Have you noticed Joe Lauzon (18-4) has not been in the Octagon lately? The young TUF 5 veteran has been recovering from a March 6 ACL surgery and having his meniscus repaired on his right knee. ProMMA.info received notice today via press release that Lauzon is fully recovered and anxious to get back into the Octagon.
Lauzon’s last bout in the UFC was on Feb. 8 when he defeated Jeremy Stephens at UFC – Fight Night 17 via armbar submission at 4:32 of the second round. Lauzon actually had a torn ACL in his right knee for 1 ½ years before requiring surgery and being sidelined.
Lauzon explained when the point came he realized surgery was necessary,
“I felt looseness in my knee but could still train. Doctors at that time said they didn’t want to disturb it. And it wasn’t affecting me much. Two weeks before my last fight (Jeremy Stephens) I felt it like it wasn’t quite right warming up. I tried to take him down in the first round and I fell over. I needed stitches in my head and couldn’t train for a week, but when I returned my knee completely locked-up.”
Doctors originally felt Lauzon would not be able to fight for 14 months. However due to a committed rehabilitation schedule and his young age (24), it now looks like “J-Lau” will return to action sometime in early January.
Lauzon talked about the quick recovery,
“I’ve always been able to recover quickly and bounce right back. Being 24 probably helped, too. I was lucky to have an awesome doctor (Dr. Pavlovich) and physical therapist. They let me push at an aggressive pace. I am 100-percent now; my knee is stronger than ever. It (injured knee) hurt me grappling — triangle chokes – and anything my that stressed my knee felt loose. Now it’s better than ever. My ‘bad knee’ is more solid than my other knee. I did so much in rehab to strengthen it.”
“J-Lau” also discussed the mental aspect of returning after knee surgery,
“A lot of people have told me a mental block would be the toughest part coming back to fight. For me, though, that’s not a problem. I have faith in my doctor and coach. They told me my knee is strong, I feel the same way, and I’m not going to worry about it. I’ve always been an instinctive fighter and that’s the way I’m going to continue to be. I’ve talked to a lot of people. My strength-and-conditioning coach (Steve Baccari) has been through it all. He’s had surgery on both knees, so he knows where I am coming from. I know all about the knee now – where to apply pressure and where to be careful. “
In addition to fighting, Lauzon coaches about 30 members of Team Aggression at Lauzon MMA in Bridgewater, Mass. Lauzon is used to fighting multiple times a year. Since beginning his professional career in 2004, this is the longest he has been out of action. The man is ready to get back in the cage,
“I was still in the gym two weeks after surgery. I was helping out and running classes. Before surgery, I was laid-up in bed but afterwards started going to shows to support and watch our guys fight. I just couldn’t get on the mat. Now, I’m ready to go and I’ve felt this way for a while. This has been my longest break. I’m chomping at the bit. I must have fought 30 times in six years, so I can’t wait to get back.”
For more information about Joe “J-Lau” Lauzon go online and visit www.joelauzon.com.