Cerrone vs. Lauzon UFC 274 Betting: Underdog Lauzon Will Steal the Show

Donald Cerrone battles Joe Lauzon on the undercard of UFC 274 from the Footprint Center in Pheonix, Arizona, on Saturday.

This hotly anticipated lightweight bout isn’t the main attraction – that goes to another two lightweights in, Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje, for the division’s UFC Championship belt. But this fight is every bit as important to the gladiators involved.

The winner of Cerrone v Lauzon could propel themselves back into title contention, facing the champion of the main event.

Followers of the lightweight division in UFC will be preoccupied with the main event, but they will have one eye on this bout with the aim of seeing where the future challenger may come from. Fight fans are set for a pulsating night of professional mixed martial arts.

Cerrone v Lauzon Betting Odds and Matchup Information

Matchup Information

• This is the second time the UFC have tried to get Cerrone and Lauzon in the octagon recently, with the previous attempt falling flat after a fighter pulled out.
• Donald Cerrone will enter the octagon on fight night with a professional MMA record detailing 36 wins against 16 defeats.
• Joe Lauzon is less experienced than the man standing at the opposite end of the cage, but he has high hopes for victory with a CV detailing 28 wins against 15 defeats.
• Venue & Location: Footprint Center (Phoenix, Arizona)
• Start Time: approximately 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time (7:00 p.m. local time)

Cerrone v Lauzon Betting Odds

Odds are via BetOnline.

Moneyline

• Cerrone to win: -178
• Lauzon to win: +144

Total Rounds Over/Under

• Over 2.5 rounds (+136)
• Under 2.5 rounds (-174)

Cowboy needs a win

Cerrone has campaigned at welterweight for periods of his career but moves to the lightweight category for this latest bout.

He does so knowing he needs both a win and an impressive performance after a run of defeats threatens his career and time in the UFC.

The 39-year-old from Denver, Colorado, is approaching the end of his time as a paid fighter and his results reflect that, but he has the skills, experience and desire to force a swansong, and he’ll want to bow out with another shot at the title and the cash prize that comes with it.

Followers of Cerrone would have been shocked by his decline as it wasn’t a gradual one; he appears to have fallen off the side of a cliff.

A look through his recent form shows the American followed three impressive wins on the spin with a six-fight winless streak. That drought consists of five defeats and a no contest against Niko Price. The original outcome of that was a majority draw at the end of a scrappy contest, but that was later changed to a no-contest after Price tested positive for marijuana.

We last saw Cerrone in action on UFC on ESPN in May of last year when he faced and was beaten by Alex Morono in Las Vegas.

That bout lasted less than a round before Cerrone was blown away by heavy shots and a barrage of hurtful punches, forcing the referee to step in and save the beaten fighter from any further punishment.

His last win came against Al Iaquinta, and that was a unanimous points decision when headlining in Ottowa, Ontario, in May 2019.

Three years without a win to show for his efforts, despite being more active than most UFC fighters, will be tough for Cerrone and his dwindling followers to take and that piles the pressure on Donald to get back on track.

That’s if he wants to as many fighters at this stage of their careers begin fighting for the money, losing a bit of their ambition in the process.

In his last five fights, we see Cerrone has lost four by stoppage, and that will also be taking its toll on his body. He has been taken out by Tony Ferguson, Justin Gaethje, Conor McGregor, and Morono.

All of those fighters are great fighters who are at the top end of the division, but the devastating knockout defeats would have left Cerrone’s body and morale lying in tatters.

J-Lau aiming to take advantage

Lauzon enters the octagon on fight night as the underdog, but he’ll be well aware of his opponent’s poor recent form and will be eager to take advantage in Phoenix.

A win for J-Lau would boost his career and enhance his chances of fighting at the top level, but that won’t come easy. He knows he faces an uphill challenge here and will be facing an opponent that remains dangerous.

Joe prepares for this fight with a professional MMA record of 28 wins and 15 losses, with 17 of those victories by submission, nine by KO, and a pair of points win.

His defeats are organised by six knockouts, six on points and three by submission. Lauzon is a good all-round fighter who can match opponents for striking, BJJ or wrestling. He would have signed to accept this fight, fully confident in his ability to come out of it victorious.

Lauzon did win his most recent contest thanks to a TKO win over Jonathan Pearce, but that was October 2018. An extended period out of the ring is the main worry for Lauzon backers, but if he is at his best and not struggling from rust, he could spring a surprise here.

We know all about the dangers brought by Cerrone but can’t get around his losing streak. A fighter on a poor run of form against one returning from a lengthy lay-off should make for a fascinating contest.

Cerrone vs. Lauzon Betting Tip – Lauzon to win (+144 at BetOnline)

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