FightHype.com brings you closer to the fighters with this unique series. Go beyond the hype to find out what makes your favorite fighters tick. From favorite movies, music and shows to childhood heroes, you'll get an inside look at their life outside of the ring/cage. So without further ado, get to know lightweight contender Dan Lauzon.
NAME: DAN LAUZON
ALIAS: THE UPGRADE
LIGHTWEIGHT CONTENDER
Favorite movie(s)?
I watch all kinds of movies. Batman: Dark Knight, BASEketball, 300, Half Baked, Boyz N the Hood, Don't be a Menace, Varsity Blues...
Favorite TV show(s)?
King Of Queens, Everybody Loves Raymond, That 70's Show, Yes Dear, Sportscenter, The Ultimate Fighter
Musical taste?
I listen to everything, but mainly Rap.
First job?
Well, my dad own's his own business for wholesale and retail fishing bait and tackle. He supplies most of the bait shops down in Cape Cod with bait. I worked on the road with him and in the shop. Right now, I still work in the shop as well as fighting.
First car?
Toyota Corolla, then I had Joe's old truck, but I flipped it 1 week before my first professional fight.
If you weren't a fighter, what would you be doing?
If I wasn't a fighter, I would have taken the Correction Officers exam and became a Correction Officer at the prison.
Favorite animal?
Lion
Favorite food/meal?
Buffalo Chicken
Favorite junk food?
Pepperoni Pizza Combos
Hobbies/Interests?
Sports, football
Childhood hero(es)?
Childhood hero was The Hulk or the Street Sharks. I wanted to be a Street Shark so bad.
Favorite fight(s)?
Diaz vs. Gomi, Couture vs. Sylvia, Penn vs. Sherk, Karo vs. Fickett, Pulver vs. Faber, Pulver vs. Cub, Grispi vs. Micah, Cung Le vs. Frank Shamrock, Joe Lauzon vs. Pulver and so many more.
Favorite fighter(s) to watch?
My brother, Nick Diaz, BJ Penn, Drew Fickett, Josh Grispi, Vitor Belfort, Tito Ortiz, Wanderlei, Rampage, GSP, Kenny florian and Marcus Davis.
Pre-fight ritual?
Just get warmed up. Let me throw some punches and I need to get hit with punches so I know I'm not glass and I can take anything that's going to be thrown at me.
If you could fight anyone in time, who would it be?
Frank Dux
If you were a superhero, which one would you be?
Wolverine! He's an experiment and has healing powers and titanium through his body. Who would want to mess with wolverine?
Celebrity crush?
Rihanna
Greatest moment?
Signing with Affliction. UFC was cool getting the shot and being the youngest UFC veteran is a cool title, but I feel like I didn't earn it. I got the opportunity because Joe KO'd Pulver. I racked up 6 wins in a row 5 TKO's and 1 submission. Then Affliction called.
Most painful moment?
Getting cut by Devidias Taourosevicious in New Jersery at Caged Fury Fighting Championships. He caught me with with an elbow when he was in my guard. I had never been cut like that and I guess I panicked and he was able to finish me. I wouldn't say most painful, but definitely the worst thing that's happened to me in a fight. Now I would be able to bounce back from a cut like that and keep fighting.
Most embarrassing moment?
I don't get embarrassed very easy. I would say my UFC debut. When I fought Spencer, I was coming at him, pushing it and winning until I gassed. There's nothing worse than knowing you lost a fight because of cardio. Although for that fight, I only had 2 weeks notice. It was tough and embarrassing because I'm a lot better than what I showed in that fight. Since that fight, I'm 10x the fighter.
Bonus: Name something that most people don't know about you?
I used to be huge into skateboarding and I used to skip training to go out and skate at the college that was right near our gym. Each night, some of the guys would be coming out of the gym to head home and I'd come skating by with my friends. It used to piss my brother off so bad, but at the time, I was just a kid and never expected to be the youngest UFC veteran or realized the potential I have or thought that fighting would become my life.