Joe Lauzon vs Sam Stout in the works for UFC 108 on Jan. 2

by MMAmania.com on Sep 28, 2009 11:47 PM EDT

lauzon_stout

Joe Lauzon is set to make his long-awaited return to the Octagon much sooner than expected when he collides with Sam Stout in a lightweight showdown planned for UFC 108 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 2, 2010.

Sources out of Las Vegas tell MMAmania.com that bout agreements have been distributed, but are unsigned at this time.

Lauzon underwent major knee surgery in March of this year to repair a torn meniscus, which was supposed to keep The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 5 alum on the sidelines for at least 12 months.

He's apparently way ahead of schedule.

Lauzon most recently saw action against Jeremy Stephens in the UFC Fight Night 17 main event in Tampa, Fla., on Feb. 14. He took out "Lil’ Heathen" with a second round armbar to notch his second straight win inside the Octagon.

Prior to the back-to-back victories, Lauzon was one of the many recent victims of Kenny Florian courtesy of a second round technical knockout loss at UFC Fight Night 13 back in April 2008. It was a temporary setback for the Boston-area native who appeared to be climbing his way back toward the top of the division before the injury.

Lauzon -- who has five wins in six attempts inside the Octagon -- now looks to get back on track and start the New Year fresh.

Stout was supposed to take on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 8 lightweight finalist, Phillipe Nover, at UFC Fight Night 19: "Diaz vs. Guillard" on Sept. 16, 2009; however, "The Filipino Assassin" passed out in the locker room literally hours before showtime, which forced the promotion to scrap the bout on super short notice.

"Hands of Stone" recently broke out of a rare 0-2 slump by outpointing Matt Wiman at UFC 97: "Redemption" back on April 18. The heavy-handed lightweight is probably best known for his two action-packed battles against Spencer "The King" Fisher.

He'll now try to make it two straight when he takes on Lauzon.

UFC 108 is expected to serve as the promotion’s traditional "year-end" event because the Christmas holiday falls on the last weekend of 2009. Currently, the only other fight scheduled for the card is UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva taking on the surging Vitor Belfort.

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Comments

Dang, this ones gonna be good. Lauzon subs him in the second id think.

by medecine balls on Sep 29, 2009 12:07 AM EDT reply actions

Nice match-up.

2 guys on the same level and both are hard nosed scrappers with underrated skills.

I got Stout by a close decision.

by OJR on Sep 29, 2009 8:47 AM EDT up reply actions

If Lauz takes this one, I say give him N. Diaz. Would love to see someone beat Diaz at his own game with a Sub.

by Cole on Sep 29, 2009 8:56 AM EDT up reply actions

I wanna see that match too
I got joe by decisiom

by phenomenal angel on Sep 29, 2009 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions

I like Sam Stout but Joe is way better than him … Look for the choke a 3 minutes of the first round.

by doumbret on Sep 29, 2009 12:08 AM EDT reply actions

way better?!?~ i have to disagree..

i feel they are on the same level.. this should be a good scrap!~

im taking stout~

by stinky~fingers on Sep 29, 2009 12:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Lauson is not way better than hands of steel but I do think he is a bit better but dont count hands of steel out lauson has been sidelined for a while

by Nor Cal Mexican on Sep 29, 2009 2:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Everyone still thinks Stout’s wrestling and grappling is where it was 3 to 4 years ago. The guy improved people! How you train at XTREME COUTURE and not improve your wresting is impossible. Matt Wiman has some (above) average grappling skills, and he wasn’t able to hold him down (although I thought Wiman won the fight)

Plus, Stout is sort of like a more technical Jeremy Stephens. I say Joe by submission in 2. Looking forward to this fight!

by Synyster on Sep 29, 2009 8:26 AM EDT up reply actions

I like them both, but Stout will outpoint his way to a decision.

by Felix by day, El Mexicutioner by night on Sep 29, 2009 8:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Lauzon is coming back early from a knee injury. I don’t like that. He won’t be as fit or as sharp as we’re used to. Stout takes it by TKO in the 3rd.

by PW on Sep 29, 2009 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions

good fight for his come back. If Lauzon wins we should have Lauzon v Etim imo

by Tony on Sep 29, 2009 12:18 AM EDT reply actions

That would be a step down for Joe, Etim should fight the loser of this fight if he gets past Gugerty easily enough. Etim’s talented but hasn’t beaten any good LWs and struggled the last time he made the step-up in competition.

by David W-S on Sep 29, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree doumbret. Lauzon wins this fight pretty easily. This fight makes no sense to me. Lauzon is gonna tool Stout just like Florian did when he smashed Stout by a super fast rear naked choke. I would have liked to see Lauzon take on Efrain instead.

by Red on Sep 29, 2009 12:21 AM EDT reply actions

Lauzon vs Escudero would be way better.

by medecine balls on Sep 29, 2009 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions

glad to finally see lauzon fight live i doubt it will be on main card but who knows

by bryant on Sep 29, 2009 1:09 AM EDT reply actions

Joe will take him down and sub him or win a dec if he can’t.

by Pamirec on Sep 29, 2009 1:49 AM EDT reply actions

i got hands of stone on this one

by Conan the Barbarian on Sep 29, 2009 2:01 AM EDT reply actions

Lauzon will tool Stout. There is noooo way Stout wins this fight. Stout has zero game. Look for Joe to outwrestle then submit Sam.

by hysteria on Sep 29, 2009 2:07 AM EDT reply actions

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by peazy on Sep 29, 2009 7:46 AM EDT reply actions

BETUS.com will rip you off. Don’t pay the same stupid tax that I did.

by peazy on Sep 29, 2009 7:52 AM EDT reply actions

Anyone have any clue why Dana is going on Imus this morning? Imus sucks and you would think his demo isn’t the same as the UFC’s. Has Dana ever been on Stern?

by Felix by day, El Mexicutioner by night on Sep 29, 2009 8:27 AM EDT reply actions

I hope Stout knocks Joe out. Joe got way too cocky before he got hurt.

by Stinky nuts on Sep 29, 2009 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions

I blame Big Mouth Cry Baby Penn for that.

by BudsyKind on Sep 29, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Lauzon got ripped off with illegal elbows from KFlo. Although I am CDN I have loved watching this Lauzon kid fight since ko’d Pulver.

by BudsyKind on Sep 29, 2009 9:18 AM EDT reply actions

Me Too, Loved him since the Pulver KO. Joe Lauzon is the man. Classy and smart kid. Great ground game and some nice power to boot. Kid has a bright future. War Joe!!

by raptorboy on Sep 29, 2009 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions

War Creepy Joe! No way stout takes this, lauzon takes him down and submits him

by TheLastProdigiousRushingAxeMurderingEmperor on Sep 29, 2009 11:57 AM EDT reply actions

gotta give it lauzon
2nd round by sub

by CLAXP on Sep 29, 2009 7:51 PM EDT reply actions

joe lauzon will have stout on his back in the first 20 seconds of the first round in joes corner. so much respect for stout hes an amazing fighter, but joe is my boy and for all of you who said this fight will go to decision (well i think your stupid, joe finishs fights.) and good luck to his little bro dan fighting cole miller on that same night.

by jedi ninja express on Oct 20, 2009 10:54 PM EDT reply actions