The co-main event of UFC Fight Night 103 featured a lightweight scrap between Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran Joe Lauzon (26-12) and former Bellator mainstay Marcin Held (22-5). Lauzon had come into the bout going 2-3 in his last five outings. Meanwhile, Held was making his second appearance inside the Octagon and was in search
The co-main event of UFC Fight Night 103 featured a lightweight scrap between Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran Joe Lauzon (26-12) and former Bellator mainstay Marcin Held (22-5).
Lauzon had come into the bout going 2-3 in his last five outings. Meanwhile, Held was making his second appearance inside the Octagon and was in search of his first UFC win.
Held went for a leg kick in the beginning of the fight. Held connected with a left jab. “J-Lau” dropped some vicious elbows on Held as he went for a takedown. Held went down and scrambled back to his feet.
Lauzon wrapped his arms around his opponent. Held was able to reverse and score a takedown. He moved to side control. Lauzon pushed his feet off the cage to get back up.
Held kept Lauzon’s back against the cage. A knee to the body landed for Held. They separated and a mouse formed over the eye of “J-Lau.” Lauzon landed a strike and Held looked for an armbar to end the round.
A spin kick from Held missed the mark early in the second stanza. He shot in and secured a takedown. Held got the back of his opponent and locked in the body triangle.
Lauzon was able to escape and went for a takedown. He got it, but Held got back up quickly. Held dumped Lauzon down at the center of the Octagon. “J-Lau” went for an armbar. Held escaped and remained in top control until the round ended.
The final round was underway and Held threw out his jab. Lauzon moved forward, but Held reversed the position. Lauzon got his back off the fence, but he was dumped down.
Held decided to stand back up. He continued to land his jab. Lauzon stepped in and landed a punch. Lauzon went for a takedown, but the balance of Held kept him up.
Another takedown was completed by Held. Referee Herb Dean urged Held to work in his position. Held had a unique spin to improve his position as the final round concluded.
In a baffling result, two of the three judges score the fight for Lauzon. The other judge saw Held winning all three rounds.
After the fight, Lauzon admitted “it wasn’t my night.”
Final Result: Joe Lauzon def. Marcin Held via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
Tomorrow night (Sun., January 15, 2017) the UFC will return in a high-profile time slot with UFC Fight Night 103 from Talking Stick Resort in Phoenix, Arizona. The card itself may not live up to the billing of a MMA event set to follow FOX’s NFL playoff broadcast, but it does feature the return of
Tomorrow night (Sun., January 15, 2017) the UFC will return in a high-profile time slot with UFC Fight Night 103 from Talking Stick Resort in Phoenix, Arizona. The card itself may not live up to the billing of a MMA event set to follow FOX’s NFL playoff broadcast, but it does feature the return of former welterweight and lightweight titleholder BJ Penn, who will look to begin a new chapter of his storied career against rising potential star Yair Rodriguez, who will look to use “The Prodigy” as his biggest win to date.
The card offers somewhat little name value aside from the main event, with Joe Lauzon vs. Marcin Held squaring off in the lightweight co-main event. Find out who we picked to win the two main bouts here:
BJ Penn vs. Yair Rodriguez:
Mike Drahota:
While “The Prodigy” has no doubt had one of the more historic and prominent careers in UFC history, it remains to be seen if his comeback attempt can bear any fruit. Since it was announced last year, Penn’s return has been blocked by seemingly endless injuries, a USADA suspension, and even a set of disturbing allegations that ultimately didn’t result in criminal charges. That makes me wonder if it was doomed before it began.
Predicting the future based on the past is at times a tough undertaking, however, so we can only focus on the facts we have. In that area, Penn simply has a massive challenge before him in the form of Rodriguez, arguably the UFC’s best rising star after the recent falls of Paige VanZant and Sage Northcutt. “El Pantera” is fast, powerful, and well rounded, and he also possesses quite possibly the most dynamic and unorthodox striking skills at the featherweight division.
“The Prodigy” has been training with both Greg Jackson and Jason Parillo, and he no doubt has the all-around game to pull off a big win. But with five losses in his last seven bouts, I just don’t see it in such a difficult fight. Penn could certainly shock the world, and his best chance to do so is probably on the ground with his world-class submission game. I just tend to believe Rodriguez’s length, speed, and accuracy will enable him to outclass Penn on the feet. Yair Rodriguez by unanimous decision.
Mike Henken:
As big of a fan of Penn as I am, I feel as if “The Prodigy” has quite a tough fight in front of him. Not only has he not won a fight since 2010, but he also hasn’t competed since being brutally stopped by Frankie Edgar in 2014. He will now attempt to make his return at 38 years of age against the red-hot prospect Rodriguez. The former TUF: Latin America winner has compiled a 5-0 record inside of the Octagon using his long and rangy striking style that includes a wide variety of spinning and jumping attacks.
Rodriguez also possesses somewhat solid wrestling and a seemingly solid ground game, although he prefers to strike. However, the Mexican can get wild at times, leaving open the opportunity for Penn to use his crisp and powerful boxing to land a big shot. Penn should also look to close the distance, as Rodriguez likes to fight from the outside. If the fight ends up on the mat, “The Prodigy” may also have a chance, as his jiu-jitsu is second to none. Now training under the tutelage of legendary trainer Greg Jackson, it’ll be interesting to see what form of Penn shows up. While I could see him pulling something off in Phoenix, I feel as if Rodriguez will stick and move on the outside, while picking Penn apart. Rodriguez by fourth-round TKO.
Joe Lauzon vs. Marcin Held:
Mike Drahota:
This possible lightweight barnburner doesn’t possess any true ranking implication for the crowded 155-pound division, but it will almost assuredly be a lot of fun. Bonus leader Lauzon has seemingly alternated big performances with ho-hum ones, and he’s lost five out of his last nine bouts after dropping a controversial split decision to his longtime foe Jim Miller in his latest bout. Held, on the other hand, is a grappling wiz like Lauzon, but he has a lot more to prove after dropping his UFC debut fight against another longtime veteran in Diego Sanchez. Held has to win to begin living up to the promise he brought, and I think he gets it done here after Lauzon puts him in some dangerous spots. Held by unanimous decision.
Mike Henken:
The co-main event should be an intriguing fight between two entertaining fighters. Lauzon is extremely aggressive, constantly pushing forward with combinations. On the ground, he fights in a similar manner, relentlessly hunting for a finish. Held is also an aggressive fighter, although he tends to push forward looking for a takedown. On the canvas, Held is extremely dangerous with submissions, although Lauzon is a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a very strong grappler himself. I see “J-Lau” avoiding a grappling match and landing big shots on the feet. Lauzon by second-round TKO.
Former Bellator lightweight contender Marcin Held will have his second Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bout this Sunday night (Jan. 15) inside the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. His opponent will be 38-fight veteran Joe Lauzon.
Held had a disappointing UFC debut against Diego Sanchez back in November. He kept searching for leg locks, but couldn’t get them and as a result, Sanchez remained in control on the ground. Held told MMAJunkie.com that he knows what went wrong in the fight:
“I was disappointed (with my UFC debut). I felt that I’m better than him but I lost it. I think it was my own wish. I (didn’t have) enough cardio because of the high altitude, but that’s only one reason. I think even with this problem I would have won if I fought differently. Take him down, stay on top, stay on the ground. I should have fought stand-up more. I should have done it different, but this time I’m not going to (make) this mistake again. It’s a good lesson for me.”
Held knows he’s in for a tough scrap with Lauzon. The 170-pounder is shooting for a finish.
“I think he will try to take me down, but if not I will fight standing. I know that I will try to finish him for sure. Every one of my fights, I try to do this – and I hope I will be able to do this. But I know he’s very good on the ground so it may be hard. I don’t know how the fight will go, but I believe and I hope I will win it.”
The main event of the upcoming UFC Fight Night card will feature a featherweight clash between the returning UFC Hall of Famer B.J. Penn and Yair Rodriguez. Held vs. Lauzon will be the co-main event.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zNmICr2V4A
Former Bellator lightweight contender Marcin Held will have his second Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bout this Sunday night (Jan. 15) inside the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. His opponent will be 38-fight veteran Joe Lauzon.
Held had a disappointing UFC debut against Diego Sanchez back in November. He kept searching for leg locks, but couldn’t get them and as a result, Sanchez remained in control on the ground. Held told MMAJunkie.com that he knows what went wrong in the fight:
“I was disappointed (with my UFC debut). I felt that I’m better than him but I lost it. I think it was my own wish. I (didn’t have) enough cardio because of the high altitude, but that’s only one reason. I think even with this problem I would have won if I fought differently. Take him down, stay on top, stay on the ground. I should have fought stand-up more. I should have done it different, but this time I’m not going to (make) this mistake again. It’s a good lesson for me.”
Held knows he’s in for a tough scrap with Lauzon. The 170-pounder is shooting for a finish.
“I think he will try to take me down, but if not I will fight standing. I know that I will try to finish him for sure. Every one of my fights, I try to do this – and I hope I will be able to do this. But I know he’s very good on the ground so it may be hard. I don’t know how the fight will go, but I believe and I hope I will win it.”
The main event of the upcoming UFC Fight Night card will feature a featherweight clash between the returning UFC Hall of Famer B.J. Penn and Yair Rodriguez. Held vs. Lauzon will be the co-main event.
Mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran and long-time Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight Joe Lauzon will compete for the 39th time in his professional career when he meets Marcin Held. The two 155-p…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js5mfmtUXIo
Mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran and long-time Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight Joe Lauzon will compete for the 39th time in his professional career when he meets Marcin Held. The two 155-pounders will trade leather next Sunday (Jan. 15) in Phoenix, Arizona.
“J-Lau” is 2-3 in his last five bouts. He fell short to Jim Miller in a rematch at UFC on FOX: Maia vs. Condit back in August 2016. Lauzon’s two victories in that stretch were by TKO over Takanori Gomi and Diego Sanchez. He’ll look to get back in the win column when he meets Held.
“The Polish Prodigy” was once a Bellator mainstay. He competed inside the Bellator cage 14 times. After failing to win seasons four and seven of Bellator’s lightweight tournament, Held finally climbed the top of the mountain in season 10. He defeated Patricky Freire to win the tournament. Held eventually got a title shot against Will Brooks, but lost via unanimous decision.
The UFC is on the promotional grind once again. Today, they rolled out another free fight on their official YouTube channel. This time it’s Lauzon’s bout with Sanchez from UFC 200. “Nightmare” was coming off a unanimous decision victory over Miller. “J-Lau” looked to rebound after a loss to Evan Dunham.
UFC Fight Night Phoenix’s prelims will begin at 8 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). The action continues on FS1 with the main card beginning at 10 p.m. ET. Headlining the event inside the Talking Stick Resort Arena will be rising featherweight Yair Rodriguez taking on UFC Hall of Famer and former two-division champion B.J. Penn. It’ll be “The Prodigy’s” 145-pound debut.
Also on the main card will be a welterweight clash between Court McGee and Ben Saunders. Bantamweight Jimmie Rivera has been removed from the card. Lauzon vs. Held is expected to serve as the co-main event.
Veteran Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight Joe Lauzon doesn’t exactly have one foot out the door. Despite having 38 fights in his professional career, “J-Lau” doesn’t appear to be slowing down. He will step inside the Octagon next Sunday night (Jan. 15) to take on former Bellator contender Marcin Held.
Lauzon was a recent guest on MMAJunkie Radio. He said he is prepared to avoid Held’s bread and butter, the leg locks:
“The smart plan is to stay away from the leglock stuff. Don’t play with fire more than you need to. Defend the leg locks and get away. But if we find ourselves in a perfect situation, I think it would pretty awesome to submit this guy.”
With so many fights under his belt, one can only imagine the amount of wear and tear Lauzon’s body has endured. The 155-pounder admitted there are times he feels spent.
“It depends on the day. Most days, I feel awesome. Every once in a while, especially during fight camp, I’ll wake up and be like, ‘Oh my god, what is going on?’ I feel like I’ve been in a car accident or something. Nothing major, but just sore stuff. Sore hands, sore knees, (and a) sore neck. But most days I feel great.”
Lauzon has gone 2-3 in his last five bouts, but he has shown he still has mileage. “J-Lau” isn’t prepared to call it a career until he loses interest in training.
“I think it’s going to come down to, when am I not interested in going to the gym anymore – not interested in training anymore. But right now, I love getting into the gym.”
Lauzon vs. Held will be the co-main event of the UFC Fight Night event in Phoenix, Arizona. The main card will begin at 10 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c_LwgRxt5c
Veteran Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight Joe Lauzon doesn’t exactly have one foot out the door. Despite having 38 fights in his professional career, “J-Lau” doesn’t appear to be slowing down. He will step inside the Octagon next Sunday night (Jan. 15) to take on former Bellator contender Marcin Held.
Lauzon was a recent guest on MMAJunkie Radio. He said he is prepared to avoid Held’s bread and butter, the leg locks:
“The smart plan is to stay away from the leglock stuff. Don’t play with fire more than you need to. Defend the leg locks and get away. But if we find ourselves in a perfect situation, I think it would pretty awesome to submit this guy.”
With so many fights under his belt, one can only imagine the amount of wear and tear Lauzon’s body has endured. The 155-pounder admitted there are times he feels spent.
“It depends on the day. Most days, I feel awesome. Every once in a while, especially during fight camp, I’ll wake up and be like, ‘Oh my god, what is going on?’ I feel like I’ve been in a car accident or something. Nothing major, but just sore stuff. Sore hands, sore knees, (and a) sore neck. But most days I feel great.”
Lauzon has gone 2-3 in his last five bouts, but he has shown he still has mileage. “J-Lau” isn’t prepared to call it a career until he loses interest in training.
“I think it’s going to come down to, when am I not interested in going to the gym anymore – not interested in training anymore. But right now, I love getting into the gym.”
Lauzon vs. Held will be the co-main event of the UFC Fight Night event in Phoenix, Arizona. The main card will begin at 10 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1.
At Saturday night’s UFC Fight Night 98, Ultimate Fighter season one winner Diego Sanchez picked up an impressive victory over an up-and-coming challenger, as he defeated Marcin Held via unanimous decision in the co-main …
https://youtu.be/EeTwJUXUTn4
At Saturday night’s UFC Fight Night 98, Ultimate Fighter season one winner Diego Sanchez picked up an impressive victory over an up-and-coming challenger, as he defeated Marcin Held via unanimous decision in the co-main event.
Featured below is post-show interview conducted with Sanchez backstage at the event in Mexico City, which comes courtesy of the official UFC YouTube channel.
Additionally, you can watch Bruce Buffer announce Sanchez as the winner and the post-fight Octagon interviews from Saturday’s main event via the video embedded above.
For complete UFC Fight Night 98 results, click here.
