Chris Horodecki vs. Dan Lauzon
In the opening matchup of the night, IFL veteran Chris Horodecki is set to face off with Dan Lauzon, famous not only for being the brother of UFC standout Joe Lauzon, but for being the youngest fighter ever to compete in the UFC. With both fighters making their debut in a new promotion, you have to believe this one is going to be hotly contested.
Horodecki was expected by many to capture the IFL Lightweight Grand Prix title, but was upset in the finals by Ryan Schultz. Despite the setback, though, Horodecki’s skillset is undeniable. As the MMA striking coach at the extremely successful Xtreme Couture camp, Horodecki’s standup is unquestionably solid. Against the well-rounded Lauzon, Horodecki will probably employ a sprawl and brawl strategy, keeping the fight off the ground and trying to press his clear striking advantage.
Lauzon, a member of the TapouT team, has a well rounded attack. A decent striker with a dangerous submission game, Lauzon’s biggest strength as a fighter is his versatility. That strength, though, is rounded out by his biggest weakness, experience. Despite his 12 professional fights, Lauzon has not faced the same quality of opposition that Horodecki has, nor does he have the same quality of training partners. Clearly his best chance of victory is to get the fight to the ground and neutralize Horodecki’s striking advantage, but considering the quality of wrestlers Hordecki trains with, that might prove easier said than done.
In the end, I see Horodecki’s experience advantage and superior training camp being too much for Lauzon to overcome. Lauzon is young, and has a bright future in the sport, but that bright future does not begin against Horodecki.
Horodecki by TKO, round 3.
