After seven years away from combat sports, UFC legend Joe Lauzon returned to fighting last weekend at Bare Knuckle FC’s first outdoor event at Fenway Park in Boston. Lauzon, a native Massachusettsan, knocked out Stash Kuykendall in the second round in front of a raucous crowd.
Lauzon’s triumphant BKFC debut came several years after multiple failed attempts to book his UFC finale against UFC Hall of Famer Donald Cerrone. The two were last booked to square off at a June 2022 UFC Fight Night event before Lauzon was forced to withdraw after suffering a knee injury after the official weigh-in.
Four years after the bizarre withdrawal, the 42-year-old Lauzon treated fans to another highlight-reel finish in Boston at the historic event. But just hours before he was scheduled to walk to the ring, UFC matchmaker Hunter Campbell attempted to talk Lauzon out of fighting.
“Hunter [Campbell] called me and said, ‘Why are you doing this? This is the stupidest thing ever. You shouldn’t be doing this’,” Lauzon said.
“‘If it’s a money thing, we’ll help you out. We’ll put you on grappling [cards]; we’ll do something with you. Don’t want to see you taking punches because you need money. We want to look out for you’… It was an outdoor show and so many variables that could’ve not worked at all, but I wanted to do it and try to make a go of it. I was terrified there was going to be lightning, all of that when I was training for three months, especially when the [Donald Cerrone] didn’t happen twice.
“Talked to Hunter, hopped on the phone with him, and he said, ‘If this is what you want to do – I’m not telling you that you can’t do this. We’ll release you, whatever you want’,” Lauzon continued. “I still get the drug testing texts every once in a while, but haven’t been getting tested, and I don’t mind it.”
Good on the UFC matchmaker for trying. He had good intentions to protect him from getting hurt.
or Hunter wanted to re sign him lol
Lol.
Sure sounds like the UFC didn’t give a fuck about him until he was booked with an upstart combat league. Then all of a sudden they had grappling matches available?
I’m just glad Joe won.
If the UFC wants to lie about their motives “concern for the fighter” is the least believable lie they could come up with.
“Lauzon and his wife Katie have two sons, the eldest of whom was diagnosed with stage 4S Neuroblastoma “Neuroblastoma”) a week after he was born. He was finally cleared as cancer-free in early 2019.”
Says he’s tied for the most post fight bonuses.
Watched this dude show more heart and grit in some of his fights. Fucking scary.
Im betting UFC management is coming from a good place here. Likely kept in touch and know more than we do about his situation
I’m not sure that’s the case.
“But just hours before he was scheduled to walk to the ring, UFC matchmaker Hunter Campbell attempted to talk Lauzon out of fighting.”
Sounds like they were maybe trying to sabotage the event. Why reach out for the first time at the literal last hours?
Seems some people in the thread think UFC execs are far more benevolent than I do.
I find it hard to believe that Joe Lauzon is some cash cow that they’re waiting to capitalize on. The guy is 42, 43 or whatever, not sure why he was even on their roster still.
It’s not about Lauzon. It’s about sabotaging am upstart combat promotion.
Maybe I missed this angle, lol.
Spencer Fischer should consider signing with BKFC. It might be the only way to get the UFC to help him out.
With Lauzon? I mean no offense to him but if you were going to sabotage a new promo would this be your weapon of choice? Bro….bro…
Lauzon whooped that dude’s ass in BKFC. Lauzon’s face is messed up right now, but he honestly wrecked that dude hard. I was worried how he would perform going into it.