Joe Lauzon and Micheal Chiesa were both looking to prove that they were Top 15-ranked fighters in the curtain-jerker of UFC Fight Night 50, which took place last night (Sept. 5, 2014) in Mashantucket, Connecticut. After a wild first round, Lauzon let loose a damaging flurry that earned him a Doctor Stoppage over the ultra-tough Chiesa. Find out how the fight went down and its relevance in the division in our fight preview!
Last night (Fri., Sept. 5, 2014), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweights Joe Lauzon and Michael Chiesa collided in the opening bout of UFC Fight Night 50 at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Connecticut.
Joe Lauzon entered this fight looking to prove that he's still an elite lightweight. Having gone 1-2 in his last three bouts with losses to Jim Miller and Michael Johnson, a prevalent rumor about years of wear and tear catching up to "J-Lau" had to be on the new father's mind.
Lauzon definitely entered the cage determined to walkout with a win.
Chiesa, The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 winner, also had to show that he's still a legit prospect in the talent-rich lightweight division. This was his first real test since his loss to Jorge Masvidal, and "Maverick" needed a win if he wanted to continue fighting at the highest level.
Although both men's desire to win was obvious, Lauzon experience and striking edge brought him to victory.
To open the bout, Chiesa looked to find his range with lengthy kicks and jabs. However, Lauzon skipped all the whole feeling out process, caught a kick, and nearly secured Chiesa's back during a scramble. The two then separated and returned to the center of the cage after a brief clinch exchange.
After eating a pair of left hands, Lauzon went for a clinch takedown but is stuffed. Chiesa then took him down and looked for the back mount. In a mad scramble, there was a reversal of fortunes as Lauzon ended up on Chiesa's back. Chiesa managed to return to his feet with about twenty seconds left, and the two fighters brawled until the bell. The fans couldn't be happier.
Par for the course in Lauzon's exciting career.
To start the first round, Lauzon catches a knee in the clinch for a takedown. Though he couldn't hold Cheisa down, Lauzon did some serious damage in the clinch, turning Chiesa's face into a crimson mask. While Chiesa looked to regain his balance, he absorbed numbers knees, uppercuts, and liver shots.
When the ref separated the fighters, Chiesa's "canoe-sized cut" became apparent. Just over his eye, Chiesa had a deep gash. It didn't take long for referee Herb Dean and commission doctor to make their decisions.
"J-Lau" emerged from yet another firefight victorious.
For Lauzon, this showed he can still compete at a pretty high level. He never managed to get his takedown game going -- which may have lead to a loss earlier in his career -- but Lauzon's striking allowed him to pull away with the victory. Both men landed in each exchange, but Lauzon struck harder and did more damage, which ultimately won him the fight.
Lauzon definitely did his part to silence those questioning his continued relevance in the division.
Next in line for Lauzon could be a fellow UFC Fight Night 50 winner Al Iaquinta. If the UFC would rather match him up with another veteran rather than prospect, then Ross Pearson could provide an interesting style match up. Of course, the best option is likely to rematch these two and create another worthwhile slugfest.
Though Chiesa lost, he can hold his chin high. In every scramble, submission swap, and wild striking exchange, Chiesa held his own with a proven veteran. Plus, his conditioning appeared to be on point, which is a great improvement from his loss to Masvidal.
Regardless of whether he gets the rematch he desires, Chiesa is definitely a fighter to watch, both in terms of entertainment and potential. If he doesn't get another scrap with Lauzon, a fight with Danny Castillo would be an excellent test.
For complete UFC Fight Night 50: "Jacare vs. Mousasi" results, including blow-by-blow coverage of the entire FOX Sports 1 event, click here.
With an exciting victory over one of the division's better prospects, Lauzon has shown that he's still a force to be reckoned with inside the UFC's lightweight division. Now on a two-fight win streak, how high up the ladder can a very motivated Lauzon climb?
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