Lightweight bout: Joe Lauzon (-260) vs Michael Johnson (+200) Fight Breakdown: The UFC Fight Night 26 in Boston features a main card lightweight match-up between hometown submission ace Joe Lauzon and TUF season 11 finalist Michael Johnson. Lauzon is currently the favorite at -260 ($260 to win $100) with the return on the underdog Johnson being +200 ($100 to win $200) at Several Bookmakerss. Joe Lauzon (22-8 MMA, 9-5 UFC) makes his 15th appearance in the Octagon coming off a blood-gushing Unanimous Decision loss to Jim Miller. Lauzon has 6 submission of the night honors, 5 fight of the night honors, to go with 1 knockout of the night award. He has never been in a boring fight. Joe is an exciting fighter who fights for the finish and gives it his all, every single fight. Joe Lauzon trains out Lauzon MMA, his gym which he runs with his brother, former UFC fighter Dan Lauzon. Joe Lauzon’s striking is average at best, but his ground game is masterful. He is both brilliant in offensive and defensive submission grappling. He is very capable of submitting opponents from any given position. Lauzon has been notorious for his poor cardio but he showed improved cardio in his last outing against Miller. He probably is not as good as Michael Johnson on the feet, but he is worlds better on the ground, which is where he will be looking to take this fight. Michael Johnson (12-8 MMA, 4-4 UFC) has his back against the wall when he steps into the Octagon for the 9th time against Joe Lauzon. After a three fight winning streak that includes wins over tough lightweights Tony Ferguson, Danny Castillo, and Shane Roller, Johnson has dropped his last two fights. He needs to pick up a win in order to avoid the pink slip. Johnson is an OK striker and his offensive wrestling is also OK, but his defensive wrestling is very poor. Mediocre wrestlers are able to control him on the mat. His submission defense is OK, also, as displayed in the third round of the Shane Roller bout, in which Roller had his back the entire round and was unable to secure a submission. Training out of the Blackzillians camp in Florida, Michael Johnson will be looking to keep this fight standing and knock Joe Lauzon out, if not outstrike him en route to a Decision. One thing to note, Johnson will have the superior cardio going into this bout. Fight Prediction: I see this fight hitting the mat within the first minute and Lauzon getting the tap in under two. Johnson will be looking to fight for his life to save his job, but it’s gonna be over before he knows it. Gabe’s Pick: Joe Lauzon by Submission (achilles lock, 1:18 round 1) Gabe’s Recommended Play: Joe Lauzon -260 — I recommend parlaying this with Uriah Hall -515 to reduce the juice from -260 all the way down to -154. — Also, Lauzon by Submission will certainly be worth a look once the odds are released.
