Preview: UFC 223 ‘Nurmagomedov vs. Iaquinta’

Lightweights

Joe Lauzon (27-14) vs. Chris Gruetzemacher (13-3)

THE ODDS: Lauzon (-185), Gruetzemacher (+160)

ANALYSIS: Lauzon has fallen on hard times of late. He could easily be on a four-fight losing streak since his first-round knockout of Diego Sanchez at UFC 200. His November loss to Clay Guida, a one-minute knockout, was particularly concerning. However, he is getting a chance to remain a reliable mid-card action fighter for the UFC. While the Massachusetts native has always been a fringe top-20 lightweight, capable of pulling off big wins but typically falling to upper-echelon opposition, his recent slide suggests his time at even that level is over.

Here Lauzon draws Gruetzemacher, a much less-tenured, less well-known and less dangerous scrapper. Gruetzemacher’s toughness will be his greatest asset against Lauzon, who comes out sprinting but fades badly down the stretch if he cannot net an early stoppage. If “J-Lau” fails to get the MMA Lab product out of there early, things could get dicey for the former post-fight bonus king. With that said, I am not sure “Gritz” has the tools to really put it on UFC-level fighters, even a slowing and hittable Lauzon. The longtime staple gets a much-needed win by first-round submission.

Last Fights » The Prelims