Joe Lauzon (18-5) recently lost a unanimous decision to Sam Stout (15-5-1) at UFC 108 on Jan. 2, 2010. It was Lauzon’s first bout back after undergoing ACL surgery and being sidelined for 10 months.
Although he was picked apart by Stout’s striking, Lauzon showed great tenacity by continuously coming forward and bringing the fight. Lauzon and Stout were awarded “Fight of the Night” honors for their effort.
It is obviously difficult, if not impossible, to go through something like an ACL surgery and not have it affect you in your first fight back.
“I focused on the health of my knee and it held up. I didn’t concentrate on my overall condition and I was a little rusty,” said Lauzon. “I trained like a maniac six days of the week, twice a day, and then I couldn’t do too much for six months (due to his knee surgery).”
Lauzon credited Stout with having a great game plan and being better on the ground than he expected. “I expected him to be tough. His takedown defense was better than I thought,” Lauzon explained.
“I thought I’d have an easier time on the ground, too. He came to fight with a perfect game plan. Give him credit for a good fight. I’d like to fight him in a rematch but, then again, I’d like to fight anybody I’ve lost to but that doesn’t happen very often and is out of my control.”
Lauzon, a native of E. Bridgewater, Mass., is ready to move forward and has his eyes set on the UFC’s Massachusetts debut in August.
“I really want to fight on the first UFC show in Boston. It’s a natural and would be a dream come true for me,” he stated. Lauzon, now 5-2 in the UFC, is already back training at his gym, Lauzon MMA in Bridgewater.
For more information about Joe “J-Lau” Lauzon go online and visit www.joelauzon.com or send him a message at Twitter.com/JoeLauzon.