UFC Event

UFC 150 Fight Card Primer: Justin Lawrence Vs. Max Holloway

By Fraser Coffeen@FCoffeen Aug 11, 2012, 3:30pm EDT

The UFC 150 PPV card opens with an exciting fight in the Featherweight division. Ultimate Fighter contender Justin Lawrence (4-0 MMA; 1-0 UFC) will face Max Holloway (5-1 MMA; 1-1 UFC). Neither man is ranked in the USA TODAY / MMA Nation Consensus MMA Rankings, which should come as no surprise given their low number of fights. The UFC 150 PPV airs live Saturday night August 11 at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

Neither man may be ranked, but that doesn't mean this fight can't deliver inside the Octagon. This is a perfect PPV opener, as both men bring an exciting style to the cage. Specifically, they're both striking specialists, who utilize a wider range of striking techniques than often seen. Expect this to be a fun, stand-up war, and a possible sleeper candidate for Fight of the Night.

How do these two stack up?

Lawrence: 22 years old | 5'8" | 67" reach
Holloway: 20 years old | 5'11" | 70" reach

What have these two done recently?

Lawrence: W - John Cofer (KO) | W - Jason Webb (Sub) | W - Pete Martin (UD)
Holloway: W - Pat Schilling (UD) | L - Dustin Poirier (Sub) | W - Eddie Rincon (Dec)

How did these two get here?

Justin Lawrence came into the UFC earlier this year as a contestant on TUF Live. There, he was the #1 overall pick and an early favorite to win the entire tournament. But after a solid first round showing, he was upset by eventual winner Michael Chiesa. He's since bounced back with an impressive win on the Live Finale. Here, Lawrence drops down to Featherweight, which is better suited for his frame. Lawrence has a ton of amateur kickboxing experience, and brings his traditional martial arts to the cage. At just 22, and only 5 fights into his career, he has a world of potential, provided he can tune up the mental game that we saw him struggle with during TUF.

Max Holloway is probably best known to UFC fans for being on the receiving end of Dustin Poirier's spectacular mounted triangle/armbar. Which is a bit of a shame, as Holloway was doing quite well for himself before that finish. The 20 year old fighter was undefeated before that loss, and had made his way into the Bloody Elbow Scouting Report based largely on his excellent striking game. He's since bounced back with a nice win over Pat Schilling. Like Lawrence, his youth and relative inexperience mean he has great potential before him.

Why should you care?

Because this is going to be awesome, that's why. Yeah, yeah, yeah, two guys with 1 UFC win each shouldn't be on the PPV card... whatever. If you're a fan of fun striking battles (and you know I am) then tune in and love it.

More UFC 150 preview coverage from Bloody Elbow after the jump.

SBN coverage of UFC 150: Edgar vs. Henderson II

UFC 150: Jake Shields Vs. Ed Herman Dissection - Dallas Winston

UFC 150: The Last Stand For Jake Shields - Fraser Coffeen

Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 197: Mark Pavelich, Jared Rosholt, UFC 150 Preview - Matt Bishop

UFC 150 Pre-Fight Press Conference Video And Coverage - Tim Burke

UFC 150: Yushin Okami Vs. Buddy Roberts Dissection - Dallas Winston

UFC 150 Interview: Ed Herman 'It's Not About Who The Best Guy Is Anymore' - Steph Daniels

UFC 150 Fight Week: Dana White Video Blog Day 1 - Josh Nason

UFC 150: Why Ben Henderson Vs. Frankie Edgar II Is Destined To Disappoint - Fraser Coffeen

UFC 150: Henderson Vs. Edgar Betting Lines - Tim Burke

Video: UFC 150 Open Workout & Pre-Fight Interviews With Ben Henderson, Frankie Edgar - Nate Wilcox