Joe Lauzon on Retirement and His UFC Future
Joe Lauzon’s UFC future remains uncertain, but the longtime lightweight returned to competition in 2026 after nearly seven years away. He won his bare-knuckle debut at Fenway Park, giving a new chapter to a career that had seemed on hold since 2019.
Lauzon’s last UFC fight
Lauzon’s most recent UFC appearance was a first-round TKO win over Jonathan Pearce at UFC Boston on October 18, 2019, according to his UFC record. He was later booked to face Donald Cerrone more than once in 2022, but the matchups fell through after health problems affected both fighters.
Why UFC 292 did not happen
When the UFC returned to Boston for UFC 292 in August 2023, Lauzon asked about fighting on the card. UFC president Dana White said the card was already full by the time Lauzon asked. Lauzon said he was open to competing when an opportunity made sense, while White publicly encouraged him to retire. The account was reported by MMA Fighting.
A return at Fenway Park
Lauzon’s next fight was not in the Octagon. On August 29, 2026, he faced Stash Kuykendall at BKFC 92 in Fenway Park. Lauzon scored repeated knockdowns and won by second-round TKO at 49 seconds. BKFC’s official event results list the finish and quote Lauzon as open to considering another fight if the promotion returns to Fenway.
The Fenway bout ended Lauzon’s long layoff from competition, but it does not establish a UFC comeback. His last UFC fight remains the 2019 win over Pearce; any future appearance would depend on an offer and the circumstances he has said would make a fight worthwhile.
Sources
Tags: MMA
