UFC 108 Preview: The Prelims

Cole Miller vs. Dan Lauzon

The Breakdown: Grappling fans of all stripes will be looking forward to this one. Both Miller and Lauzon make their living on the mat, and neither man is afraid to go for broke in search of a submission. The difference is that Miller is the far more proven grappler, and his ability to string submissions together makes him equally adept from top control or the guard.

While Lauzon has shown great potential throughout his career, his previous cracks at the major leagues ended with back-to-back losses to Spencer Fisher and Deividas Taurosevicius. Lauzon has spent the three-plus years since then fighting bargain-bin opponents that have done nothing to prepare him for the rigors of UFC-level competition. Miller will be all too happy to reintroduce the younger half of the Lauzon brothers to how things work when the lights get bright and the crowd starts screaming.

The X-Factor: More than anything else, Miller’s tendency to fight on instinct has cost him a place among the lightweight elite. Being confident in your skills is one thing, but going after brawls on the feet and overcommitting to submissions on the mat will get you nothing but a show purse and a concussion. Lauzon may not have the striking to starch Miller, but he certainly has the skill to jump all over any opportunities Miller hands him.

The Bottom Line: You’d think Lauzon did something to annoy the UFC matchmaking department, as his debut came against a nasty striker with a huge experience advantage and his return match pits him against a guy who is better at the one thing Lauzon relies on most. Expect an entertaining mat battle but one that will turn against Lauzon, who will get caught in a choke early in the second round.