Issue 099

March 2013

The most appropriate term for Joe Lauzon and Jamie Varner’s lightweight war at UFC on Fox 4 in August last year might be ‘rollercoaster.’ While Lauzon was coming off a momentum-halting Anthony Pettis head-kick knockout in Japan, former WEC 155lb champion Varner was revitalised after handing high-flying prospect Edson Barboza an upset first-round TKO after stepping in on short notice three months earlier.

After rocking ‘J-Lau’ twice in the first round, Varner, again a late replacement, could likely taste another ratings-scaling victory. Instead his descent began mid way through the second, when Lauzon managed to wriggle out of a guillotine attempt into back mount and a failed bid for a rear naked choke.

Moments later a hook-hurling melee ended with both on the ground and Lauzon railing with strikes and submissions. But, the third would be the finale. A tiring Varner was swept following a double-leg, and the ensuing scramble landed him in a fight-finishing Lauzon triangle. What a ride.