Two More "Affliction II" Showdowns

by Robert Sargent

In more additions to a great card, Affliction II: "Day of Reckoning" will now feature a lightweight battle of young guns, as Chris Horodecki battles Dan Lauzon, while final IFL Welterweight Champion Jay Hieron faces veteran Drew Fickett.

For Horodecki and Hieron, stars in the now-defunct International Fight League, the bouts will be opportunities to show why they were among MMA's most coveted free agents.

Fickett (35-6-0) has had a tumultuous year thus far in 2008. Originally slated to face Jake Shields to determine the first EliteXC Welterweight Champion, injuries to both fighters repeatedly postponed the fight, before contractual conflicts with Fickett eventually cancelled the bout altogether.

Fickett opted instead to compete in smaller events, scoring a victory in Rage In The Cage in June, but was shockingly upset on August 2nd at Rage In The Cage 113 by total unknown Richard Villes. Fickett rebounded with a victory just six days later, but will no doubt have something to prove after the puzzling defeat.

Hieron (15-4-0), one of the most underrated and improved welterweights in the sport, has also competed against many of the best 170-pound fighters in the world. Like Fickett, Hieron is also a multi-time UFC veteran, but Hieron was unable to find success inside the Octagon, while Fickett did.

Hieron moved to the International Fight League, where he went 7-2 and became the promotion's first and only Welterweight Champion. He has faced Georges St. Pierre, unquestionably the best welterweight fighter in the world at this point, and has just as much experience competing on a grand scale as Fickett, despite having fewer than half of the career fights. His aggressive style and never-say-die attitude earned him the nickname "The Thoroughbred."

Fickett, on the other hand, was hit-or-miss during his UFC tenure, scoring victories over Josh Neer, Josh Koscheck, Kurt Pellegrino and Keita Nakamura, while losing to Nick Diaz, Josh Burkman and Karo Parisyan. He has lost just once, to Villes in August, since departing the UFC.

With Fickett's submission prowess - his nickname is fittingly "The Master" - on the ground and Hieron's vastly improved striking and takedown defence, the fight will likely be decided on where it takes place. If Fickett can survive early striking combinations from Hieron, he could very easily do to him what he has done to so many stars before and score a thrilling submission via choke.

Either way, it looks to be another great fight on an already excellent card.


Also announced for the October 11th event was a lightweight showdown between two of the top young prospects in the sport, as "The Polish Hammer" Chris Horodecki, a former star in the IFL, will battle Dan Lauzon, younger brother of current UFC contender Joe Lauzon and the youngest fighter to ever compete in the UFC.

Horodecki (12-1-0) enjoyed a reign of terror over his opponents in the IFL, scoring a series of victories by knockout and hard-fought decision that earned him a shot at the vacant IFL Lightweight Championship. However, in what was considered a significant upset, Horodecki was defeated by Ryan Schultz, whom Horodecki had beaten in a previous meeting.

Undeterred, the fearsome 20-year-old striker scored a victory in April and will look to stay on the winning track when he makes his Affliction debut. A veteran of Team Tompkins and Xtreme Couture training camps, Horodecki's legendary striking and newly-improved wrestling and takedown defence could prove the difference against Lauzon.

For his part, Lauzon (10-2-0) holds the distinction of being the youngest fighter to ever compete in the UFC. He stepped in, on very short notice, against Spencer Fisher at UFC 64. Lauzon, now 20, was just 18 years old at the time.

Though Lauzon fell short against Fisher, and dropped his next bout a few months later, he has rebounded with six straight wins, including five by knockout. Once just a submission fighter, Lauzon has adapted his striking to a level where he now routinely dominates his opponents. However, against Horodecki, it would be in Lauzon's best interests to take the fight to the ground as quickly as possible because Horodecki holds a very significant striking advantage.

Both fighters are looking to show why they deserve to be considered among the top lightweight stars in the sport today, and they'll each get their chance as a part of Affliction's second step into mixed martial arts.