UFC 144 Preview: The Main Card

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Lightweights
Anthony Pettis (14-2, 1-1 UFC) vs. Joe Lauzon (21-6, 8-3 UFC)

The Matchup: The spectacular “Showtime Kick” that floored Ben Henderson in the WEC’s final event will forever be linked to Anthony Pettis, but the 25-year-old is much more than a Sportscenter highlight. After seeing his title dreams temporarily disappear under the smothering pressure of Clay Guida in June, Pettis realized he would have to adapt his game to move to the top of the UFC’s crowded lightweight division.

Rather than stay in the pocket with knockout artist Jeremy Stephens at UFC 136, Pettis opted for a different approach, utilizing takedowns and top control to earn a split-decision victory. It was not the striker’s delight that many anticipated, but it did show that Pettis was willing to follow a tactical game plan when necessary. His previous outing does not change the fact that “Showtime” is still one of the flashier standup artists in the UFC today. His kickboxing and athleticism make him a handful on the feet, even if the level of talent in the Octagon forces him to be more conservative.

Lauzon improved his stock dramatically when he ended the five-fight unbeaten string of Melvin Guillard. Expected by many to be outclassed by “The Young Assassin,” Lauzon caught “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 2 alumnus with a stiff left hand before pouncing to apply the decisive rear-naked choke. Despite the nature of the victory, Lauzon will not want to exchange with Pettis for too long. Though his boxing is accurate, Lauzon has not submitted 16 opponents by accident. The Massachusetts native relies on aggression and conditioning to implement his strategy, waiting for an opponent to make a mistake so he can capitalize. On the ground, “J-Lau” is prolific when attempting submissions attempts -- when one fails, he simply moves on to another.

He will not have an easy mark in Pettis, whose counter wrestling and guard will keep him from being overwhelmed. Expect a wildly entertaining affair if the fight goes to the mat, with plenty of transitions and reversals. If Pettis feels Lauzon is getting the best of him on the canvas, he is more than capable of returning to his feet.

The Pick: Pettis will not be as careless as Guillard in the standup exchanges, and he is talented enough to break even with Lauzon on the ground. In an all-action affair, Pettis hurts Lauzon on the feet and wins by stoppage or submission in round two.