UFC Quick Quote: Jeremy Stephens fight 'a little easier' for Joe Lauzon

by MMAmania.com on Jan 30, 2009 10:40 AM EST

"On our feet it’s the same fight. Stephens is a brawler but, once it hits the ground, it’s going to be an entirely different fight. Hermes is a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu; Stephens isn’t as good as him on the ground. He’s going to come out and try to knock me out. He doesn’t want to fight me on the ground. Hermes was a bigger fight but this is a little easier fight for me. I was training since early December for Franca. Someday we will fight, especially after what he’s been saying about me being lucky I’m not fighting him. The change of opponents could have been a problem if the replacement had an entirely different style. Stephens may have quicker hands and he’s tough, but it’ll be a similar fight. It’s going to be a great fight and there’s nothing like headlining a UFC show."

-- The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 5 alum Joe Lauzon comments during a recent media workout about his last minute opponent switch at UFC Fight Night 17 from the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Fla., on Feb. 7. Lauzon was supposed to collide with former number one division contender Hermes Franca in the main event of the Spike TV special, which is scheduled to air at 9 p.m. ET. Franca, however, sustained a serious injury during training and was forced out of the fight. His training partner, Stephens, stepped up to take his place.

Tweet Comment 20 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

im gonna have to agree with joe, stephens is a much easier fight than franca

by Toad on Jan 30, 2009 11:33 AM EST reply actions

yea it’s gonna be fun when Joe gets KTFO!

by RoB on Jan 30, 2009 11:37 AM EST up reply actions

i think there could be2 very different endings

ending 1:- stephens knocks him out
ending 2:- joe submits him

joe i believe has the hardest task that is take jeremy down jeremy has the easier task of make it a stand up fight which is how it starts off

by ufcaddict on Jan 30, 2009 1:02 PM EST up reply actions

Joe by whatever he wants. Against Hermes his only chance was to become a division I wrestler. Dos anjos was putting on a clinic on him.

by NameNotRequired on Jan 30, 2009 6:51 PM EST up reply actions

KTFO…you gotta be kidding. This will be a walk in the park for Joe.

by Ca$z on Jan 30, 2009 3:42 PM EST up reply actions

i am betting a nice chunk of change on Joe!

by john on Jan 30, 2009 3:46 PM EST up reply actions

Man you have to have balls to say the fight is gonna be easier for you. If you lose then you look like at total idiot. He should have said he brings a different challenge that more suits his style or some such thing.

by NorthStar on Jan 30, 2009 2:50 PM EST up reply actions

Okay, be polite instead of honest? Keep straight talking Joe I appreciate it.

by MrFyer on Jan 30, 2009 4:05 PM EST up reply actions

I hope Stephens wins this. joe is right about the foght going to the ground and not being the same as franca. but I think joe might get KOd

by TRIKZ on Jan 30, 2009 11:45 AM EST reply actions

i agree, because joe will never see an uppercut coming from the ground in the middle of the cage

by connor on Jan 30, 2009 8:15 PM EST up reply actions

you mean when stephens has to tap. that will be fun to see

by rob u on Jan 30, 2009 11:46 AM EST reply actions

Def wouldnt say an “easier” fight. Actually I am happy that is his opinion cause when them 515 thangs get put to him, he might have more respect for:

A.) His opponent, Jeremy Stephens
B.) The 515
C.) and God, cause he needs to pray

Jeremy has shown nothing but humbleness, respect and heart. So it should be reciprocated from his opponent. Def will be a great show, I wish the best to both fights but my money is on Jeremy Stephens on this one. Dont consider him winning and upset, just think of it as Lauzon “upset” afterwards. LOL

by Bjizzle the ninja on Jan 30, 2009 11:48 AM EST reply actions

first off if you actually read what he says he only thinks its going to be easier because Franca is a world class BJJ practitioner and Stephens ground game is no where near that…also we have seen Franca knock people out with his looping bombs, just as we have seen Jeremy knock people out with his speed and power…there was no disrespect in this article so get off Stephens nuts buddies

by Breton on Jan 30, 2009 1:07 PM EST up reply actions

got stephens by tok 2nd round….btw .. Xavier Foupa-Pokam vs denis Kang ufcs 97..who the hell is pokam?

by maxxwell99 on Jan 30, 2009 12:34 PM EST reply actions

Lauzon by a flying submission move that he saw in a cartoon.

by MrFyer on Jan 30, 2009 2:40 PM EST reply actions

haha, that’d be sweet
“joe lauzon by flying gogoplata!”

…if only

by connor on Jan 30, 2009 8:16 PM EST up reply actions

I agree. That being said I didn’t see how he was going to beat Fanca. I like Joe. He’s one of my favorite fighters at Lightweight and he was my favorite on TUF 5. He has a big jits advantage in the Stevens fight, that he really didn’t have in the Franca fight. And that’s big. Stevens has the advantage when the fight is upright, but Lauzon has a big advantage when it hits the mat. Stevens did dispose of a good BJJ guy his last fight however and he poses some major threats to Lauzon. Mostly in his knock out power. I wasn’t too excited for this fight at first, but I’m warming up to it a little bit. I’m still not thrilled with the match up, but things could be far worse.

by DB on Jan 30, 2009 3:08 PM EST reply actions

i think joe could’ve beaten franca by pushing t into later rounds, but if ended early it would be franca’s hand raised, hate the guy

by connor on Jan 30, 2009 8:18 PM EST up reply actions

I thought Franca would win. now the main event has changed im going with lauzon

by Braveheart uk&roi on Jan 30, 2009 5:31 PM EST reply actions

You guys are all crazy. Stephens has a much better chance in this fight than anyone is giving him credit for. I have fought better bjj fighters than Lauzon before, Din Thomas black belt- held in there until he got caught and never tapped, Cole Miller- good bjj that he finished… Diego Salvara- good Bjj and he beat, Dios- from brazian and good bjj and he finished.. Spencer Fisher is decent on the ground and Stephens was never in trouble. His ground defense is fantastic and he will never tap. He has the most heart i have seen in the UFC. See all the submissions cole miller got him in, never tapped, din thomas didn’t tap.. Power bombs Salvara… This is going to be a great fight and Stephens will win by decision!

by Justin on Jan 30, 2009 6:51 PM EST reply actions