Stevie Ray claimed a majority decision win over Joe Lauzon tonight at UFC Fight Night 108.
Round One:
Ray takes the center of the Octagon to start and lands a leg kick. Lauzon regains some ground and catches a kick. He tries to take Ray down from that, but doesn’t succeed.
They go into the clinch and jostle for position. Nice takedown from Lauzon and after a scramble he ends up on top and lands a little ground and pound as Ray tries for a leg lock.
Lauzon takes Ray’s back and starts to work for the rear-naked choke. Ray survives that for now, but Lauzon opts to move into full mount and immediately lands a hard strike.
A bit more ground and pound from Lauzon and then he’s back in half guard landing more bombs. He postures up and blasts down another big shot.
Lauzon all over Ray here, but the Scottish fighter works hard to stand back up, only to be immediately taken back down again.
Lauzon in half-guard and back to ground and pound, then Ray gets him to full guard. A brief lull and then Lauzon passes to half guard on the other side and lands some nasty elbows to Ray’s bloodied face.
Round Two:
Ray with a right hand to start after being warned by his corner in-between rounds not to throw any more kicks.
Ray puts together a combo. Nice left hook from Lauzon though that puts Ray on his heels. Ray lands a knee to the body in the clinch.
They separate and go back to striking range. Body punch for Ray. Now a right hand to the head. Lauzon with a couple of punches, but he seems a little labored on the feet.
Ray looks a bit sharper with his striking, but Lauzon swoops in for a takedown. He drives Ray over to the cage, but can’t land the takedown and his opponent is able to get free.
Ray back to landing the better shots, but the tiring Lauzon digs deep and lands a good takedown in the middle of the cage.
Lauzon working to pass Ray’s guard now and eventually does get to half-guard with a minute to go in the round. Lauzon trying to pass to full mount, then opts to just stand and land a strike down on his opponent.
Ray trying for a leg lock now, but Lauzon is relaxed and that’s the final action of the round.
Round Three:
Ray with a punch. Now a hook as Lauzon shells up and then works to the body for good measure. Lauzon with a punch of his own.
Head kick attempt from Ray doesn’t pay off. Two right-hands for Ray penetrate Lauzon’s guard. Now a few elbows. He goes to the body and Lauzon attempts a takedown that’s stuffed.
Hooks for Ray and a good punch down the pipe from Lauzon. As Ray continues to punch, Lauzon drops down for a takedown and drives Ray to the cage.
Lauzon’s tired though and is struggling to land the takedown, while eating some elbows from Ray. Eventually Lauzon does get him down though with half teh round remaining.
Ray with a few elbows from on bottom that seem to land illegally to the top of the head and he’s warned by the referee. Lauzon just biding his time for now, only occasionally loading up for a single strike.
More elbows for Ray and then he manages to work his way back upright and clinches Lauzon against the cage.
Big knee to the head from Ray. Another knee to the body. Now a kick to the body. Two left hooks and another punch behind it and Lauzon looks tired and hurt.
Ray is tired too, but he’s giving it everything he’s got here as he starts to tee off on Lauzon. Lauzon is running on empty here and just covering up as Ray unleashes repeated left and right hands to end the round in the ascendancy, but he can’t find a finish, so we’re heading to the judges.
Decision:
The judges have made up their minds and it’s Stevie Ray who claims the biggest win of his career to date by way of a majority decision (28-27, 29-27, 28-28).
