When Bellator MMA signed Lorenz Larkin away from the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2016, it was seen as something of a coup. However, his performance thus far has not yet coincided with the expectations that greeted his arrival.
As Larkin sets his sights on Gonzalez, here are some of the numbers that have come to define him:
1: Win over a UFC champion. Larkin defeated Robbie Lawler by unanimous decision under the Strikeforce banner on July 14, 2012. Lawler went on to capture the undisputed Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight crown a little more than two years later.
2: Losses by knockout. Daley and Costas Philippou were the responsible parties.
5: Losses by decision. They account for 71 percent of his career total. Larkin holds a 7-5 record in fights that have reached the judges.
8: Organizations in which Larkin has competed as a professional mixed martial artist. They are Bellator, the UFC, Strikeforce, MEZ Sports, Respect in the Cage, Champion Promotions, Chaos in the Cage and Battle in the Ballroom.
11: Wins by knockout or technical knockout. Larkin’s list of victims includes former Ring of Combat champion John Howard, “The Ultimate Fighter 16” semifinalist Neil Magny and American Top Team’s Santiago Ponzinibbio.
12: Consecutive victories to start his career. Larkin amassed a 12-0 record before succumbing to punches from Muhammed Lawal in January 2012. The result was later changed to a no-contest after Lawal tested positive for an anabolic steroid.
31: Years of age. When Larkin was born in Riverside, California, on Sept. 3, 1986, the top five movies at the domestic box office were “Stand By Me,” “Top Gun,” “The Fly,” “Aliens” and “The Karate Kid Part II.”
72: Inches of reach. Larkin will have a four-inch advantage on Gonzalez.
159: Combined wins between the seven men who have beaten Larkin: Daley (40), Philippou (13), Douglas Lima (29), Albert Tumenov (18), Derek Brunson (18), Brad Tavares (16) and Francis Carmont (25).
2,492: Days that have passed since Larkin posted a victory in his home state. He has not won a fight in California since he put away Scott Lighty with punches in his Strikeforce debut on April 1, 2011.