Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon set for UFC 144 in Japan

by Mike Chiapetta | source: mmafighting.com

A lightweight meeting pitting Anthony Pettis and Joe Lauzon has been agreed to for UFC 144 in Japan, MMA Fighting has learned.

The UFC confirmed the matchup to MMA Fighting's Ben Fowlkes on Tuesday.

The matchup had previously been rumored, with a possible date in Las Vegas. Instead, it will go international.

The fight should prove to be a high-octane battle between two of the division's most offensive-minded fighters.

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tags-: Anthony Pettis (detail) Joe Lauzon (detail) UFC 144 Japan

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11/16/11 2:50 PM by Musashi

Maybe not in rankings.. but in terms of actual skill level & recent wins, that's not entirely clear... he just beat the guy who is fighting for the belt... so it would be wise for Joe to approach him as such.

11/16/11 1:54 PM by FixedPartialArts

This is a commonly perpetrated lie. Pettis wouldn't have lost without the showtime kick. He won 49-46 on one of the judge's cards. So he couldn't have lost a decision on his card regardless of what happened in the 5th. And what you're trying to argue to people about that 5th round is that on both other judge's scorecards Pettis would have lost simply because Bendo got a takedown and was on top for 30-40 seconds. The other 3 minutes took place on the feet where Pettis had a decisive edge, landing punch combos, flying knees, and walking down Pettis. Which in response to Bonnar stated Pettis was in complete control of the round. Bendo would have needed to stay on top for the rest of the round for it to even be in question, and he didn't. Pettis got up with a minute and a half left, went back to stalking, and to his credit did land that kick.As for the logic that their performance against a common opponent means more than what transpired head to head, that's ridiculous. And if you had any knowledge about history you'd know about how outcomes in octagon debuts indicate very little about a fighter's ability. Give me a list of fighters in the UFC who came from a smaller organization and beat good veterans in their debut. Bendo and Roller got the closest, and their opponents weren't as good as Guida. Everybody from the first WEC merge lost to the good veterans they faced in their debuts.

11/16/11 1:37 PM by Large Fun Bags

Right, except he lost to clay Guida who just lost to Henderson. Based on that and the fact that Pettis would have lost the Henderson fight had it not been for the Showtime kick Benson > Anthony

11/16/11 1:36 PM by Large Fun Bags

Joe takes this easily

11/16/11 12:33 PM by orcus

"and guess what? Pettis is not in the top tier" His win over Bendo, who is steamrolling everyone in the UFC, says he is.

11/16/11 12:29 PM by FixedPartialArts

No, Castillo, Roller, and Bartimus weren't legitimate opponents but Pulver and Menjivar were. You aren't biased at all.Pulver: he lost 7 out his next 8 fights after Joe beat him. He was a name, nothing more.Menjivar: who else did he beat of note at 155 besides Joe? The answer is nobody. Menjivar was tiny for that division and now fights at 135. That's a bad loss.As for Pettis' opponents:Castillo won his next 3 fights after Pettis, including one against Poirer. Roller won his next 2, against Tavares and Varner.Bartimus won 3 out of his next 4, including what he just did to Griffin.But they aren't legit opponents like might Menjivar and Pulver.Pettis has faced 6 "legit" opponents and most thought he beat 5 of them. Lauzon has faced 7 and he lost to 5 of them in clear-cut fashion. And Pettis has the best win of the bunch by far in Bendo.Pettis usually bests guys around Lauzon's level. Lauzon usually loses to guys below Pettis'. Not to mention this is a bad match-up for Lauzon when you consider he is dependent on finishes and Pettis has never lost in that fashion.I like Joe, but sorry, this is a really tough draw for him. And yes, I did think he could beat Guillard. Good match-up for him, overrated opponent, I had that as a pick 'em.

11/16/11 12:06 PM by myblood04

Go Joe!!!

11/16/11 12:06 PM by myblood04

Go Joe!!!

11/16/11 9:28 AM by jaytrainwreck

This fight will not be an easy win for either fighter, however, I am going with Pettis.

11/16/11 9:00 AM by Jason

I do not engage in screen name bets with the commoners:) I just collect my money from my online bookie I win when Joe is the underdog.

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