UFC lightweight prospect, Jamie Varner has been giving his thoughts on his UFC on FOX 4 clash with Joe Lauzon set for August 4th in Los Angeles, California, explaining this is “another golden opportunity” to prove he still has what it takes to cut it at the highest level of the game.
Speaking via MMAJunkie.com, Varner said:
“It just seemed like another golden opportunity. It’s a win-win situation just like the Edson Barboza fight. One, it’s short-notice, and two it’s another guy arguably in the top 15 in the world. I’m supposed to lose to a guy like Joe Lauzon. But if I go out there and I beat Joe Lauzon, it catapults my career once again. I take another big step forward. It would put me right in the mix of top 10 guy, and my fight next could be a No. 1 contender fight. There’s everything to gain, and really nothing to lose.”
“I expected to win. I know I was the underdog, but I don’t fight guys I don’t think I can beat. I was just more happy that I got the second chance (in the UFC) and I was able to make the most of it. That was probably the thing that made me the most excited, not so much the guy I beat and the win, but the fact I made the most of the opportunity.”
“The funny thing about Joe is, people talk about his grappling, but he’s got this hard left hook that he’s dropped a lot of people with and hurt a lot of people with. He does hit hard on the feet, and his ground-and-pound is really vicious. Joe has a lot of ways to win. As far as being as dynamic and as scary as Edson Barboza, I’d say he’s not. Edson Barboza is just so athletic and fast. But Joe has more ways to win.”
“I remember when I was 21 fighting at UFC 62, and there were only 12 events a year. Now there’s 30 shows a year, and it’s on network TV. It’s crazy how far the sport has gone and how much it’s grown and how much respect it’s gotten. I want to make the most of this second chance with the UFC – and fighting on Fox, I can’t even put it into words. It’s such an opportunity to catapult myself and my career.”
Varner made a triumphant return to the big time earlier this year when he stepped up to take on dangerous Brazilian, Edson Barboza. Despite being a major underdog heading into the fight Varner walked away with an impressive first round TKO win. Stay tuned to MMABay for more build-up to this one as we get it.
