Comments on: Joe Lauzon Considering Move to Hawaii

By: UFC 78: Joe Lauzon Added to Card | UFC Daily

UFC 78: Joe Lauzon Added to Card | UFC Daily — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 15:01:42 +0000

[...] to be fully recovered in time for his November fight. Prior to the fight he is expected to be moving to Hawaii to train with B.J. [...]

By: Kris

Kris — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 05:01:03 +0000

I don't think a loss itself would hurt either but I think the UFC would prefer to market both to lead up to a big, top contender matchup rather than have them face off now and have one take a loss so early in their career. The UFC will probably attempts to make it a trilogy of fights anyways so a loss to early in their career could hamper their plans too.

I think we may see them go up against one another next year but I think this year is just too early.

By: MrRee

MrRee — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 13:44:08 +0000

Well they have to give Diaz and Lauzon name opponents. They are both cream of the crop fighter's in that division. I think they have to face each other at some point, but I disagree that the loss would hurt either of their marketabilities. They are just way too young for that to be a problem. Fighters always lose to someone at some point and if they're good they come back from it. In fact Diaz and Lauzon both have losses on their record so no real harm would be done. It would be a great fight.

By: Kris

Kris — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 02:00:26 +0000

Now that Spencer Fisher is facing Din Thomas at UFC Fight Night 11 I wouldn't be surprised to see Lauzon vs. Diaz although I doubt the UFC is ready to risk either of their records or marketability this early in their UFC careers.

By: MrRee

MrRee — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 10:59:30 +0000

Oh yeah we can't forget to put Nate Diaz in that mix. Diaz vs Lauzon was the match I was rooting for all through the Ultimate Fighter season. It's too bad Lauzon broke his hand and had bone chips in his elbow. I'm looking forward to BJ versus Sherk. Who do you think will win?

By: Kris

Kris — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 23:23:15 +0000

Thanks for the info MrRee, that may very well be how the situation plays out. After Sherk and Penn face off I think Fisher might get a shot perhaps but the lightweight division has a lot of people who might be good enough but none that really stand out just yet.

By: MrRee

MrRee — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 10:16:02 +0000

If BJ won, and then left LW, it would create a match for the LW belt ala Florian vs Sherk, of course he'd have to relinquish the LW belt. A healthy Joe Lauzon should grab that belt from whomever they put him against ( I've been to Joe's gym in Bridgewater and have followed him for some time, he's a killer). Dana White would benefit from that match-up for the title. In fact, don't be surprised if ends up being Spencer Fisher vs Joe "The Giant Killer" Lauzon for that very belt (if they both can maintain a winning streak). Dana would get as giggly as a schoolgirl, because that match-up is already being spoken about by both camps. It also has the age-old, "You kicked my younger brother's ass, now I"m gonna kick yours", storyline of revenge.

Yes, BJ started a new regimen for the revenge of his loss to Pulver and will stay with it for his fight with Sherk, but I don't think he enjoys the process at all. There is nothing easy about staying light. You can't have any of the foods that you really enjoy and as he ages it becomes tougher. He'd be a happier Hawaiian at WW. I just don't think he'd feel like a conquerer defending against people he knew were literally beneath him in the LW division.

The obvious challenge for him would be Matt Hughes at WW. BJ would have the opportunity to avenge his loss and it would create another scenario that Dana loves. BJ on a mission to beat the guys that beat him. He already took the first step by crushing Pulver.

By: Kris

Kris — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 03:21:16 +0000

It may not be a specific stipulation legally but rather an unspoken code. I don't think Dana wants anyone holding or attempting to hold 2 belts at the same time because it only holds each division up.

BJ has reportedly started a different training regimen making it easier for him to make weight so if he wins I would expect him to stay in the lightweight division until he loses the belt. He might be more comfortable at welterweight but that division is at a backlog and he would be better off to try win take the title from Sherk before considering a jump in weight.

By: MrRee

MrRee — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 01:04:35 +0000

You got to remember Penn has a huge ego. If he defeats Sherk I think he will be satisfied and will then set his sights on Matt Hughes. I think staying that light (155) is very tough for him, remember BJ really doesn't like to train (as opposed to Sean Sherk). I think he is most comfortable at 170 and would probably walk around with 180. I'm not familiar with the particular's of his contract so if it dictates that he stay to defend then he stays.

By: Kris

Kris — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 23:54:46 +0000

I don't believe Penn will move up a division if he wins. If he loses I would be almost sure of it but I am guessing there is an off the record agreement that the UFC has with him that he can't jump up in weight while being a title holder.

I am all for changing Lauzon's nickname too, I am not really a fan of it and actually thought it was a joke when I first heard it.