two-fight win streak, most recently upsetting the surging Melvin Guillard with a first-round submission win at UFC 136. That improved his record to 21-6. Pettis recently rebounded from a loss that snapped a four-fight win streak by defeating Jeremy Stephens by decision, also at UFC 136. With the win, he's now 12-2. The duo essentially booked the match on their own. Shortly after UFC 136, Pettis said he would welcome a match with Lauzon, and Lauzon accepted, setting the future date. UFC 144 will take place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan on February 26, 2012. It will mark the promotion's first time in the Land of the Rising Sun under the Zuffa banner. The main event will also be a lightweight match, with champion Frank Edgar defending the belt against newly named No. 1 contender Ben Henderson. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, petti, las vegas, lauzon, saitama japan

Report: Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon In The Works For UFC 143

They both wanted it, so Joe Silva gave it to them. MMA Weekly is reporting that Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon is in the works for Super Bowl weekend at UFC 143. Sources close to the match-up confirmed to MMAWeekly.com that verbal agreements are in for the lightweight fights to place on the Feb. 4 show. Bout agreements have not been issued for the proposed fight yet however. Lauzon recently told MMA Weekly that he thinks it’s going to be a “dog fight.” “I really like watching Anthony fight. That to me is just as important, I like fighting guys who go for the finish. He’s got great stand-up, he’s working on his wrestling, which is still pretty good, and he’s good off his back too. I think it will be an exciting fight,” Lauzon commented. “I don’t think either one of us are going to blow the other one out of the water with stand-up or ground. I think it will be a dog fight.” It’s definitely an interesting match-up. Pettis chose to focus on his wrestling instead of showcasing his high-flying striking arsenal when he fought Jeremy Stephens at UFC 136, but that could easily get him in trouble with Lauzon and his slick jiu-jitsu game. Hopefully, that means we’ll see Pettis let it all go on the feet like he used to in the WEC.

Posted in: ufc, fight, petti, lauzon, matchup pettis

Joe Lauzon vs. Anthony Pettis Agreed for UFC 143 on Super Bowl Weekend

A matchup between rising lightweights is in the works for Super Bowl weekend, as Joe Lauzon and Anthony Pettis have verbally agreed to square off at UFC 143 on February 3 in Las Vegas, according to MMAWeekly. The news comes a couple weeks after Lauzon and Pettis said they wanted the matchup following their respective wins last month at UFC 136. Lauzon (21-6) stunned Melvin Guillard with a 47-second submission of one of the division’s top contenders, while the former WEC champ Pettis (12-2) rebounded from a debut loss to Clay Guida with a decision win over Jeremy Stephens. UFC 143 is expected to be headlined by welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre vs. Nick Diaz and will also include welterweight contender Carlos Condit vs. Josh Koscheck. For complete UFC 143 coverage stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com. Pictured: Anthony Pettis

Posted in: ufc, vs, petti, lauzon, bowl weekend

Lauzon signs sponsorship deal with Gamma Labs

UFC Lightweight Joe Lauzon has signed a sponsorship deal with Gamma Labs. Coming off of winning one of the UFC’s first twitter bonuses, the supplement company is looking to capitalize on Lauzon’s rising popularity and social media saviness. The sponsorship deal will go beyond the normal fight short placement and focus on viral videos, social media and Lauzon’s interest of video games. According to Lauzon’s manager, Oren Hodak, Gamma Labs will do some cross promotional gaming spots with Punch Drunk Gamer, another one of Lauzon’s sponsors. Via Gamma Labs press release: This partnership will utilize Lauzon’s rapidly growing fan-base through new media platforms and will support Gamma Labs’ new Pre-Training Formula through special appearances, making an immediate impact with new consumers. “Working with an athlete like Joe who is very active on social media brings incredible value to a sponsor. As a top ranked fighter and video game competitor Joe is a perfect fit for Gamma Labs,” said Lauzon’s manager Oren Hodak of Knock Out Representation. Hodak continues saying, “Joe’s been using Gamma Labs’ products for several months and is benefiting from the increased focus and energy that he gets from PTF.” A number of unique viral videos, social media and online gaming contests will feature Joe in 2012. Lauzon boasts a twitter following that just surpassed 44,000 followers. Payout Perspective: This is a win-win for fighter and sponsor. The deal includes Lauzon’s interest of being a gamer which helps his personal brand. It also goes beyond the normal one-off sponsorship on fight nights. We’ve seen a rise of more fighters and sponsors engaging in promotions outside of the octagon which is key for the growth of the athlete-sponsor dynamic in MMA. While it may not be the lucrative endorsement contracts of other sports such as the NFL or major league baseball, its a start. We’ll see how many more of this will happen as the UFC-Fox partnership evolves.

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Read the full article at MMA Payout

Joe Lauzon tells us he loves being the official ‘spoiler’ in the lightweight division

Sure Joe Lauzon dropped and subbed Melvin Guillard, a fighter who was literally a step away from competing for the UFC lightweight belt, but let's just hope Joe Lauzon made the wise decision to choose Battlefield 3 over Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 for his military first person shooters. Technically, he could purchase both games, but if he's not a direct decedent of Goro, he's incapable of simultaneously playing each game. Over the weekend, LayzieTheSavage caught up with Joe to see how life was after ruining 95% of every parlay bet at UFC 136. He told us that he loves being the spoiler and after Pettis, he believes that he's just one fight away from a title shot.

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Joe Lauzon shooting guns with Dan Hardy and Roy Nelson

submitted by JoeLauzonDotCom [link] [2 comments]

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UFC divisional rankings for October 2011-UFC champs go four for four and Joe Lauzon enters top ten

In the span of 14 days four UFC champions put their titles on the line. Jon Jones (14-1), Dominick Cruz (19-1), Jose Aldo (20-1) and Frankie Edgar (14-1-1) all remained at top of their divisions following one of the most active event stretches in the history of the UFC. Apart from the champions continued success there was surprisingly little movement inside the top ten of the UFC's seven weight divisions. More fighters were removed from the top ten due to inactivity, Thiago Silva (14-1) and Sean Sherk (36-4-1), than men who fought their way into the top ten like Joe Lauzon (21-6). Across the seven UFC weight divisions Lauzon made the biggest jump after the UFC 135, UFC on VS 6 and UFC 136 string of events. In the lightweight division Lauzon was well outside the UFC top ten prior to his first round submission of Melvin Guillard (29-9-2). Lauzon enters the UFC lightweight top ten at number eight, while Guillard falls to number nine after a prolonged stay inside the division's top five. Heavyweight (over 205 pounds)UFC Champion: Cain Velasquez 9-0-UFC on Fox vs. Junior Dos Santos 13-1 1. Junior Dos Santos 13-1 2. Brock Lesnar 5-2 3. Shane Carwin 12-2 4. Frank Mir 15-5 5. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 33-6-1 6. Cheick Kongo 16-6-2 7. Roy Nelson 15-6 8. Brendan Schaub 8-2 9. Travis Browne 11-0-1 10. Mirko Filipovic 26-9-2Light Heavyweight (205 pound limit)UFC Champion: Jon Jones 14-1 - UFC 140 vs. Lyoto Machida 17-2 1. Rashad Evans 16-1-1 2. Mauricio Rua 20-5 3. Quinton Jackson 32-9 4. Lyoto Machida 17-2 5. Forrest Griffin 18-7 6. Phil Davis 9-0 7. Tito Ortiz 16-9-1 8. Ryan Bader 12-2 9. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira 19-5 10. Alexander Gustafsson 12-1Middleweight (185 pound limit)UFC Champion: Anderson Silva 31-4 1. Chael Sonnen 26-11-1 2. Vitor Belfort 19-9 3. Yushin Okami 25-6 4. Mark Munoz 11-2 5. Demian Maia 15-3 6. Brian Stann 11-4 7. Michael Bisping 20-3 8. Chris Leben 26-7 9. Alan Belcher 17-6 10. Wanderlei Silva 33-11-1Welterweight (170 pound limit)UFC Champion: George St. Pierre 22-2 1. Jon Fitch 23-3-1 2. Carlos Condit 27-5 3. Josh Koscheck 16-5 4. Jake Ellenberger 26-5 5. B.J Penn 16-7-2 6. Jake Shields 26-6-1 7. Rick Story 13-4 8. Thiago Alves 18-8 9. Diego Sanchez 23-4 10. Martin Kampmann 17-5Lightweight (155 pound limit)UFC Champion: Frank Edgar 14-1-1 1. Gray Maynard 10-1-1 2. Ben Henderson 14-2 3. Clay Guida 29-11 4. Jim Miller 20-3 5. Anthony Pettis 14-2 6. Donald Cerrone 16-3 7. Denis Siver 18-7 8. Joe Lauzon 21-6 9. Melvin Guillard 29-9-2 10. Evan Dunham 12-2Featherweight (145 pound limit)UFC Champion: Jose Aldo 20-1 1. Chad Mendes 10-0 2. Kenny Florian 14-6 3. Diego Nunes 16-2 4. Dustin Poirier 10-1 5. Mark Hominick 20-9 6. Tyson Griffin 15-5 7. Erik Koch 13-1 8. Darren Elkins 12-2 9. Michihiro Omigawa 12-10-1 10. Manny Gamburyan 11-6Bantamweight (135 pound limit)UFC Champion: Dominick Cruz 19-1 1. Joseph Benavidez 15-2 2. Brian Bowles 10-1 3. Urijah Faber 25-5 4. Demetrious Johnson 9-2 5. Miguel Torres 39-4 6. Scott Jorgenson 12-4 7. Takeya Mizugaki 15-6-2 8. Brad Pickett 20-5 9. Eddie Wineland 18-8-1 10. Renan Barao 26-1These ranking appear courtesy of ULTMMA (Uniting Locals Through Mixed Martial Arts).Added: Alexander Gustafsson, Joe Lauzon,Dropped: Thiago Silva, Sean Sherk

Posted in: ufc, pound, champion, lauzon, limitufc

Read the full article at UltMMA

Finally getting the recognition he deserves! From the help of one of our own (Joe Lauzon)

submitted by WorldofFire [link] [3 comments]

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Joe Lauzon vs Anthony Pettis

submitted by Virgin_Headquarters [link] [3 comments]

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Joe Lauzon open to idea of fight with Anthony Pettis but not asking for it

UFC lightweight Joe Lauzon has never been the most outspoken fighter unless the topic somehow relates to Call of Duty. However, when it comes to calling opponents out, Lauzon lets his skills in the Octagon do the talking for him rather than use media outlets to get his point across. The latest individual to take the opposite route, mentioning Lauzon’s name as a person of interest, is Anthony Pettis. The former WEC champion discussed a potential fight with “J-Lau” in a recent interview given their mutual success earlier this month at UFC 136. Pettis Changing Style to Compete with Elite Lightweights Lauzon has since responded to the challenge, expressing his belief the two would make for an exciting fight but that he isn’t in the habit of choosing his opponents. “I think it would be an exciting fight. It doesn’t matter to me who I fight. Whoever the UFC says they want me to fight, I’ll fight,” the Massachusetts native explained in an interview with The Boston Herald. “If they want it to be Anthony Pettis, I’ll fight Pettis.” “I’m not sure why people are calling me out, but I’m fine with it,” Lauzon continued. “I have to be doing something right if everybody wants to fight me. I definitely don’t think it’s a bad thing. It’s awesome getting called out by guys like that, that are doing really well.” “I think a lot of people are definitely paying more attention now,” the 27-year old concluded on his raised profile. “But I don’t really get caught up in what people think because two weeks ago everybody thought I was going to get knocked out. So I don’t really worry about it too much.” PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: fight, anthony pettis, petti, joe lauzon, lauzon

Anthony Pettis Challenges Joe Lauzon, Lauzon Accepts

Former WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis survived a tough challenge from Jeremy Stephens at UFC 136 and eked out a victory, his first in the UFC. And now it seems that he wants to fight another lightweight who picked up a win at UFC 136, albeit in much more impressive fashion - Joe Lauzon. Pettis did an interview with Cage Fanatic a couple of days ago and issued the challenge: "I don't know who my next opponent is, but I'm going for that title shot, that title shot run, so anybody who's a top five guy, I'm ready for them. Joe Lauzon beat Melvin Guillard, I think that would be a great fight for me." Lauzon, who's no stranger to being challenged by fighters after getting called out by Guillard initially, quickly accepted in an interview with the Boston Herald: "I think it would be an exciting fight," Lauzon told the Herald today. "It doesn't matter to me who I fight. Whoever the UFC says they want me to fight, I'll fight. If they want it to be Anthony Pettis, I'll fight Pettis. It doesn't really matter to me that much. I'm up for whoever." Not exactly the strongest acceptance statement ever, but pretty diplomatic at least. He also commented on why he thinks he's become a subject of callouts lately: "I must have (ticked) off someone," Lauzon said. "I'm not sure why people are calling me out, but I'm fine with it. I have to be doing something right if everybody wants to fight me. I definitely don't think it's a bad thing. It's awesome getting called out by guys like that, that are doing really well." Pettis vs. Lauzon might seem like solid matchmaking on the surface with both fighters coming off wins, but I'm not so sure. I think, despite the Lauzon win over Guillard, that Pettis is a step above Lauzon on the UFC's internal rankings ladder and that Showtime will get a guy like Jim Miller or Sean Sherk next. And Lauzon facing the winner of Dennis Siver vs. Donald Cerrone, or maybe even Evan Dunham, makes more sense to me. In the end it will come down to what Joe Silva thinks though and if he matches these two up, I'd be tuning in for sure.

Posted in: ufc, fight, petti, lauzon, im

Lauzon: I'll fight Pettis if it's what the UFC wants

submitted by 4760 [link] [comment]

Posted in: ufc, fight, petti, lauzon, fight pettis

Joe Lauzon Will Accept Anthony Pettis’ Challenge If The UFC Wants It

Whatever worries Joe Lauzon has in life, finding opponents is not one of them. His most recent fight came together because Melvin Guillard called him out, and now the same has happened with Anthony Pettis. Following his win over Jeremy Stephens at UFC 136, Pettis told Cage Fanatic (via MMA Mania) that he wants J-Lau next. “I don’t know who my next opponent is but I’m going for that title shot, that title shot run, so anybody who’s a top five guy, I’m ready for them. Joe Lauzon beat Melvin Guillard, I think that would be a great fight for me.” And like he did with Guillard’s challenge, Lauzon says he’ll gladly fight Anthony Pettis if that’s what the UFC wants. “I think it would be an exciting fight,” Lauzon told the Herald today. “It doesn’t matter to me who I fight. Whoever the UFC says they want me to fight, I’ll fight. If they want it to be Anthony Pettis, I’ll fight Pettis. It doesn’t really matter to me that much. I’m up for whoever.” “I must have (ticked) off someone,” Lauzon said. “I’m not sure why people are calling me out, but I’m fine with it. I have to be doing something right if everybody wants to fight me. I definitely don’t think it’s a bad thing. It’s awesome getting called out by guys like that, that are doing really well.” The UFC hasn’t commented thus far, but if fight comes together, Lauzon can expect to see more from Pettis than crazy kicks and flashy striking. Now that he’s had a taste of the higher level of competition in the UFC, Pettis believes he needs to adjust his style if he wants to make his way back to a UFC title shot. “You look at the UFC lightweight division, the top guys are all wrestlers,” Pettis said. “Me being a striker, I don’t fit into that picture. I need to adjust my game to fit in with the top-level guys in the UFC. By no means am I only going to hold people down and try to win fights. I’m still going for my bread-and-butter, which is knockouts, but fighting a guy like Jeremy Stephens, you don’t want to stay in the pocket with that guy too long.” “I think I’m going to have to just find out how to make them work at this level,” Pettis said of his flashier moves. “It’s easy to do it when you’re fighting guys who aren’t as good at striking as you or don’t pose a threat and you can do whatever you want, but now that these guys [have] good boxing and good kicking and good defense, you’ll still see it, but it’s going to be limited. I have to be careful. I have to win fights. If I want to be a champ, I need to win fights.” As Melvin Guillard learned, calling out Joe Lauzon might not be the smartest career move, but it also provides a good barometer to see where you stand in the lightweight division. If Pettis can’t beat Lauzon, then he probably shouldn’t be fighting the Frankie Edgar’s and Gray Maynard’s of the world yet anyways. Image via Dave Mandel for Sherdog

Posted in: ufc, fight, guy, petti, lauzon

Joe Lauzon, Anthony Pettis Open to Possible UFC Matchup

After both scoring impressive wins earlier this month at UFC 136, lightweights Joe Lauzon and Anthony Pettis could be on a collision course as they rise towards the top of the 155-pound division. One day after Pettis said Lauzon would be a “great fight” to continue his push for a title shot, Lauzon said he’s also open to the matchup if it’s what the UFC wants. “I think it would be an exciting fight,” Lauzon told the Boston Herald. “It doesn’t matter to me who I fight. Whoever the UFC says they want me to fight, I’ll fight. If they want it to be Anthony Pettis, I’ll fight Pettis. It doesn’t really matter to me that much. I’m up for whoever.” Lauzon (21-6) stunned Melvin Guillard at UFC 136 with a 47-second submission of one of the division’s top contenders, while Pettis (12-2) put his wrestling on display in a unanimous decision over Jeremy Stephens to rebound from losing his Octagon debut to Clay Guida. For the latest UFC news and UFC rumors stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.

Posted in: ufc, fight, petti, lauzon, ufc news

Joe Lauzon: If the UFC wants me to fight Anthony Pettis, I'll do it

Remember what happened the last time someone called out Joe Lauzon? Fresh off his UFC 136 strangulation of Melvin Guillard, former "Ultimate Fighter' and perennial dark horse, Joe Lauzon, has become the man to beat for any 155-pound title chaser. Including former WEC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis. "Showtime," who also picked up a win at UFC 136 by outpointing Jeremy Stephens, is gunning for an eventual title fight against division kingpin Frankie Edgar, and thinks a great fight with "J-Lau" gets him one step closer to questioning "The Answer's" strap. Lauzon tells the Boston Herald if the UFC wants that fight to happen, he's "fine with it." "I think it would be an exciting fight. It doesn’t matter to me who I fight. Whoever the UFC says they want me to fight, I’ll fight. If they want it to be Anthony Pettis, I’ll fight Pettis. It doesn’t really matter to me that much. I’m up for whoever. I’m not sure why people are calling me out, but I’m fine with it. I have to be doing something right if everybody wants to fight me. I definitely don’t think it’s a bad thing. It’s awesome getting called out by guys like that, that are doing really well." "J-Lau's" rear naked choke, which came after he stunned "The Young Assassin" in the opening frame, earned him a $75,000 "Submission of the Night" bonus at the UFC 136 post-fight press conference. It's unlikely that Lauzon will assume his former opponent's spot in the 155-pound pecking order, but it definitely narrows the field. Guillard was one of the names at the top of a very short list that also includes the winner of Ben Henderson vs. Clay Guida at UFC on Fox in just over a month. But if he finishes Pettis ... could be hard not to consider him top three. Anyone disagree? Let's hear some predictions on this potential 155-pound fantasy fight.

Posted in: ufc, fight, petti, joe lauzon, lauzon

Joe Lazuon answers Anthony Pettis' call for fight

UFC 136 featured three high level Lightweight fights; Anothony Pettis versus Jeremy Stephens, Melvin Guillard versus Joe Lauzon, and the main event of the evening, Frankie Edgar versus Gray Maynard. When the dust had settled, Pettis, Lauzon and Edgar stood as the victors. The win for Edgar meant that he remained the UFC Lightweight Champion, while the wins for Lauzon and Pettis left them in prime position to climb the Lightweight rankings. Earlier this week Pettis expressed his desire to face Lauzon in his

Posted in: petti, joe lauzon, lauzon, edgar, week pettis

Watch how Joe Lauzon's friends reacted while watching his UFC 136 fight against...

Watch how Joe Lauzon's friends reacted while watching his UFC 136 fight against Melvin Guillard.

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Joe Lauzon's friends reaction video to his last fight

submitted by brettawesome [link] [comment]

Posted in: fight, joe lauzon, lauzon, reaction, brettawesome

Win Joe Lauzon's UFC 136 "JITZ" walkout shirt!

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on FighterXFashion.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Got JITZ? Joe Lauzon sure does. And he put it to good use by choking out Melvin Guillard in just 47 seconds at UFC 136. In honor of J-Lau’s big victory, we’re giving you the chance to win a limited edition Joe Lauzon “Death By Jitz” walkout shirt! To enter the Joe Lauzon JITZ T-shirt contest is simple. Follow these three easy steps for your chance to win one of two tees: 1. Follow us on Twitter and retweet the following message: RT @FighterXFashion Giveaway! Win a FREE @JoeLauzon @JITZUSA walkout shirt! Go to http://fighterxfashion.com/ to win. 2. Leave a comment below with your Twitter ID 3. Visit our Facebook page and click the “Like” button. Share the following comment with all of your Facebook friends: Win a FREE Joe Lauzon walkout shirt by JITZ! Go to FighterXFashion.com to win. Two winners will be chosen at random. One lucky participant will take home J-Lau’s “Death from Jitz” walkout tee. A second lucky winner will walk away with the JITZ “International” T-shirt also featured below. The contest ends October 16th, 2011 at 11:59 PM EST. Winners will be announced on both FighterXFashion.com Twitter and Facebook pages on Tuesday, October 18th. Good luck! See the shirts...

Posted in: joe, lauzon, shirt, walkout, jitz

Ultimate Submissions: Chael Sonnen and Joe Lauzon make a statement at UFC 136

Photo via UFC.com UFC 136: "Edgar vs. Maynard III" was headlined by two title fights, but it was earlier on the main card where the grappling factored into four men’s futures. With such a top-heavy card featuring Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar and undefeated top contender Gray Maynard meeting for the third time, along with Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo looking to defend his crown against veteran and perennial contender Kenny Florian, it was a surprise that the other fights even had a chance to shine. In one bout we saw a former contender coming back from a long, drama-filled layoff to take on one of the brightest new contenders in the middleweight division. Veteran and always gritty Chael Sonnen would face off against young and explosive former WEC champion Brian Stann in what many had assumed would be to decide who would fight Anderson Silva in early 2012. In the other main card contest, the fans were treated to a match-up pitting two young fighters with loads of experience against each other. The lethal striking of Melvin Guillard stood in the middle of the Octagon with submission ace Joe Lauzon in a fight that many believed was to showcase Guillard on his way to a title shot. Submission fans throughout MMA could breathe a happy sigh of relief after the two fights. For more on that, follow me after the jump. Many analysts, fans and media alike pegged Melvin Guillard to win his fight with the heavy underdog Joe Lauzon. They were under the assumption that Lauzon, on a roller coaster ride since 2008, would succumb to the fireball that was the five-fight win streak of Guillard’s. Even though Lauzon was 4-3 in his last seven, many discounted that three of his four wins were "Submission of the Night" and three of the remaining four fights during that span were awarded "Fight of the Night" despite being losses. Lauzon would be the fighter who was looking to get the fight to the ground to avoid the heavy, lethal hands of Guillard, but not many predicted he would get it to the ground with his own striking. A big left hand rocked and wobbled Guillard and Lauzon would force the dazed fighter to the ground and into his realm of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Before we start, let me first give a thank you to Zombie Prophet for the .gifs. Check out his site (Ironforgesiron.com) -- he has .gifs and videos of fights up faster than anyone else on the net. It all happens very quickly. Lauzon lands a solid blow as Guillard throws without any real defense to protect his chin. Guillard is rocked and Lauzon gets top position as Guillard loses his legs and drops to the mat. Lauzon wastes no time while atop Guillard in his sprawl position as he swings around and takes the back of his opponent. Melvin tries to grab onto wrist control on the left wrist of Lauzon to attempt and prevent any sort of choke. He even grabs the wrist with both hands at one point. Lauzon still moves to the back and immediately sinks in the hooks and establishes back control. Lauzon uses his legs to over throw Guillard to a much more prime position, he uses one leg to spread the one side of Guillard and with that momentum his other leg pushes off to fully gain that back control. He fishes his hands to find the choke and briefly gets into a mini-fight for hand control. Lauzon wins and sinks the choke underneath the chin and from their it was fundamental as he uses his legs/hooks to torque down on the lower half of Guillard and the choke itself to torque up on the upper body. The squeeze is tight and Guillard has two options, submit or go to sleep. Lauzon secures the tap-out victory. And just like that, Guillard possibly one fight away from a title shot, shoots down the ladder and a fighter not considered a contender gets catapulted up the rankings with a breath of new hope in what had been a mediocre few years. From my breakdown on the rear naked choke: The technique involves wrapping one arm around the opponent’s neck so that the inside of your elbow is placed against his throat. By doing this, you will have put your bicep against one side of his neck and your forearm against the other side of the neck. From there you have two options for sinking in the choke and applying the pressure needed for the submission. You can place the hand of the arm you have wrapped around the neck on the bicep of the other arm and the hand of the other arm on the back of the opponents head. From there you hug your arms together and push out with your chest. The pressure of pushing his head into the pulling of your forearm will provide the pressure. And having the hooks mentioned previously will allow you to stretch out your opponent making it even tighter and allowing less oxygen for your opponent. So to recap the simple steps of the rear naked choke are to first gain back mount. Pass your arm around the front of the neck until your opponents neck is in the crook of the point of the 90 degree angle your bent elbow makes. Bend the other arm so that it is behind the back of your opponents neck or as close as possible. In a technical aspect your forearm should be directly behind the neck to be as tight as possible. Now place the hand of the arm holding the neck through the bracing arm and wrap it around your bicep. This will not only help in pressure but give you very effective control to hold the choke in place. In another bout with title implications, the very tough and grinding Chael Sonnen would look to get back into the mix after a 14-month layoff since his 20+ minute beatdown on current Champion Anderson Silva. In what was Silva’s toughest fight to date in the UFC, Sonnen gave it all he had, landing nearly 300 punches before succumbing to the triangle choke. Stann on the flip side has been active since then, going 3-0 in all three of his middleweight bouts. Stann finished Chris Leben and Jorge Santiago with strikes making his 2011 noteworthy and knocking on the door of a title shot. Many believed the younger, more athletic and powerful Stann would be able to defeat the ring-rusted veteran. That theory went out the window almost immediately. In less than eight minutes of fighting, Chael Sonnen would land 106 strikes on Stann while going 4-6 on takedowns. He would pass into dominant position eight times including the final time that led to the victory in the clip above. As you can see he has trapped the right arm snug to the head of Stann with his own head and his right arm is connected tightly to his left. From my fanpost on the arm triangle: The arm triangle choke is a blood choke submission that basically leaves your opponent strangled between their own shoulder and your arm. Similar to that of the traditional triangle choke which is performed by the legs. That choke is very similar to that of the arm triangle. The choke can also be a side choke. From the side of your opponent using your forearm along with your opponent's own outstretched arm and shoulder, you will cut off the air and blood flow to your opponent. You also want to squeezes a forearm into your opponent's neck to better accomplish the submission. If done effectively the choke will take just moments to take effect because of its ability to cut off the blood flow on both sides of the neck. With both sides and arteries cut off, it will be seconds before the tap out comes or your opponent falls unconscious. As you can see on the clip above, Chael has the arm and head trapped within the arm triangle but he is sitting on the wrong side of side control. To finish from there it would take a high amount of energy and unreal power. While possible, it is highly unlikely. Chael makes it look real easy when he simply hops over the torso of Stann into the opposite side control where it becomes very easy to finish the hold. The reason that this is so easy is that Stann is looking to plant his feet on the cage to explode from beneath Chael Sonnen. Bad timing and overall just bad luck to have your feet ready to escape -- only to have your opponent sink the choke tighter simultaneously. Stann tries to fight through it as Sonnen abandons cutting the angle and just uses his leverage and power to really dig deep the shoulder into the choke. Stann has his arm pinned in defense of the choke but it really is only a matter of time before the tap comes and Sonnen is once again the top contender in the middleweight division. The submissions were few from UFC 136 but they were also very crucial to the winners as they both made huge statements in their respective division. Sound off Maniacs, were you impressed with the ease Sonnen beat Stann and Lauzon upset Guillard?

Posted in: fight, opponent, arm, guillard, lauzon

Joe Lauzon's third video blog (facebook)

submitted by TimoZ [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: video blog, blog, joe lauzon, lauzon, timoz

Joe Lauzon: “I wasn’t going to be intimidated. I wasn’t going to be bullied.”

From the first time UFC lightweight Joe Lauzon stepped into the Octagon has known what it’s like to be counted out before the bell sounds. A 22-year old serving as a stepping stone for returning champion Jens Pulver, “J-Lau” shocked the MMA community by leaving “Little Evil” in a heap before the first minute of the fight had even expired. Lauzon found himself in a similar position again nearly five years to the day after his upset win over Pulver when facing Melvin Guillard this past Saturday night at UFC 136. Guillard, who had won five straight entering the bout and was seen as a possible contender for the title, was a 3:1 favorite over the Massachusetts native. However, similar to his showing in 2006, Lauzon wasn’t intimidated and came away with an equally fast win. Lauzon Predicts “Great Fight” with Guillard at UFC 136 The Ultimate Fighter 5 alumnus has since opened up about his “Submission of the Night” finish of Guillard and credited his gameplan, as well as mindset in general, for the roles they played in bringing a victory home from Houston. “He is two entirely different fighters when he’s coming forward versus when someone else is coming forward. We said basically no matter what, even if I was getting my butt beat, I was going to come forward. I couldn’t ever, ever, ever start stepping backward and start letting him come forward,” Lauzon explained in a conversation with Sherdog. “I wasn’t going to be intimidated. I wasn’t going to be bullied. Regardless of what he threw at me, I was throwing back the entire time.” As dedicated as Lauzon was to successfully completing the challenge at hand, he also admitted he didn’t feel as though Guillard shared the same level of focus and may have lost as a result of the mental lapse. “I didn’t feel like he was giving me the credit I deserved at all,” revealed Lauzon. “Not that I felt disrespected, but I thought that he took the fight way too lightly. He was at the Fan Expo. He was doing signings the day of the fight. He was running around calling himself the champ already. He was already talking about what he was going to do after he knocks me out. For me, I focus on the fight. I never, ever, ever want to talk about what I’m going to do after a fight because you just never know. For him to already be jumping to so many conclusions, I had a really, really good feeling and it got better and better with every day that passed.” Apparently his confidence was not the only thing improving on a daily basis – Lauzon himself is too. The victory over Guillard improved his overall record to 21-6 with all of his wins involving some form of stoppage. It was his second consecutive instance of in-ring success and his sixth straight event-specific bonus. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: fight, ’t, guillard, lauzon, wasn

For UFC 136 winner Joe Lauzon, confidence came from Melvin Guillard's cockiness

The more Joe Lauzon learned about his opponent's pre-fight camp, the more cockiness he saw from Melvin Guillard, and the increasing number of boastful predictions he read from him, the more confident he grew. While few people gave him much of a chance against the fast-rising lightweight contender, Lauzon said he found himself in a great mindset. "I had so much confidence going into the fight," Lauzon told MMAjunkie.com Radio. "I don't think I've ever had that much confidence for a fight."

Posted in: mmajunkie.com radio, melvin guillard, joe lauzon, lauzon, pre-fight camp

Lauzon: Guillard Not the Same Fighter When You Move Forward

After studying footage of Melvin Guillard, Joe Lauzon decided he had to take the fight to him when they met Saturday at UFC 136.

Posted in: ufc, melvin guillard, guillard, joe lauzon, lauzon

Read the full article at Sherdog

UFC 136 Results: Great Expectations Beget Great Disappointment for the Lightweight Division Beyond Edgar

We thought for sure UFC 136 would clear up the 155 picture. Many, myself included, thought we'd finally get a definitive outcome following Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard III, and going into the 4th, we weren't. Thankfully Edgar steered us away from that particular boat. But everything else would work itself out. Melvin Guillard and Anthony Pettis were obvious favorites against Joe Lauzon and Jeremy Stephens, respectively. All they had to do was win. That, of course, didn't happen. In fact, it anti-happened (I'm starting to realize that the more you write, the lazier you get, and the more creative you try to be without actually being, ya know, creative). Melvin Guillard didn't just lose. He lost impressively. Lost in such a way that offended some fans, including Dana White, who thinks Guillard still has an attitude problem. Which is semi-valid. Guillard made his way to the cage like he was "ready to walk out, instead of walking in" (Dana's words via MMAFighting). Once the fight started he appeared overly aggressive, throwing wild kicks, and acting as if the KO would be handed to him. Lauzon stayed composed, caught Guillard with left hookish punch, and used his "little jiu jitsu". The fight turned into a NAGA tournament after all. Perhaps these words, coming from Melvin himself, were karmic. Not respecting different aspects of MMA is the same as not respecting the different ways you can lose. The other piece of the 155 coin was Anthony Pettis. He was given the perfect opponent: a fighter who would stand with him, and wouldn't be the wrestling threat like Clay Guida that was said to be his kryptonite. Pettis would end up 1-1 going into the 3rd, and Stephens made it a dog fight on the mat, where he scored takedowns with relative consistency. It's as if Pettis took two steps back in his career. Unlike Guillard, Pettis didn't drop the ball completely. He won, and that's what matters. But with so much hype foisted upon him following his win over Henderson, and potential title shot looming on the horizon, the Pettis bubble feels like it has burst. As an optimist, I suspect a fight with Joe Lauzon will be just what Pettis needs to get everyone's attention again (in a fight I think he can and should win: Lauzon is still a front runner until he can prove otherwise). Still, Lauzon wasn't even "in the mix" before the Guillard fight. Which means Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson will be official contenders assuming Gilbert Melendez doesn't receive the shot first. The Melendez fight is the one Dana seems to want. But in talking to Ariel Helwani, the fact that he's in Strikeforce with a title defense scheduled for December might make things difficult. Dana White has been known to change his mind, and so I wouldn't be surprised if he's waiting for either Guida or Henderson to look impressive in order to reach a decision. I wasn't actually disappointed, for my part. Even in a lackluster fight, Pettis is still engaging to watch. And I think a return to Jacksons can put Guillard back on track. But perhaps even more bizarre is considering who has stood up in these tough times for LW. Stephens nearly replaced Pettis for contendership. Lauzon replaced Guillard. Henderson replaced Miller. Could Cerrone replace Siver at UFC 137? Could Dos Anjos, having replaced George Sotiropoulas, get into this mix with a win over Tibau? The lightweight division is still a mess, but what a glorious mess it is.

Posted in: fight, petti, dana, guillard, lauzon

Read the full article at Head Kick Legend

Melvin Guillard vs Joe Lauzon. Watch it while its up.

submitted by BlackManistan [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: vs, joe, guillard, melvin, lauzon

[spoiler] Guillard on Lauzon's Jiu-Jitsu

submitted by Virgin_Headquarters [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: guillard, lauzon, spoiler, _headquarter

UFC 136 Results Recap: Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon

In the PPV opener at UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III, Joe Lauzon upset Melvin Guillard. Guillard came in the heavy favorite, presumed to be on his way to a Lightweight title shot. But Joe Lauzon proved to be the spoiler once again, submitting Guillard in under a minute with a rear naked choke. This loss snaps Guillard's five fight win streak and brings Lauzon's record up to 21-6. The fight drew a number of comparisons to Joe Lauzon vs. Jen Pulver, and for good reason. In both fights, the pre-fight emphasis was on Lauzon's opponent, with Lauzon seeming to serve as little more than a pause on the way to greater things. But in both fights, Lauzon came up strong, and served to spoil those plans in less than a minute. Against Guillard, Lauzon connected with a punch to drop The Young Assassin, then jumped all over him on the ground, locking on the rear naked choke and working to sink it in. Guillard tapped just 47 seconds into the fight. What was the high spot of this fight? The entire ending sequence is great - from Lauzon landing the unlikely knockdown punch, to his excellent ground work to secure the submission. Where do these guys go from here? This is a HUGE win for Lauzon, one that rescues him from moderate obscurity in his last few fights and puts him back into the picture. His recent losses will keep him out of the title scene for now, but this should give him a good outing next time. He'd make a great opponent for Anthony Pettis in my opinion. Guillard finds himself in the same position as George Sotiropolous earlier this year - where everything was pushing towards the top of the division, but then one big loss crashes it all back down. Lightweight is so tough that he'll need some real rebuilding. Perhaps the loser of Dennis Siver vs. Donald Cerrone at UFC 137 would work. Watch it now, later, or never? Now. Seriously, it's 47 seconds and features a shock upset submission victory. Just watch it already. More BE coverage of UFC 136 in the full entry. UFC 136 Results: Post-Hangover Thoughts and Reactions - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Results: Frankie Edgar Embodies Rocky's Message in Win Over Gray Maynard - Leland Roling UFC 136 Results: Aldo vs. Florian, Phan vs. Garcia FightMetric Reports - Mike Fagan UFC 136 Results: Chael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva II Will Produce Massive Interest Despite Skepticism - Leland Roling UFC 136 Results: Dana White Says Frankie Edgar Is Top 2 Pound-for-Pound, Wants Him to Face Jose Aldo - Anton Tabuena UFC 136 Results: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard Post-Fight Recap and Analysis - Mike Fagan UFC 136 Results: Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian Fight Video Highlights UFC 136 Results: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard 3 Fight Video Highlights Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 88: UFC 136 Results Review UFC 136 Results: Frankie Edgar Stops Gray Maynard In Four - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Live Results and Play-by-Play for PPV Fights - Brent Brrokhouse UFC 136 Results: Jose Aldo Decisions Kenny Florian - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Results: Chael Sonnen Challenges Anderson Silva After Dominating Brian Stann - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Results: Nam Phan Wins Decision Over Leonard Garcia - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Results: Joe Lauzon Makes Quick Work of Melvin Guillard - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Live Results and Play-by-Play For Spike TV Fights - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Results: Demian Maia Decisions Jorge Santiago - Leland Roling UFC 136 Results: Anthony Pettis Narrowly Edges Jeremy Stephens - Leland Roling UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Live Results and Play-by-Play for Facebook Fights - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Results: Stipe Miocic Makes Successful Debut, Edges Joey Beltran - Leland Roling UFC 136 Results: Darren Elkins Out Grapples Tiequan Zhang, Wins Decision - Leland Roling UFC 136 Results: Aaron Simpson Dominates Eric Schafer - Leland Roling UFC 136 Results: Mike Massenzio Batters Steve Cantwell, Takes Unanimous Decision - Leland Roling

Posted in: ufc, fight, result, vs, lauzon

Guillard's over-confidence cost him, says Lauzon

Joe Lauzon thinks lack of focus was the reason Melvin Guillard lost to him in 47 seconds on Saturday night.Boston man Lauzon was a huge underdog going...

Posted in: guillard, joe lauzon, lauzon, over-confidence cost, night.boston

Read the full article at Fighters Only

Joe Lauzon Submits Melvin Guillard

Lightweight contender Melvin Guillard was submitted by Joe Lauzon in a shocking upset as the 4-to-1 favorite was dropped by a punch and easily submitted via rear-naked choke. The quick 47-second submission win also gave Lauzon a nice $75,000 Submission of the Night bonus, along with respect from MMA fans that overlooked the experienced fighter. “He was at the expo today,” Lauzon recalled after winning against Guillard. “I was back in the hotel room taking it easy and relaxing because I knew I had to attend to business tonight. I definitely think he was overlooking the whole entire thing. He was definitely looking past me. But I like being in that position. I hope everyone overlooks me like that.” I believe Lauzon was drastically overlooked — and Guillard was far too overconfident — which led to an impressive showing from the New England-based fighter.

Posted in: guillard, joe lauzon, lauzon, england-based fighter, night bonus

Read the full article at MMA Opinion

UFC 136 results recap: Joe Lauzon vs Melvin Guillard fight review and analysis

47 seconds. That's how long it took for Melvin Guillard's hype train to get completely derailed last night (October 8, 2011) and for a potential title shot to slip through his fingers. Nearly everyone and their momma picked Guillard to not only win that fight, but to win via knockout in the first round. So how did Joe Lauzon pull off the upset at UFC 136 despite being a 3-1 underdog according to most gambling sites? What glaring mistake did Guillard make that "J-Lau" took advantage of to help him seize victory? And what in the world do we do with both fighters now? From the way he talked about getting the fastest knockout in UFC history, how he stated Lauzon wilts under pressure, it was apparent that Guillard fully expected to steamroll Joe Lauzon last night. He exploded out of the gate throwing heavy power strikes with every punch attempted, even throwing a flying knee early and then dropping both hands to flex and taunt the Bostonian on the way out. When Guillard dropped both hands to throw another heavy lead left hook that seemed to be so looping that it started from below his belt line, Lauzon simply beat him to the punch with a short left hand right to the nose that temporarily stunned him. You can see how completely exposed Guillard was in this position, giving up all his defense in an effort to put everything he had into his punch. Guillard is absolutely stunned when Lauzon hit him, even though it wasn't the most powerful strike in the world. Joe Lauzon is the type of fighter that does everything at 100 miles an hour. When he staggered Guillard with that left hand, he immediately went in for the kill, chasing "The Young Assassin" down. When Guillard left himself exposed in a sprawl attempt, Lauzon immediately took advantage and spun to his back, getting both hooks in within seconds. Notice how quickly Lauzon transitions to take advantage of his opponent's weakened state, latching on a rear naked choke, rolling Guillard over and putting his hips into the submission to make it even tighter. Before Guillard even realizes what is happening, he's finding himself tapping out to a man that he was absolutely certain he would be rendering unconscious that night. For Melvin Guillard, things couldn't get much worse. Many were talking about him being next in line for a title shot but that's completely out the window now. He had all the tools to keep this fight standing against Lauzon and blast him with his superior power but he blew it by not taking his opponent seriously. Perhaps the hype got to his head but Guillard had no respect for Joe Lauzon's striking last night and it cost him dearly. You can't drop your defenses against anyone, especially a man like Joe Lauzon who's famous for blitzing people in the first round. If the UFC brass still see Guillard as a viable title contender, he'll get a tough fight next against someone like Gray Maynard or perhaps Jim Miller. If they want to rebuild him again, he could get someone like the loser of the upcoming Donald Cerrone vs. Dennis Siver fight or Ross Pearson. Either way, he hurt his chances for contending in 2012 dearly last night. Give all the credit in the world to Joe Lauzon. He remained composed early when Guillard was throwing heavy power strikes in his direction and not only weathered the storm but fired back and connected. Lauzon didn't waste any time either. When he had Guillard hurt, he swarmed him and took care of business. That's how a fighter is supposed to handle themselves in the cage. It was the biggest victory in his career, by far, much bigger than the Jens Pulver upset in his UFC debut. The next logical opponent for "J-Lau" would be someone who's also coming off a win who's working their way back to the top of the division, someone like Anthony Pettis or fellow Ultimate Fighter season five castmate Matt Wiman. If the UFC is really high on him, they could throw him in against the winner of the upcoming Donald Cerrone vs. Dennis Siver fight. Either way, Lauzon has officially arrived. So what did you think, Maniacs? Was Lauzon the better fighter? Or did Guillard let a golden opportunity slip through his fingers by taking a fighter lightly? Sound off! For complete UFC 136 results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire pay-per-view (PPV) event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here. All gifs by Zombie Prophet via IronForgesIron.com.

Posted in: ufc, joe, guillard, joe lauzon, lauzon

UFC 136 bonuses: Edgar, Lauzon, Phan and Garcia earn $75,000 awards (MMAJunkie.com)

HOUSTON – Frankie Edgar, Joe Lauzon, Nam Phan and Leonard Garcia each earned $75,000 fight-night bonuses...

Posted in: joe lauzon, lauzon, leonard garcia, nam phan, garcia

Read the full article at Yahoo! Sports

Despite massive upset, UFC 136's Joe Lauzon doesn't consider it his greatest hit

HOUSTON - Sure, it was an especially sweet victory. He upset a fighter who was on his way to a title shot and turned the lopsided fights odds on their head. It's surely a performance for his greatest-hits collection. But for UFC 136 winner Joe Lauzon, his main-card upset of Melvin Guillard isn't his signature career performance.

Posted in: title shot, lauzon, performance, fights odds, greatest-hits collection

Joe Lauzon on His Win Over Melvin Guillard ‘It’s So Much Better That I Dropped Him First’

Joe Lauzon talks to MMAWeekly.com about his win over Melvin Guillard and how much better the win was after tagging his opponent with a punch to bring about the end of the fight.

Posted in: joe, melvin guillard, guillard, joe lauzon, lauzon

UFC 136 Bonuses: Edgar, Lauzon, Phan, and Garcia Earn $75K Awards

UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar, Joe Lauzon, Nam Phan, and Leonard Garcia each earned $75,000 bonuses for their performances at Saturday’s UFC 136 event in Houston, Texas, the UFC announced at the post-fight press conference. Edgar scored UFC 136′s “Knockout of the Night” after dropping challenger Gray Maynard in the fourth and finishing him with punches after nearly being finished in the opening round for the second-straight fight. Lauzon stunned lightweight contender Melvin Guillard for UFC 136′s “Submission of the Night” after forcing “The Young Assassin” to tap to a rear naked choke just 47-seconds into the opening round to kick off the pay-per-view main card. Phan and Garcia earned “Fight of the Night” for their back-and-forth rematch, as Phan outpointed Garcia in an exciting unanimous decision to avenge his controversial December loss that also earned FOTN honors. UFC 136 drew a sellout crowd of 16,164 to the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas for a live gate of $2.3 million. MORE: UFC 136 Results, Recaps, and Play-by-Play for “Edgar vs. Maynard” Pictured: Joe Lauzon

Posted in: ufc, opening round, lauzon, edgar, garcia

.gif of Guillard vs Lauzon[Spoiler]

submitted by BlueWg [link] [4 comments]

Posted in: vs, guillard, gif, lauzon, bluewg

UFC 136 Results: Sonnen Submits Stann, Lauzon Stuns Guillard, Phan Outpoints Garcia

Chael Sonnen returned to the Octagon at UFC 136 following a 14-month and showed no rust as he dominated Brian Stann on the ground before finishing him with an arm triangle to likely earn a rematch with middleweight champion Anderson Silva. In the first bout on UFC 136′s pay-per-view main card, Joe Lauzon stunned lightweight contender Melvin Guillard with a rear naked choke in just 47-seconds. Also on the main card, Nam Phan outpointed Leonard Garcia in an exciting unanimous decision to avenge his controversial loss in December. The UFC 136 main card results were: Chael Sonnen def. Brian Stann via submission (arm triangle) – Round 2, 3:51 Nam Phan def. Leonard Garcia via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Joe Lauzon def. Melvin Guillard via submission (rear naked choke) – Round 1, 0:47

Posted in: ufc, arm triangle, brian stann, chael sonnen, lauzon

Joe Lauzon: Melvin Guillard Was 'Overconfident' at UFC 136

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosHOUSTON -- MMA Fighting caught up with Joe Lauzon after his upset win over Melvin Guillard at UFC 136. Lauzon talks about Guillard's behavior before the fight, his own performance in the first round and what's next for him. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, melvin guillard, guillard, joe lauzon, lauzon

Joe Lauzon just shocked the entire friggin’ MMA world

Before Joe Lauzon vs. Melvin Guillard went down at UFC 136, I mentioned that according to 'Demolition Man,' the last murder in California happened on September 25, 2010. If Melvin Guillard is MMA's equivalent of Simon Phoenix, then tonight was Joe Lauzon was undoubtedly Sly Stalonne -- but with enlarged ears. Seriously, if some sage decended to earth and told you that Joe Lauzon would outstrike Melvin Guillard so much that he would get rocked, then effortlessly rear naked choke him in the first round -- then you would obviously have to believe whatever that guy says for the rest of your life. You would most likely get that guy's phone number and ask him what the lottery numbers are for tonight. Props to Reddit's own Joe Lauzon on jumbling up the lightweight picture even more than what it already is. Now that Melvin Guillard's potential title shot has been delayed, this can only pave the way for Gilbert Melendez to get a shot against the winner of Edgar vs. Maynard. Or at least LayzieTheSavage hopes it will.

Posted in: joe, melvin guillard, melvin, joe lauzon, lauzon

UFC 136 Results: Joe Lauzon Makes Quick Work of Melvin Guillard

Melvin Guillard said he wasn't worried about Joe Lauzon's "little jiu-jitsu" in the highlight package before their UFC 136 bout. It turned out that he really should have been. Melvin came out aggressively in the first round looking to land a huge strike. He looked reckless but clearly felt that there was no real danger from Lauzon on the feet. Instead, Lauzon managed to land a left hook that staggered Guillard. As Melvin attempted to regain his footing his legs gave out and he fell to the ground. Lauzon wasted no time in taking the back and quickly sunk in his hooks. From there the "little jiu-jitsu" took over and the rear naked choke finished the fight giving Lauzon the huge underdog win. Guillard's title shot hopes were derailed with the loss and Lauzon finds new life through this big victory. With no finishes so far on the card, this puts Joe in prime position to pick up Submission of the Night honors.

Posted in: melvin guillard, guillard, melvin, joe lauzon, lauzon

UFC 136 results: Joe Lauzon submits Melvin Guillard for monster upset win

The UFC 136: "Edgar vs. Maynard 3" pay-per-view main card kicked off tonight (Oct. 8) at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, with Melvin Guillard continuing his quest for a lightweight title shot against Joe Lauzon. Guillard's resume heading into tonight's throwdown showed eight wins in his last nine fights. Making it nine of 10 would surely put him on the fast track to finally contesting for the division crown. If there's an underdog who could spoil his plans, it was Lauzon. A submission savvy stallion who specializes in his opponent's weakness, "J-Lau" had as good a chance as anyone. Which is exactly what he did. Lauzon settled as a -615 underdog for this fight but that didn't matter when he was choking the life out of Guillard until he tapped. Guillard opened up confident and landing shots, even taunting his opponent after rocking him at one point. That proved to be his downfall. "The Young Assassin" walked right into a solid left hand that had him hurt bad enough to give up his back to a submission ace. That's a big mistake, folks. He paid for it ... dearly. Sorry, Melvin, no title shot for you. To check out MMAmania.com's LIVE UFC 136 results post, which includes up-to-the-minute, blow-by-blow coverage of EVERY fight click here.

Posted in: title shot, melvin guillard, guillard, joe lauzon, lauzon

HOLY SHIT!!! JOE LAUZON!

FUCK YEAH! submitted by lolsaurusrex [link] [6 comments]

Posted in: joe, lauzon, lolsaurusrex, shit

Good luck Joe Lauzon!!! [Spoiler/discussion]

His match is live right now against Melvin Guillard. Discussion/Spoiler below. First Round: After a kick by Guillard, Lauzon catches him with a left hook, and a solid punch. Guillard gets rocked and falls back. Lauzon jumps on his back and RNC him. Result: Win by RNC First Round 0:47 submitted by m_le [link] [25 comments]

Posted in: melvin guillard, guillard, lauzon, discussion /spoiler, m _le

UFC 136: Joe Lauzon Submits Melvin Guillard in 47 Seconds

Filed under: UFCIn a significant upset in the UFC's lightweight division, Joe Lauzon stunned Melvin Guillard on Saturday night at UFC 136, needing just 47 seconds to force him to tap. Guillard came out swinging hard as he usually does, but it was Lauzon who surprised Guillard by landing a hard left hand of his own to Guillard's chin, sending Guillard staggering backward. From there it was Lauzon's fight: He pounced on him, sunk in the rear-naked choke and forced Guillard to tap the canvas. It was the biggest win of Lauzon's career. More Coverage: UFC 136 Results | Joe Lauzon vs. Melvin Guillard Live Blog The victory improves Lauzon's record to 21-6, with 17 of his wins coming by submission. The loss drops Guillard to 29-9-2, with eight of his losses coming by submission. There had been a great deal of talk leading up to the fight that Guillard was closing in on a lightweight title shot. Now it may be time to wonder if Lauzon is getting close to a crack at the title. Lauzon puts on good shows, finishes fights, and now he has a victory over a Top 10 opponent. This was a big-time win for Lauzon. %VIRTUAL-Gallery-136100% Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, joe, melvin guillard, guillard, lauzon

UFC 136 Live Blog: Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon Updates

Filed under: UFCHOUSTON -- This is the UFC 136 live blog for Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon, a lightweight bout on tonight's UFC 136 pay-per-view from the Toyota Center. Guillard (29-8-2) has won his last five fights and is coming off huge (T)KOs this year against Evan Dunham and Shane Roller. Lauzon (20-6) won his last fight against Curt Warburton via kimura at a UFC Live event in June. The live blog is below. More Coverage: UFC 136 Results | Latest UFC 136 News Round 1: Guillard is fast and loose. Big uppercut. Lauzon actually stunned him with a strike, and takes his back. Lauzon transitions into the rear naked choke, and just like that, it's over. Winner: Lauzon via rear naked choke submission, Rd.1 (0:47) %VIRTUAL-Gallery-136100% Follow Us on Twitter Friend Us on Facebook Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, blog, guillard, lauzon, twitter friend

UFC 136 fight card: Melvin Guillard title campaign continues against Joe Lauzon

This just in: Melvin Guillard really wants a title shot. He thinks he'll deserve it, too, if he can defeat Joe Lauzon tonight (Sat., Oct. 8, 2011) on the main card of UFC 136: "Edgar vs. Maynard 3" from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. In nine fights since March 2008, Guillard has emerged victorious in all but one of them. Sure, there are names like Ronys Torres and Waylon Lowe on that list. But there are also names like Dennis Siver, Jeremy Stephens and Evan Dunham. "The Young Assassin" has essentially made a mockery of the 155-pound division since aligning himself with Greg Jackson's MMA down in New Mexico. For this fight, though, he broke away to train with former Jackson stalwart, Rashad Evans. Will that have an adverse affect on his planning and game plan, the two things Jackson provided that gave him an edge? That's an important question that could ultimately determine the outcome of this contest. Guillard's gotten himself into trouble in the past by being reckless and too hungry for destruction. The result, as was the case with his lone loss over the past three years, to Nate Diaz, can be disastrous. It's especially prevalent tonight because his Achilles heel, his over-aggressiveness and lack of submission defense, plays right into his opponent's hands. Joe Lauzon is a grappling guru with a propensity for snatching limbs and never letting go. Of his 20 career victories, 16 have come by way of tap, nap or snap. The good news, for Guillard at least, is that "J-Lau" rate of victory drops significantly once the fight gets past the first round. That leaky gas tank can be so pesky. It might be the smart play for Guillard to drag Lauzon into deep waters but it goes against his fight game philosophy -- hit 'em hard, hit 'em fast, hit 'em first. A loss would be devastating, as Guillard is finally right on the cusp of a title shot. And with Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard finally settling their differences later in the evening, an opponent will be needed for whoever wins. Why not Melvin?

Posted in: fight, title shot, guillard, joe lauzon, lauzon

UFC 136 Fight Card Primer: Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon

In this Lightweight fight, two men with title aspirations meet at UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III. Melvin Guillard (29-8-2, 1 NC; 10-4 UFC) faces Joe Lauzon (20-6; 7-3 UFC) in the opening bout on the PPV portion of the card. Guillard is currently ranked #9 at lightweight on the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings, while Lauzon is unranked. The PPV broadcast begins at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. These two Lightweights both come in as Ultimate Fighter veterans, but look to be on very divergent tracks. Guillard is on the way up, finally realizing the potential fans have seen in him for some time. He's closing in on a title shot. Lauzon was just outside the title hunt a few years ago, but has slipped outside the top ranks in recent fights. He'll have the chance to get back on track in a big way here. How do these two stack up? Guillard: 28 years old | 5'9" | 71" reachLauzon: 27 years old | 5'10" | 70" reach What have these two done recently? Guillard: W - Shane Roller (KO) | W - Evan Dunham (TKO) | W - Jeremy Stephens (SD)Lauzon: W - Curt Warburton (Sub) | L - George Sotiropoulos (Sub) | W - Gabe Ruediger (Sub) How did these two get here? Melvin Guillard was introduced to fans as a loud-mouthed youngster on the second season of The Ultimate Fighter. Guillard fought extensively on the southern regional circuit before coming to the UFC. He went 3-2 in his first 5 UFC fights, then was suspended for testing positive for cocaine. In mid-2009 he mounted a real comeback to the UFC and has gone 6-1 since. He now trains with Greg Jackson, and looks the best he has in his career. Joe Lauzon was brought in to the UFC in 2006 as a can for the returning Jen Pulver to smash. That didn't happen, as Lauzon upset Pulver in just 47 seconds. After a stint on The Ultimate Fighter season 5, Lauzon earned some good wins and began main eventing Fight Night shows. After a solid 5-1 UFC record, Lauzon missed almost a year of action in 2009, and is just 2-2 since coming back. He's definitely been lost in the tough Lightweight shuffle, and needs to find some consistent wins. Why should you care? For Guillard especially, this is a major step towards a title shot, while Lauzon will desperately fight to spoil that rise. Both men always bring excitement as well - 6 of Lauzon's last 7 have won a bonus, and Guillard is always capable of ending a fight with the Knockout of the Night. Should be a good one here. More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 136 after the jump. UFC 136 Judo Chop: The Striking of Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard - Fraser Coffeen UFC 136 Preview - Melvin Guillard Gunning for Knockout Bonus - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 136 Video - Bruce Buffer: 'You Can't Announce the Way I Announce If You're Not Into It' - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Live Weigh-In Video and Results - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Video: Frankie Edgar Says Belt Proves He Belongs at Lightweight - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Bloody Elbow Staff Predictions UFC 136 Preview: Melvin Guillard Says Joe Lauzon Folds Under Pressure - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Chael Sonnen Denies Gameplanning for Brian Stann - Mike Fagan UFC 136: Frankie Edgar Talks Gray Maynard, Jose Aldo - Mike Fagan UFC 136: Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon Dissection - Dallas Winston Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 87: UFC 136 Preview UFC 136: Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 136: Time Aplenty for Chael Sonnen Despite Competition for Contention - Leland Roling UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III Betting Lines - Tim Burke UFC 136: Spike TV Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 136: Did Promotion Need More Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann? - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Jose Aldo's Second Chance to Destroy Foolish Assumptions - Leland Roling UFC 136: A Running Diary of Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard II - Mike Fagan UFC 136 Pre-Fight Press Conference Video and Updates - Tim Burke UFC State of the Union: UFC 136 and the Lightweight Division - Fraser Coffeen Countdown to UFC 136 Video UFC 136: Melvin Guillard's Continuing Quest for a Title Shot - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Preview: Looking Back at Edgar vs. Maynard 2 Highlights and Reaction - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Facebook Undercard Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 136: Dana White Video Blog, Day 1

Posted in: ufc, vs, guillard, lauzon, edgar

UFC136 Joe Lauzon Video Blog #2

submitted by JoeLauzonDotCom [link] [comment]

Posted in: ufc, video, blog, lauzon, joelauzondotcom

UFC Results: Joe Lauzon ends Melvin Guillard's streak in Round 1

Melvin Guillard dropped out of the UFC Lightweight title shot race courtesy of Joe Lauzon's first round Rear Naked Choke submission victory. The Young Asassin opened aggressively, but it was Lauzon who connected first with a strong left hook. Dazed Melvin Guillard lost his balance, as Lauzon went for the kill on the ground. Guillard quickly found himself defending Lauzon's Rear Naked Choke attempt and his five-fight winning streak inside the Octagon. The choke went deep, as Melvinn Guillard had no choice

Posted in: melvin guillard, guillard, joe lauzon, lauzon, melvinn guillard

UFC 136's Melvin Guillard promises knockout of undersized Joe Lauzon (MMAJunkie.com)

HOUSTON – Melvin Guillard (29-8-2 MMA, 10-4 UFC) is grateful to Joe Lauzon (20-6 MMA, 7-3 UFC) for...

Posted in: ufc, melvin guillard, melvin, joe lauzon, lauzon

Read the full article at Yahoo! Sports

This is how Joe Lauzon prays.

submitted by withextracheese [link] [comment]

Posted in: joe, joe lauzon, lauzon, withextracheese

UFC 136 Preview: Melvin Guillard Says Joe Lauzon Folds Under Pressure

Melvin Guillard is looking to continue his quest to get a lightweight title shot when he steps into the cage to face Joe Lauzon at UFC 136. Guillard will be the heavy favorite to get the victory as he currently sits at anywhere from -350 to -440 on gambling websites. Luke Thomas had a chance to talk to Melvin on MMA Nation Radio and Guillard made it very clear that he doesn't feel like Lauzon can handle fighters who pressure him: Luke Thomas: How do you think Joe Lauzon responds to physical punishment? Melvin Guillard: Man, you know what? All I know is the guys that I did see him fight, when guys were just as scrappy or when guys get in his face, he folded under pressure. He's one of those guys that will try to impose his will early but when that doesn't work, he looks for a way out. With me, I know damn well he ain't about to come impose his will on me. That ain't happening. I'm definitely gonna impose my will and I'm gonna try to beat my record of a minute and a half this fight. I knocked Shane Roller out in a minute and a half and I'm gonna try to beat that record. I'm gonna try for the quickest knockout ever. Hopefully I can just walk and punch him in the face and he just falls. You can read the full transcript of the interview (or listen to the audio, if that's your thing) over at MMA Nation. I think Guillard is spot on though. Other than the Jeremy Stephens fight, Lauzon has not done well against pressure fighters, and as I covered the other day, the guys Joe has been beating in the UFC aren't exactly world beaters. It seems crazy to say it given what everyone thought about both men just a few years ago, but Guillard is likely just out of Lauzon's class. Don't forget to check out Dallas Winston's great breakdown of the Lauzon/Guillard fight right here on Bloody Elbow.

Posted in: guy, melvin guillard, guillard, melvin, lauzon

UFC 136: Joe Lauzon Believes His Submissions are Melvin Guillard’s Kryptonite

Despite being the underdog at UFC 136, Joe "J-Lau" Lauzon believes he possesses Melvin Guillard's Kryptonite... his submissions.

Posted in: ufc, submission, melvin guillard, lauzon, kryptonite

UFC 136 video blog with Joe Lauzon

"J-Lau" takes on Melvin Guillard in lightweight action at UFC 136 this Saturday night (Oct. 8) from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Anyone predicting upset? Or just upset at how badly Lauzon will be thrashed?

Posted in: saturday night, melvin guillard, joe lauzon, lauzon, toyota center

UFC 136's Melvin Guillard promises knockout on undersized Joe Lauzon

HOUSTON - Melvin Guillard is grateful to Joe Lauzon for fighting him at UFC 136 because, apparently, the line of willing opponents was pretty short. "A lot of guys turned down the fight, so I respect Joe," Guillard said. "He's a very dangerous guy, and he's very talented. Does he present any problems for me? Yes, if I allow him to." The thing is, Guillard is not planning on that. Just like other grappling specialists on his recent resume, he's planning to blast Lauzon into orbit.

Posted in: melvin guillard, guillard, joe lauzon, lauzon, blast lauzon

For you Joe Lauzon. This is Guillard's 7 out of 8 losses. You know what you have to do at UFC 136. From all of us at Reddit, good luck.

submitted by dp517 [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: ufc, loss, joe lauzon, lauzon, reddit

this is why r/mma loves Joe Lauzon.

submitted by tIMBYY [link] [9 comments]

Posted in: r /mma, /mma, joe lauzon, lauzon, timbyy

Joe Lauzon Believes Melvin Guillard Is Underestimating Him; Pays Tribute to Steve Jobs

There's a lot of talk about Melvin Guillard getting a title shot if he wins at UFC 136, but there's an obstacle in his way, and that is Joe Lauzon.

Posted in: title shot, melvin guillard, joe lauzon, lauzon, steve jobs

UFC 136's Lauzon wary of foe's striking but thinks he's bad matchup for Guillard

HOUSTON - Gone are the days of true "striker vs. grappler" affairs at the UFC level, and UFC 136's Joe Lauzon is quite aware of that fact. But his main-card matchup with Melvin Guillard appears about close as one can get - see Lauzon's three "Submission of the Night" victories in his past five fights vs. Guillard's seven (out of eight total) career losses via tapout. So Lauzon's strategy for Saturday night's event at Houston's Toyota Center should be no shocker. The 27-year-old jiu-jitsu specialist said he knows the task won't be easy, but he's willing to go out on his shield making an effort.

Posted in: ufc, guillard, lauzon, toyota center, career losses

UFC 136: Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon Dissection

The UFC 136: Maynard vs. Edgar III lightweight showdown between Melvin Guillard and Joe Lauzon bears a fairly uncommon age-to-experience ratio. At age twenty-eight, "The Young Assassin" boasts a startling forty fights on his record (29-8-2, 1 No Contest overall; 10-4 UFC record) after nearly a decade in the sport; twenty-seven year old Lauzon clocks in twenty-six fights (20-6 overall; 7-3 UFC record) and over seven years in the cage. Guillard emerged as an unguided missile with fiery kickboxing and undeniable athleticism and instincts, which Greg Jackson has now whittled into more polished and controlled machinery. Lauzon made pre-TUF waves with his violently aggressive submission armory coupled with boxing adequate enough to vanquish former lightweight champ Jens Pulver. Both fighters have demonstrated superiority over the mid-level talent in the stacked 155-pound class but struggled against the division's elite. From a rankings standpoint, though beyond his control, Guillard has pieced together a sturdy five-fight hitch while winning eight of his last nine, but almost every opponent was ranked beneath him, prohibiting his ascension despite his clear improvement and surge in momentum. Compensating for defeats to the upper echelon (Kenny Florian, Sam Stout, George Sotiropoulos), Lauzon has been a prodigious finisher against his remaining opponents (5 subs, 2 TKOs). Gifs and analysis in the full entry. There's no magic to this striker vs. grappler match up, which drastically favors Melvin Guillard. His blinding barrage of head-cleaving stand up has been supercharged with fundamentally sound footwork, balance, takedown defense and slippery scrambling skills. He's maintained his massive power while eliminating the bad habit of over-committing and losing his balance. Even in the two risky jumping kicks to the right, Guillard stays upright with his footing underneath him. In the past, Guillard's raw strength and agility was usually enough to avoid being taken down or held there, but that same natural talent simply propels him further now that it's conjoined with bulletproof technique. Though once again flirting with danger by dropping his hands and letting Roller corner him against the fence, Guillard wisely swipes his combination low to counter a potential level drop but ends up catching Roller's chin instead. This leaves him a prime target for well placed punches but his iron-clad chin (no TKO losses) has yet to waver. Guillard adheres to the same, simple strategy against yet another aspiring takedown artist in Evan Dunham. First we see the graceful dexterity of Guillard bouncing on his toes lightly while exploding into range with picture-perfect punches. The importance of balance factors in when Dunham doggedly pursues the single and Guillard blasts him with hammer-fists after sitting back on Dunham's shoulders. When Dunham sneakily transitions from the single to the rear waist cinch, check out Guillard's unbelievable balance to stay on his feet and his intelligent hand-fighting to keep Dunham from taking his back; which he's done successfully in many of his fights from the standing position. To Dunham's credit, he ends up putting Melvin on his back in the sequence above, but Guillard's other shiny new toy negated the takedown. Guillard has become eerily comfortable in butt-scooting away to put his back on the fence and use it to stand. If his legs aren't free, he shifts to a feisty double butterfly guard and thrusts on his opponent's hips to create the necessary space. Smooth as silk, Melvin glides into range (left) and pops Dunham with his KFC-crisp combo to wrap it up. Though only billed as a purple belt in BJJ, Joe Lauzon menacingly snatches his submissions with the aggressive mentality of a catch wrestler more than the fluidity of a BJJ player. What's made it difficult to apply his strength is the lack of a reputable wrestling pedigree. However, I like the way Lauzon has filled that hole, which is to be just as effective in grounding the fight by way of ruthlessly cast punches. Like any grappler welcoming the takedown, Lauzon takes full advantage by throwing every ounce of power he has into his punches at close range. After sending Curt Warburton sailing to the canvas, Lauzon unleashes his fury from the top. J-Lau has about the same level of ceaseless ferocity on the mat that Guillard has standing. His pace is blindingly frenetic yet he rarely sacrifices technique because of it. Amidst the hail of vicious ground and pound, Lauzon shows some serious cage savvy by blasting a knee to the body; probably the most criminally under-used technique on the ground in MMA. The barely discernible pretzel that Lauzon twists Warburton into has been dubbed "The Trimura" in the Bloody Elbow Judo Chop breaking down the wizardry. Lauzon latches the figure-four grip to apply insurmountable pressure on the shoulder while stabilizing Warburton with his leg position. Once he clamps his feet it's a literal tap-or-snap situation. Despite his admirable improvement, Guillard's seven submission losses still glare brightly on his record. He's in a world of hurt if Lauzon can get him (and keep him) on the mat. Unfortunately, Lauzon's tendencies when pressured with punches and absence of significant takedown skills make this a horrible match up. To the left against George Sotiropoulos, you can see Lauzon get caught a little flat-footed on the advance with his chin far too unprotected. Offensively, Lauzon is a serious threat with punches, so I wouldn't rule out the chances of him catching Guillard. It's his defensive lapses that don't bode well. Lauzon does pose a threat to lock up the clinch or a takedown merely through his assertiveness. He does have good quickness and his long frame allows him to cover a lot of ground, but most of that prowess lies in straight-line motion rather than the subtle angles and pivots that Guillard will throw his way. This was the only fight on the card that I felt 100% confident in picking. If I've learned anything, it's that the feeling should elicit bells and whistles for an impending upset. It seems like the most shocking wins accompany that type of assurance in the outcome. Lauzon's ideal approach is to tone down his raucous advances to incorporate more technical footwork and better striking defense. His balls-out punching style might be better adapted to catch Guillard because of it's power and unpredictability. Additionally, his full-bore grappling pace should be tempered to include a fixation on controlling Guillard if he can get him down. Normally, he'll devour any opportunity to sweep, pass guard or lock a submission, but that approach leaves Guillard the chance to use his clever scrambling wit to stand back up. Lauzon can't afford to start over if he can ground the fight and should endeavor to finish out the round in that position rather than risk an escape. Guillard is the clear pick because he just has to do exactly what he's been doing, which seems to get better and better with each showing. My Prediction: Melvin Guillard by TKO Lauzon vs. Warburton gifs via The Bloody Elbow grappling team All others via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com Poll Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon Melvin Guillard Joe Lauzon 5 votes | Results

Posted in: dunham, punch, guillard, melvin, lauzon

UFC136 Joe Lauzon's Video Blog #1

submitted by Avertr [link] [comment]

Posted in: ufc, video, blog, lauzon, avertr

Melvin Guillard Dubs Himself 'Jiu-Jitsu Killer' Prior to Fight With Joe Lauzon

Filed under: UFC, NewsHOUSTON -- It's a rarity when a fighter willingly gives up his game plan before fight night, but Joe Lauzon has made no secret that his No. 1 aim is to take Melvin Guillard to the mat and submit him. All four of Guillard's losses in the UFC have come by way of tapout, the last coming as recently as two years ago. And most see Guillard's ground game as his one area of weakness. But Guillard thinks he has that problem solved. The surging UFC lightweight -- a winner of five straight bouts -- said on Thursday that those troubles are behind him. In fact, he said Lauzon would need to pull off a Houdini-like magic act to get him to tap at UFC 136. As evidence, Guillard (29-8-2, 1 no decision) pointed to his two most recent performances, against Shane Roller and Evan Dunham respectively. Both fighters are considered grapplers, but Guillard blew through both with first-round knockouts. And though he acknowledged that Lauzon -- who boasts 16 of his 20 career victories via submission -- does present some dangerous possibilities, he predicted another knockout win. "They're going to call me the 'Jiu-Jitsu Killer' when I'm done with Lauzon," he said. For his part, Lauzon said some of Guillard's recent comments make him feel a bit overlooked. "I think he's being a little bit arrogant acting like it's a done deal," said Lauzon (20-6). "We still have to fight." Lauzon full well knows that for him to get the fight to the ground, he's going to have to wade into dangerous territory. Guillard is one of the few lightweights with true one-shot knockout power, a gift he's flashed repeatedly throughout his six-year tenure in the UFC. But things have seemed to truly gel for Guillard over the last two years. Since moving camps to Team Greg Jackson in New Mexico, he's started a nice streak, winning five straight. He also seems to have shored up some of his shortcomings and found more comfort in the cage, allowing him to let his hands and feet fly without fear of what might happen if he goes to the ground. That confidence will serve him well against Lauzon, who has won eight nightly bonus awards for his fearless aggression even in the face of risk. Despite Guillard's power, he'll take the same philosophy to battle on Saturday. "If I can't get the fight down, I'm going out on my shield," he said. "I'm going to do my best to get the fight to the ground. If I find I can't get it, I'm going to keep working at it. I'm going to have to throw punches the entire time. The days are gone when you can just shoot on a guy from way out and take him down. Melvin's a great wrestler. He's not going to give up any easy takedowns. I'm going to have to fight for every one. I could get clipped going in for a takedown, I could get clipped trying to set it up with my punches. There's a lot of things that could happen but we're definitely looking to get it down." Lauzon said that if worse came to worse, he would stand and trade with Guillard with the hopes that his punches, which he considers straighter, would land faster than Guillard's power strikes. Another option might be pulling guard to drag the fight down. That's just fine with Guillard. The newly self-proclaimed "jiu-jitsu killer" says he's ready for every possibility. "My standup is good, but I can also finish a fight on ground, too," he said. "I know he's limbsy, but when I'm in there, I'm a powerhouse. I put every ounce of muscle behind everything I throw. I'm not trying to outpoint a guy, I'm trying to knock a guy out. So even if he tries to play the jiu-jitsu game off his back, it still might be a bad night for Joe." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, ground, guillard, lauzon

UFC 136 Breakdown: The Undercard

If there were ever any lingering doubts as to the importance of marquee superstars in the sport of MMA, this Saturday’s UFC 136 will serve as a useful — but perhaps unfortunate — reminder. On the whole, this card is light-years superior to its PPV predecessor, UFC 135. And yet, despite two championship bouts complimented by a stellar undercard, this weekend’s event isn’t generating the kind of hype worthy of a show of this magnitude. Nevertheless, from top to bottom, UFC 136 offers arguably the most robust lineup of mouth-watering fights we’ve seen this year. Before Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard settle the score once and for all, and before Kenny Florian tries to capitalize on what could be his last opportunity to taste that ever-elusive UFC gold, Chael Sonnen returns to the cage for the first time since his heartbreaking loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 117, Melvin Guillard bids to take another step towards title contention, and Nam Phan will hope to gain a measure of revenge in a rematch of 2010′s worst piece of injustice. Preliminary Predictions * Mike Massenzio to defeat Steve Cantwell by Decision * Aaron Simpson to defeat Eric Schafer by Decision * Zhang Tie Quan t0 defeat Darren Elkins by Submission in Round 2 * Joey Beltran to defeat Stipe Miocic by TKO in Round 3 * Anthony Pettis to defeat Jeremy Stephens by Decision * Demian Maia to defeat Jorge Santiago by Decision Featherweight Fight: Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan Following a criminal split decision win for Garcia at last year’s TUF 12 Finale, it was only right for both fighters’ paths to cross once again. What Garcia will bring to the table is hardly a secret: he will move forward aggressively, throw plenty of wild haymakers, load up on every hook, and sneak in the occasional uppercut. When he’s not doing that, Garcia likes to throw plenty of head kicks, and sometimes mixes things up by punching the body. A stout chin means Garcia can afford to employ such a reckless approach, and for one reason or another, judges seem to be appreciative. Phan will be the more technical fighter, and the first fight saw him blend some sharp combinations with accurate counter-punching and especially, the body shots that have become a staple throughout his career. While his body kick is effective, it is the left hook to the liver that is Phan’s most lethal weapon, and Garcia needs to be wary of that fact. Phan’s main weaknesses are his takedown defense and his inability to fight off his back. Recently however, Phan has improved his ability to regain his feet after being taken down, and this will be essential for him moving forward, as he doesn’t offer up much from the bottom and is prone to being positionally dominated. Phan will not have to worry about any of that for this bout, as despite some sparse takedown attempts aimed to “gain points”, Garcia doesn’t shoot with any conviction, and will generally not be interested to take this one to the ground. Expect the fight to pan out very similarly their first encounter, where each fighter has his moments, but it is ultimately Phan who will be the more effective striker. Garcia will throw plenty of haymakers that are likely to hit air or land on Phan’s arms, while the latter will pick his spots, counter, and finish many of his combinations with trademark body blows. Hopefully, the judges get it right this time around. Official Prediction: Nam Phan to defeat Leonard Garcia by Decision Lightweight Fight: Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon In an odd piece of match-making, Melvin Guillard, riding a huge wave of momentum, takes on Joe Lauzon, fresh off his win over Curt Warburton. Why Guillard wasn’t paired up with another title contender remains a mystery, but he will need to perform to the best of his abilities regardless. Lauzon is one of the most dangerous fighters in the division for the first five minutes, but he’s as pedestrian as they come from the second round onwards. His cardio problems have been especially glaring in his losses to Sam Stout and George Sotiropoulos, as in both instances, Lauzon won the opening frame before fading away. Undoubtedly, Lauzon will need to put Guillard on his back and utilize his excellent top game. Moreover, he needs to polish him off with a submission early, before the usual conditioning issues start kicking in. Lauzon’s wrestling isn’t particularly great, but he possesses some good throws and takedowns from the clinch. Attempting them however, means having to get past Guillard’s reach and within his firing range; a perilous proposition for any fighter in the division. Furthermore, Guillard’s athleticism and ever-improving takedown defense will make life very difficult for his opponent. Lauzon’s best bet will be to try to initiate a scramble and secure a dominant position from there — something that he excels at — as conventional takedowns will be difficult to secure. Holding Guillard down will be an even more arduous task as “The Young Assassin” does a terrific job at regaining his vertical base. Should Lauzon manage to stay on top for any significant period of time, expect a frantic pace highlighted by some sharp elbows, effortless guard passing, and constant submission attempts. He likes to go for kimuras from side control and armbars from full mount, and Guillard needs to be prepared to defend. More importantly, Guillard needs to avoid leaving his neck exposed during scrambles, as it has cost him in the past. On the other hand, if — as expected — Guillard manages to stay off his back, the fight is his for the taking. He is the much superior striker in terms of power, speed, and technical ability. His last two bouts saw him show some tremendous counter-punching ability, which serves as a great addition to his repertoire. In addition, Guillard possesses one of the most diverse striking arsenals in the division.Whether it is his favorite left hook/right uppercut combo, brutal body shots, or devastating knees, Guillard is a joy to watch when he puts it all together. He is especially good at taking opponents by surprise in close-quarters by going to the body, and the effects are usually felt immediately. Improving further are Guillard’s footwork and head movement, which will serve him well to counter Lauzon’s aggressive approach on the feet, as Guillard’s light-footed stance as well as his ability to slip punches will allow him to frustrate his opponent, control the distance, and thus render takedowns even more difficult. It is hard to pick against Melvin Guillard at the moment, especially when he stylistically matches up so well with his opponent. Lauzon, though the vastly superior grappler, will find it hard to put Guillard down, and the Greg Jackson pupil will add yet another impressive finish to his highlight reel. Official Prediction: Melvin Guillard to defeat Joe Lauzon by TKO in Round 1 Middleweight Fight: Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann After enduring one of the most surprising rises up the middleweight ranks, and one of the quickest and most eventful falls in recent memory, Chael Sonnen finally returns to the Octagon in a bid to earn a second shot at the man he almost dethroned over a year ago, Anderson Silva. But before the Oregon loudmouth is able to get his hands on “The Spider” once more, he needs to deal with one of the most improving fighters in the division in Brian Stann. Ever since dropping down in weight following his loss to Phil Davis, Stann has been on an absolute tear. Almost every aspect of his game is noticeably improved, and the results have come accordingly. Stann’s striking has quickly become one of the most dangerous in the division. On the outside, Stann will look to chomp down on his opponent with repeated leg kicks, and will occasionally switch it up by throwing one to the body. That is going to be tricky strategy against Sonnen, as the Team Quest veteran has exquisite timing on his takedowns. How Stann fights on the outside could be the difference maker in this one, as he needs to keep his distance to avoid being planted on his back. Therein lies the problem for the former Marine, as Stann’s best offense comes from the inside, and trying to get into close-quarters exchanges without being taken down will be difficult. Stann’s best punch is his right cross, and it will be his best bet against Sonnen. He possesses a very good left hook as well, but he needs to find range on both punches without having to get on the inside. To Stann’s credit, he does a good job at countering with those particular strikes, and he will need to make Sonnen pay for every rust-induced mistake. Stann’s clinch work has also improved tremendously, and should he have Sonnen hurt, we could see some brutal knees to both the head and body. Of course, the most pivotal issue will be Stann’s takedown defense, as while improved, it is still very suspect, especially against a wrestler of Sonnen’s caliber. Mike Massenzio was able to take Stann down quite liberally in their encounter a year ago, but it was the Team Jackson product’s improving bottom game that saved the day, as he landed a late triangle to snatch the come-from-behind victory. Of course, Sonnen is suspect to getting caught by submissions from the bottom, but as off late, he only seems to get submitted by very good grapplers. One fatal flaw in Sonnen’s takedowns is that he almost always leaves his neck exposed, and he frequently finds himself locked in a guillotine as a result. That is an element that Stann and his team have no doubt been working on, but in Sonnen’s defense, he rarely gets outright finished by the choke, and usually finds a way to escape. Despite his rightful reliance on his wrestling, Sonnen is much improved as an overall MMA fighter. His striking has become quite solid, highlighted by a surprisingly quick left cross. Additionally, Sonnen has always possessed a very good chin and has never been stopped with strikes. This has historically allowed him to aggressively move forward, eat some shots, but get the takedown anyway. And that will be the difference-maker in this fight, as unless Stann absolutely pulverizes Sonnen with a fight-ending shot, he will find himself on his back repeatedly, as Sonnen’s takedowns and diverse wrestling will prove too much. Whether he’s getting underhooks in the clinch and slamming his opponent down or driving double legs right through him, Sonnen’s wrestling will ultimately be the decisive factor. Stann will have his moments, and he would be smart to throw plenty of elbows from the bottom in an attempt to cut Sonnen up, but the man who pushed Anderson Silva to the very limit will get the competitive — but decisive — win. Official Prediction: Chael Sonnen to defeat Brain Stann by Decision PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: takedown, guillard, sonnen, lauzon, stann

Joe Lauzon: It's gonna be a great fight - MMA News

submitted by tbolts48 [link] [10 comments]

Posted in: fight, tbolt, joe lauzon, lauzon, mma news

Joe Lauzon: “No matter how it ends, I think it’s gonna be a great fight.”

UFC lightweight Joe Lauzon may be a self-professed “computer nerd” but anyone who has seen him in action when the cage door closes knows the 27-year old is far from what most would perceive such a thing to be. A vicious competitor with a 20-6 record with the lot of victories coming by way of a finishing performance, Lauzon will take to the Octagon this weekend at UFC 136 against powerful pugilist Melvin Guillard in hopes of stalling the hard-hitter’s rise through the ranks. Lauzon recently offered up his thoughts on Guillard as an opponent and why his personal approach to MMA has lead to not only a decision-free win column but five straight event-specific bonuses. Dubbed a “super tough fight”, as well as “quick” and “explosive” by the Massachusetts native, Lauzon knows whatever happens Saturday night against Guillard will be memorable for all who tune in. “If I catch him in a submission, it’s gonna be crazy; if he knocks me out, it’s gonna be a good knockout, and if I knock him out, the same thing. No matter how it ends, I think it’s gonna be a great fight,” Lauzon excitedly stated in an interview on the UFC website. Lauzon Opens Up on Past Poor Performances The conviction in his words comes from Lauzon’s general attitude towards fighting, a viewpoint likely shared by Guillard given his own propensity for putting adversaries away before scorecards come into play. “You get a lot of guys that are just so content with winning, whether that means shoot a takedown and just kinda grind it out or whatever they have to do,” said Lauzon. “But that’s never been me, and I would fight a guy like Melvin a hundred times over a slow, boring wrestler that’s just gonna take you down and play it super safe and just grind it out. If I get knocked out, submitted, or whatever, I’m not really that upset. If I know I trained hard and I prepared hard and I lose, then so be it. But to have a guy just take you down and lay on top of you and not try to do anything, why even bother? Why fight if you want to just lay on top of something.” “I don’t think either one of us are gonna have defense in mind all that much. We’re both trying to overwhelm the other person,” he concluded. Fans can tune in to see Lauzon and Guillard get it on as the opening bout when the PPV fires up at 9:00 PM EST. Other bouts on the main card include co-headlining title-fights with lightweight champion Frank Edgar taking on Xtreme Couture’s Gray Maynard and 19-1 Jose Aldo defending his featherweight gold against well-rounded veteran Kenny Florian. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, fight, guillard, joe lauzon, lauzon

Melvin Guillard: “I’m going to knock him out like I knocked the other guys out.”

Melvin Guillard has just one objective when he steps inside the Octagon – to defeat the man standing across from him before they’ve even exchanged a single strike. Guillard will try to do just that against Joe Lauzon this Saturday night at UFC 136, live on PPV. “The Young Assassin” has won five straight fights to improve to 29-8 in his career. He has stopped both Shane Roller and Evan Dunham by knockout this year, putting himself in position to become a top contender to the UFC title. Of those 29 wins, nineteen have come via some form of knockout/TKO. “That’s my main goal – to break a guy’s will. I know physically, I’m always going to be the better athlete. It’s rare they are going to find a better athlete than me at 155, but I think working with Greg Jackson, the team, and the trainers I have – I’m stronger mentally,” said Guillard, in a recent interview with the UFC’s website. “That’s the biggest weapon I have because I break people mentally before the fight even happens. I feel like guys don’t want to stand in front of me and trade punches.” In Lauzon (19-6), Guillard will be facing a man who’s best asset – his submission game – is Guillard’s worst. Lauzon has earned sixteen of his nineteen successful showings by tap-out including four “Submission of the Night” honors. Comparably, Guillard’s four career UFC losses have come by submission as have seven of his eight total defeats. “I think he’s a tough opponent. I wouldn’t have asked for a fight that was an easy fight. He’s going to be very tough,” Guillard said. “I know he’s a good jiu-jitsu guy, but I haven’t been submitted in over two years and him just coming in here and getting a submission – that ain’t going to happen on my watch.” Guillard’s name has been mentioned before in talks of becoming a contender to either Frankie Edgar or Gray Maynard, set to meet in the main event of UFC 136 to determine the UFC lightweight champ. Of course, that’s if Guillard takes care of the lanky Lauzon. Then again, ask Guillard and the outcome is already set in stone. “It’s not about if I beat Joe, it’s that I’m going to beat Joe,” Guillard said. “I’m going to knock him out like I knocked the other guys out. I’m blessed that Dana White is giving me the opportunity to be on that stage. I’m going to beat Joe Lauzon on October 8.” PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, guy, guillard, joe lauzon, lauzon