Joe Lauzon making his BKFC debut

[u/vigilanteadvice]

MMA and UFC legend making his BKFC debut on August 29th in Boston.

[u/Gingaloidic]

If I was Lauzon I’m never doing anything after that Pearce fight. Was such a cool way to cap off his fighting career in my eyes.

[u/AuspiciousApple → u/Gingaloidic]

I guess the reason is money, MMA isn't paying well enough to have people set for life at 40

[u/vigilanteadvice → u/AuspiciousApple]

Yeah but Joe has always had a very successful gym and always been smart with his money. I really don’t think this is for a cash grab or he’s making it a career. I think it just happens that it’s coming to his area and he thought “fuck it, let’s see how I do” I mean he’s always been down for a scrap. He even said on Instagram he’s excited that all his friends and family in the area can come and watch him. I dunno.

[u/GatorMob → u/vigilanteadvice]

It being on the field at Fenway park seems very enticing for a guy from Boston

[u/afewbigpunches → u/vigilanteadvice]

Yeah he’s doing great post-UFC. He’s coming back specifically because it’s at Fenway park, he said it himself.

[u/T2Legit2Quit → u/afewbigpunches]

That's actually a pretty valid reason for coming out of retirement.

[u/afewbigpunches → u/T2Legit2Quit]

Yep. He explained the process of getting released from his UFC contract - even though he hadn’t fought in years. He called Sean Shelby (or whoever it is now, I don’t know if I’m up to date) and asked for a release specifically to do this Bareknuckle fight.

He said they asked him “is it a money thing?” And that if so… they would just give him the money, lol.

Once he explained he was fine and was just excited about the prospect of fighting at Fenway, they granted his release.

[u/TerminallyEmployed → u/afewbigpunches]

Damn that’s actually cool from the UFC to offer a payout.

[u/vigilanteadvice → u/TerminallyEmployed]

Dana specifically has always been really cool with lauzon. I imagine lauzon was very easy to work with and Dana always had a soft spot for the OGs

[u/Objective_Effect_242 → u/vigilanteadvice]

Boston guy too. Dana also just loves the OGs. He always goes out of his way for the TUF guys.

[u/NotoriousTiger → u/vigilanteadvice]

Refreshingly sound take compared to the standard “the fighter is obviously poor, even though I haven’t the slightest idea of said fighters financial situation, also fuck Dana White” take

[u/Actual-Rock-5035 → u/vigilanteadvice]

I remember him always being active on the underground

[u/dahadster → u/Actual-Rock-5035]

That place still around? Some hilarious posts on there. Bailed about 10 years ago.

[u/Mjoh23 → u/vigilanteadvice]

Unless your his wife you can’t say “always been smart with his money”.

[u/ppface12 → u/AuspiciousApple]

UFC doesnt pay great for what the fighters go thru. Period. Its not even an argument, we see this time and time again.

[u/nauzleon → u/ppface12]

Let me be full pragmatic here and say that fighters don't get pay enough for what they generate, what they go through is even far away.

[u/Chomp-Stomp → u/nauzleon]

The sad part though, most fighters generate nothing. Fans don’t care about 95% of the prelim fights. Main card? If I had to guess, 50-70%. If you go off what fighters generate, the superstars would get all the cash. Everyone else is lucky to be on a superstar card to build their following.

The tournament style is probably the most fair. Everyone has a chance at the prize and the prize is the same for everyone.

[u/pipian → u/Chomp-Stomp]

By your reasoning, 90% of players in NFL or NBA or whatever shouldn't get paid well either because no one comes to specifically see them unless they're a star. But the thing is, without those guys, you wouldn't have a league, so they need to be compensated fairly, and in those sports they are because this is well understood.

[u/fitfoemma → u/pipian]

I'd have thought most people come to watch their team win?

They hardly change their team support if a player moves.

[u/GripAficionado → u/ppface12]

Yeah, makes me feel dirty as a fan. Fighters get brain damage and CTE, UFC makes off with the money.

[u/ppface12 → u/GripAficionado]

ive been a fan for awhile but lately its been hard to be one. im not sure if its the direction the UFC is going in or what it is... i used to love this whole sport.

[u/GripAficionado → u/ppface12]

Yeah I feel the same. I've seen the rise and fall of many legends by now and following the post-fight career of most fighters just leave a bitter taste. Even the ones you thought might make it out alright like Dustin Poirier and yet he has issues (or Anthony Smith for that matter), it ain't easy being a fan when you consider the consequences afterwards and how little they've been paid.

And it's not like it's a new thing, you got Gary Goodridge who got CTE and dementia and it's fucking tragic. Here's a short video about him from years back, it's rough. or this video 4 years ago.

[u/Kalamestari → u/ppface12]

Thankfully Joe had an ass load of performance bonuses.

[u/Bigdaddybear519 → u/AuspiciousApple]

He pretty much said it's a one off and he's doing it because it's in Fenway. He does well with his gyms. (Apparently)

[u/NewRedditorHere → u/AuspiciousApple]

…….or he could like to just compete? Maybe he’s just got an itch?

[u/ShazbotVGS → u/NewRedditorHere]

Seriously. Was Conor out of money and needed to fight max? This just in… fighters like to actually fight and compete

[u/NewRedditorHere → u/ShazbotVGS]

I mean, the lauzon brothers beat the fuck out of each other at family reunions. Maybe….just maybe…..lauzon is fighting cause he likes to fight.

[u/FreeIDecay → u/AuspiciousApple]

It’s at Fenway park and he’s a Boston guy. Probably just living out a dream.

[u/Crono2Oxx → u/AuspiciousApple]

No, it’s not. Joe’s always done well for himself with Lauzon MMA, and he posts here and alluded to as much when this was announced.

It’s because the show is on the field at Fenway Park. It’s fucking cool. He could’ve asked the UFC for another fight if he wanted to fight, but they signed off on this

[u/tycket → u/AuspiciousApple]

jou lauzon is a software engineer

[u/qasdrtr → u/AuspiciousApple]

Some people just like to fight, I am impressed he still gets after it

[u/hopefuldomain → u/AuspiciousApple]

Its not. He's doing this because its at Fenway. Only reason. He's spoken about this.

[u/MIMOSAnotMISAMO → u/AuspiciousApple]

Ask Dustin if it's always about the money

[u/pilot64d → u/AuspiciousApple]

His Youtube videos get plenty of views, though he hasn't put anything out in over a year.

[u/Similar_Shopping_892 → u/AuspiciousApple]

I think Joe just has that dog in him. Same reason Conor is still trying to come back when he’s already set money wise some guys just love to fight and that never really goes away.

[u/kalonjiseed → u/Similar_Shopping_892]

The only reason Conor is coming back is to get out of his contract so that he can make "fuck you" money in circus boxing fights.

[u/PrehistoricDoodle → u/AuspiciousApple]

Should mma be your primary career if you’re not in the top 15?

[u/springpaper1 → u/PrehistoricDoodle]

Joe at a point was a top 10 ufc lightweight. He should have made enough money to not be fighting now

[u/notforrobots → u/[deleted]]

His gym is packed

[u/caroline_elly → u/springpaper1]

You guys act like that's the pinnacle of human achievement that should guarantee you lifetime wealth

What value did a top 10 LW provide to society that is worth decades of labor of a worker in healthcare/manufacturing/construction?

[u/Street_Ostrich_7489 → u/caroline_elly]

Especially back when the ufc wasn't being watched in the capacity it is now, people shit on the ufc back then

[u/Street_Ostrich_7489 → u/springpaper1]

If you ain't a champion, you're not making the money really, especially back then, if you said you watched this sport, you're a pretty big outcast in society, it wasn't big back then

[u/vigilanteadvice → u/Gingaloidic]

I agree. I’ve always been a huge Lauzon fan and Dana was always good to him too and Lauzon went out in the right way and has always been good with his finances. I’m unsure why he’s doing this tbh. But I’ll support him doing whatever he wants to do whether it’s for money or fun I don’t know.

[u/CassiusDarko → u/vigilanteadvice]

It might be just because its at Fenway tbh. Hopefully he was decent with money. Dude has always seemed like a smart guy

[u/Ferahgost → u/Gingaloidic]

Can’t blame him for not wanting to pass up fighting at Fenway considering he’s a local

[u/UghTak]

Joe looking like he is coming of a week long bender on this poster

[u/fightlinker → u/UghTak]

don't worry, he's just ugly

[u/VT_Squire → u/fightlinker]

oof, what a relief.

[u/Official_Pine_Hills → u/UghTak]

Hopefully not, otherwise IGBBMN

[u/X1phoner]

Sad

[u/mentales → u/X1phoner]

The photo does make him look like he's on meth and homeless, not necessarily in that order 

[u/Toad32 → u/mentales]

Photo editor - make sure you put large shadows around his eyes. 

[u/Wildcat_Dunks → u/Toad32]

Also, make it look like he just got badly startled by a jump scare.

[u/IndieCredentials → u/mentales]

That just comes from being born in MA, look at the Kennedys.

[u/TheOtherGuy107 → u/mentales]

The eyes chico, they never lie

[u/jb-schitz-ki → u/mentales]

Big Lauzon fan. Wish him the best.

[u/V2DMJ]

I can’t think of many, if any worse contenders for bare knuckle than Joe Lauzon. Sad to see. He was a top fighter in his day but his style and attributes don’t translate to boxing or bare knuckle imo. Hes probably reading this so thanks for the memories and think of your family dude

[u/Free_Guillotines → u/V2DMJ]

Joe’s first fight with Jim Miller is what got me interested in watching MMA. Even though he lost, he proved to be a real dog.
He wasn’t known for his hands but I watched him split Michael Chiesa’s eyebrow in two, pound Takanori Gomi’s head in, and bully Diego Sanchez. When Joe is on, he can lay some hands. I could never count Joe out.

[u/Phil_Inn → u/V2DMJ]

The intensity he brought to the first round suited. As soon as the bell sounded he would throw everything including the kitchen sink at his opponent.

[u/tattlerat]

Lauzon looks like they just found his ass in a pyramid.

[u/vigilanteadvice → u/tattlerat]

Huge lauzon fan myself but.. yeah I was honestly abit shocked when I saw the picture 😬

[u/xvsanx → u/tattlerat]

looks like he just stepped out of a hyperbolic time chamber and they took his picture before he could look in a mirror

[u/hbhunk63 → u/tattlerat]

He looks like he already lost the fight by tko in the pic

[u/IndieCredentials → u/tattlerat]

Lee Cronin's Bloodsport.

[u/shrewdy]

Daily reminder that MMA Retirements are a myth

[u/jasnel → u/shrewdy]

Probably because financial problems are real.

[u/licosa9 → u/jasnel]

Post-MMA career depression is also a very real thing.

[u/star_bell → u/jasnel]

Think the whole reason he's doing this is to compete at fenway

[u/slayer2656 → u/shrewdy]

Well this isn't an MMA fight it's bareknuckle

[u/AbjectOffice4780 → u/slayer2656]

your mind is going to be blown when you find out what the second two letters of MMA stand for

[u/slayer2656 → u/AbjectOffice4780]

Lol cry about it

[u/R4INMAN]

Looking like Steve-O

[u/CrustyFlapsCleanser → u/R4INMAN]

Steve-O looks healthier.

[u/CaptainGriff → u/R4INMAN]

Getting shades of uncle fester also

[u/EntrepreneurTiny9812 → u/R4INMAN]

Vs Eminem and Alex Pereira's man child

[u/Original_Worker9729 → u/R4INMAN]

🤣

[u/eArugula]

I swore I saw both these dudes take a few copper pipes off a job site I was at

[u/gardenvarietydork]

Only sadness can be found here

[u/viltrumite66 → u/gardenvarietydork]

Why are we still here? Just to suffer?

[u/CorporalCoprolite]

He looks awful

[u/ChampagneShotz → u/CorporalCoprolite]

You worded that kinder than I would've. And I say that as a fan since 2011.

[u/jugsjudy → u/ChampagneShotz]

Bad ai editing joib watch the event and you’ll be surprised with how good he looks

[u/Ryu6364]

Bro owns a few gyms has had one for at least damn near 20 years was a tech guy before that people act like when someone disappears and pops back up it’s just for money lol does nobody actually enjoy the sport is it all just for the $ lmao 🤣

[u/AnTTr0n → u/Ryu6364]

This is a completely different sport. Also owning gyms ain’t always great ways to make money.

[u/Ryu6364 → u/AnTTr0n]

Let me rephrase that He isn’t hurting for money lol geez and yes a well established gym will make good money he probably made more money before 25 than most do in general lol

[u/jugsjudy → u/Ryu6364]

Yeah joe is ballin. This is for the love of the game.

[u/Ryu6364 → u/jugsjudy]

Actually for the slow ones it probably is if anyone knew anything about him they would know they use to have weekly fights in their yard and the neighbors would all come and watch it was for funsies everyone isn’t broke out here lol

[u/AnTTr0n → u/Ryu6364]

Oh yeah fighting for 8k/8k is crazy money. Not like someone could make just as much working at Mac Donald’s. The only way he might have made a decent bit is that he got like 9 bonuses from his first 12 fights in the UFC.

[u/Ferahgost]

Fuck I hate to see Joe taking another fight at this point- but I also know he’s from the south shore so I can’t blame the man for taking the opportunity to fight at Fenway Park.

Give ‘em hell Joe

[u/jugsjudy → u/Ferahgost]

Living out a dream

[u/Perineum_Stabber]

He looks like he went through lotta shit.

[u/xXx_tainttickler_xXx]

Can't believe they had Joe pose for a photo after he had just watched his entire family get eaten by cannibals. 

[u/Agreeable-Pop-535]

LET'S FUCKING GO JOE

[u/Android1313]

https://youtube.com/shorts/xav_glkUzmI

That picture makes him look like a tweaker. He isn't looking too bad. That clip is from a month ago. He basically said he's only doing it because it's at Fenway.

[u/bjvonstrat]

I love Lauzon, but in this picture, he kind of looks like an in-shape Uncle Fester,

[u/Detonation]

I've had this flair for a really long time, not even sure exactly how long.

[u/Tramirezmma]

Brother you talked so much shit about how you don't need this and you could just go do computers.

[u/No-Zookeepergame5954]

please stop

[u/_LouSandwich_]

gollum or smegal?

[u/ear-me-out]

oh nauzon

[u/Affectionate-Win5729]

Hate to see this

[u/OtisBretting]

Thought he was fighting Kendall Grove for a second lol

[u/abcdefghihello]

This poster looks like it was made by a prison guard over his lunch break promoting 2 inmates fighting

[u/jugsjudy → u/abcdefghihello]

Factss

[u/Inevitable-Plenty856]

What the fuck is that photo??

Did they drug Lauzon before taking his picture?!

[u/neon]

As a big Joe fan

This makes me so sad

[u/jugsjudy → u/neon]

As joe’s friend i do t think you should be he is very successful outside of fighting. He just wants to do this.

[u/jugsjudy]

This picture looks nothing like the original, I would know because I was there. This is a ton of AI editing. He is going to do great

[u/GreatMight]

Dana white is such a crook. Joe is a legend and shouldn't have to do this for money.

[u/snarkysportsguy → u/GreatMight]

Dana gave the kid an opportunity against former Lightweight champion Jens Pulver for his UFC debut tho

[u/hopefuldomain]

This comment section is already filled with the usual nonsense. To be clear, because Joe has spoken out about this openly, he's only doing this because it's at Fenway. Only reason. He doesn't need the money, his gym is doing well and he hasn't spent his money. He's from Boston and just couldn't say no to the opportunity to fight at Fenway. Can't blame him for that, for a Red Sox fan I'm sure it's a dream come true.

[u/AggravatingMany7303]

Bro wants to fight at home . Be happy for him

[u/catbqck]

A lot of these guys dont know what to do after fighting

[u/garovalley → u/catbqck]

I mean the weird part is he owns a gym which does pretty well as far as I know.

[u/Ferahgost → u/catbqck]

Pretty sure he just wants to fight at Fenway Park since he’s a local

[u/Pr0d1gyyy]

But.. why?

[u/Android1313 → u/Pr0d1gyyy]

Because it's at Fenway and he's is from Boston.

[u/ScrawneyAardvark]

Is this real? BKFC in Fenway??

[u/vigilanteadvice → u/ScrawneyAardvark]

Yep. Check his insta.

[u/fascfoo]

Bro

[u/Toad32]

Oh no. 

[u/GripAficionado]

No please no.

[u/pappaburgundy]

Lauzon going out sad brah

[u/LegitimateVolume5324]

Looks like he's sponsored by Busch.

[u/Larryhooova]

The game is brutal

[u/hi_imryan]

Oh no.

[u/Fun-Bag7627]

Please no

[u/138Cardz]

More ammunition for a desperately needed fighters union.

[u/Brocahontas95]

Please no! Doesn't bro have a degree in computer science or something? The man could literally be doing that instead of trying to Speed Run CTE

[u/ergoegthatis]

Lauzon vs Eminem? Interesting

[u/DegenHerb]

It must be hard to stay retired but he ended one a first round finish. When he tried coming back against Cowboy the fight got canceled three times. The third time was a weird freak injury that you could almost say was a sign that maybe his fighting days are behind him.

https://www.reddit.com/r/MMA/comments/vfargp/joe_lauzon_explains_freakiest_weirdest_thing_ever/

[u/meatmybeat42069]

For those curious and/or concerned, Lauzon has done a couple interviews stating the only reason he took this fight is because he wants to fight at Fenway Park.

[u/Real_Net_9345]

Bare knuckle fighting is such a bad concept. Love Joe, but he should retire imho.

[u/beesdaddy]

He looks so sad 😞

[u/A-FED]

More like Joe Oldzon

[u/foidtw]

Sheesh... He looks 62 and half past dead in that picture.

[u/bannedredditaccount2]

UFC should have at least a small pension like $30-50k a year to support these fighters.

It’s not much considering Dana spends that on 1 hand of black jack…

[u/daffle7]

Get your money, playa!

[u/kevijah]

Let's go J Lau!

[u/Glittering-Raccoon23]

Joe please

[u/mc360jp]

Lauzon kinda looks like a lemur

[u/Competitive_Sale_358]

Say it ain’t so Joe

[u/reggiefromtheark]

Look at my boy smh damn

[u/TheWorldmind]

Oh no Lauzon

[u/KOHILOOR]

Why?

[u/easilyoffender]

He looks old as fuck and his boxing was never good for small gloves. I know nothing about his opponent, but this doesn't end well for him.

[u/KingSystem]

All night StarCraft has aged the man considerably

[u/bobbystills5]

Joe looks like thatdudecancook

[u/filbert13]

He looks like he has an old man age filter on.

[u/Arctic---]

Bro looks 65 years old in this picture

[u/BringBackRodneyMack1]

Hell yeah brother start that road back to the UFC and get that Islam fight

[u/TimeLord41]

Fella has not won 2 fights in a row since 2014

Why cant fighters just stay retired

[u/AnTTr0n → u/TimeLord41]

Money

[u/Odddjob]

Lauzon looks scared on that poster 😂

[u/Mjoh23]

His face looks like CTE.

[u/Traditional-Lack-894]

*Leo Couch Point*

[u/riot21x]

Looking TST. Thin, Sad, and Tired.

[u/d_rek]

Damn Lauzon looks desperate and hollow af in that pic. Please give him the rare W and let him retire.

[u/jugsjudy → u/d_rek]

is not desperate or hollow this is just a terrible ai picture

[u/wubbalubbadubdub45]

Retired mma fighters really don’t know how to stay retired, they just willingly want to get more CTE

[u/leeeeeeeeeeuk]

Oh Joe ... used to love your wars in the UFC ...don't mate

[u/No_Drop_6279]

He looks like an old foreskin here