If there was ever a fight that feels like it happened at some point in the UFC, it's this one. TUF 5's Joe Lauzon (22-9 MMA, 9-6 UFC) opens the UFC on Fox 9 main card against TUF 6 winner Mac Danzig (21-11-1 MMA, 5-7 UFC) in what should be a fun lightweight encounter. They were originally scheduled for the preliminary card, but with Carlos Condit/Matt Brown canceled, Lauzon/Danzig was chosen to replace it.
There's no two ways about it. Both men need a win and are on two fight losing skids. Danzig in particular has produced mediocre results since winning TUF, and could possibly be released if he loses tonight. The UFC on Fox 9 main card starts live on uh .... Fox, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT.
How do these two stack up?
Lauzon: 29 years old | 5'10" | 70" reach
Danzig: 33 years old | 5'8" | 70" reach
What have these two done lately?
Lauzon: L - Michael Johnson (UD) | L - Jim Miller (UD) | W - Jamie Varner (SUB)
Danzig: L - Melvin Guillard (KO) | L - Takanori Gomi (SD) | W - Efrain Escudero (UD)
How did these two get here?
It's no secret that Lauzon has never reached the elite level of the division, but on more than one occasion he's played the role of spoiler. He upset Jens Pulver in his UFC debut back in 2006(which earned him his spot on TUF 5), and against a surging Melvin Guillard, "J-Lau" hurt Guillard with a jab and eventually took his back and won via 1st round rear naked choke. It's been a bit of a rough patch for Lauzon in his last 3 fights, though. He beat Jamie Varner in an absolute war, but was knocked down twice and needed a late triangle choke to assure himself victory. He took on Jim Miller to end 2012 in another incredible fight, but lost a decision and ended up in a bloody mess. A surprise lopsided loss to Michael Johnson in front of his home crowd in Boston leaves fans wondering if all of his memorable battles are starting to catch up with him. Lauzon's best asset is his submissions, and he's particularly adept at getting submissions after hurting his opponent on the feet.
Danzig's post-TUF career has been a disappointment. After choking out Mark Bocek at UFC 83, Danzig lost 3 straight and only saved his place in the UFC by beating Justin Buchholz in early 2010. After a controversial submission loss to Matt Wiman (controversial in that he neither tapped out nor was he unconscious as Yves Lavigne believed him to be during a guillotine attempt), Danzig, primarily a grappler, recorded an unlikely 1st round KO of former title challenger Joe Stevenson. The good times have pretty much ended over the last few fights for Danzig, and his non-competitive mauling at the hands of Melvin Guillard dropped him to 1-3 in his last 4. He finds himself facing a UFC release once again, and he'll have to send Lauzon to his first ever 3 fight losing streak to avoid another one of his own.
Why should you care?
I'm not sure why anyone would pass on an opportunity to watch Joe Lauzon fight, and this one is no exception.