Rivalries: Joe Lauzon

Joe Lauzon was believed to have exhausted the vast majority of options during his 15-plus years inside the Ultimate Fighting Championship. At least one remains.

“J-Lau” will test his considerable mettle against Donald Cerrone in a three-round UFC 274 lightweight pairing on Saturday at the Footprint Center in Phoenix. Lauzon, who turns 38 in a matter of weeks, has lost three of his past four bouts. He has not competed since he buried Jonathan Pearce with punches in 93 seconds at UFC on ESPN 6 on Oct. 18, 2019—more than 900 days ago.

As Lauzon makes final preparations for his return to the cage, a look at some of the rivalries that have helped shape his career to this point:

George Sotiropoulos

“The Ultimate Fighter” Season 6 semifinalist submitted Lauzon with a kimura in the second round of their UFC 123 lightweight feature on Nov. 20, 2010 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Sotiropoulos, a longtime Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, brought it to a close 2:43 into Round 2. Lauzon roared out of the gates in impressive fashion, as he popped his counterpart with a series of straight right hands in the first round and stuffed an early single-leg takedown attempt. Sotiropoulos rebounded to take mount in the closing seconds of the period but surrendered position in search of an armbar. As the middle stanza dawned, it became clear Lauzon was not the same fighter. Visibly winded and slowed, his mouth agape, he did not have the steam necessary to hold off Sotiropoulos. The Aussie scrambled into side control, isolated Lauzon’s arm and finished him there. It remains Lauzon’s only submission defeat as a member of the UFC roster.

Jamie Varner

Lauzon on Aug. 4, 2012 submitted the former World Extreme Cagefighting champion with a triangle choke in the third round of their memorable UFC on Fox 4 lightweight showcase at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The end came 2:44 into Round 3. Varner, who filled in for the injured Terry Etim on short notice, staggered Lauzon with one right hand in the first round and decked him with another. He swarmed “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 5 semifinalist on the ground to no avail and returned to his corner between rounds visibly fatigued. Lauzon sank his teeth into the fight in the second period, where he twice moved to the Arizona-based lightweight’s back and ultimately mounted him with roughly half a minute remaining in the round. Varner secured a takedown in Round 3, only to be swept by the opportunistic Massachusetts native. Lauzon then trapped his counterpart in a triangle during the transition and coaxed the tapout.

Jim Miller

The former Cage Fury Fighting Championships titleholder spilled Lauzon’s DNA all over the cage and captured a unanimous verdict from “The Ultimate Fighter 5” graduate in the gory UFC 155 co-main event on Dec. 29, 2012 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. All three cageside judges scored it 29-28. A series of savage standing elbows from Miller opened a sickle-shaped laceration near his opponent’s right eye in the first round, and before long, blood was everywhere. He hit Lauzon with everything in his considerable arsenal, from leg kicks to left crosses, but could not break him. Lauzon fought on, even as pools of his blood dotted the Octagon. He made a last-ditch attempt at an unlikely victory in the closing seconds of Round 3, where he trapped Miller in a leg lock and transitioned to a front choke. However, the horn sounded, closed the door on thoughts of a Lauzon comeback and brought an end to one of the bloodiest battles in UFC history.

Michael Chiesa

Lauzon opened a gruesome cut on the Sikjitsu star and forced a second-round stoppage in their wild UFC Fight Night 50 attraction on Sept. 5, 2014 at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. Referee Herb Dean called a halt to the festivities on the advice of the cageside physician 2:14 into Round 2, much to Chiesa’s chagrin. Lauzon seemed discouraged at times but walked through stiff jabs from “Maverick” in the first round, answering a takedown from “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 15 winner by sweeping to top position, transitioning to the back and fishing for a rear-naked choke. They exchanged on the feet late, building anticipation for Round 2. There, Lauzon tore into Chiesa’s body with punches and cracked him with a brutal knee from the clinch, opening a horizontal gash above his right eye. Dean called for the doctor soon after and, upon closer inspection, was advised to stop the fight.

Clay Guida

The onetime Strikeforce champion put away Lauzon with punches in the first round of their UFC Fight Night 120 kick-starter on Nov. 11, 2017 at the Ted Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk, Virginia. Guida nailed the coffin shut 67 seconds into Round 1. He staggered Lauzon with a clubbing overhand right, floored him with an uppercut and pounced with overwhelming force. Punches, elbows, hammerfists and forearm strikes fell next. Lauzon was powerless to stop the avalanche of punishment. Referee Mike King gave him every opportunity to recover before stepping in on his behalf. Many still mark it as the unofficial end of Lauzon’s time as a relevant contender in the UFC.