Joe Lauzon Eyes January Return to Action

UFC Lightweight Joe Lauzon hopes to return from ACL surgery in January

According to a blog post on his official Web site dated August 24, UFC lightweight contender and TUF 5 veteran Joe Lauzon (18-4 MMA) is eyeing a possible return to the Octagon as early as January of 2010 after undergoing successful ACL surgery at the beginning of the year.

In the post, talking about his visit with Dr. Pavlovich, Lauzon said, “I asked him if fighting in January or so was reasonable and he said it definitely was. We had talked about January before but it was nice to hear it from him at this point.”

Lauzon injured his ACL in a February battle with fellow lightweight standout Jeremy Stephens in the main even of a UFC Fight Night card on Spike TV. While the Bridgewater, MA native was victorious by way of a second round arm bar, he has been out of action for six months after going under the knife shortly after the fight.

When we last spoke to Lauzon in April 2009, he mentioned early 2010 as the most likely time of his return, but he was also seriously considering an early November 2009 return to action amidst rumors that the UFC would be debuting in Boston that month. The rumors turned out to be unfounded, thus giving Lauzon more time to rest and recover his new cadaver ACL.

We asked Lauzon if he would like to be matched against a top name immediately upon his return to the UFC, but the 25 year old was somewhat cautious on the heels of his serious injury. “I would probably rather ease back into it,” Lauzon said. “It’s definitely a long layoff for me, especially coming off of knee surgery, but I’m sure one or two fights down the line I’d be in a lot better shape.”

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Since turning professional in 2004, Lauzon has never gone the distance in 22 professional appearances against top-notch competition. Currently riding a two-fight winning streak with his last loss coming to former number one lightweight contender and fellow Boston native Kenny Florian in April 2008, Lauzon will look to establish himself as a credible threat to the lightweight title when he returns to action next year.

By Steven T. Kelliher
ProFighting-fans.com Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of Joe Lauzon