Joe Lauzon vs George Sotiropoulos targeted for UFC 123

An explosive lightweight match up has been added to ufc 123 for November in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

The UFC’s first trip since UFC 9, which was headlined by estranged Hall of Famer’s Dan Severn and Ken Shamrock in what was then considered a Super Fight, the world’s largest organization will bring a headlined Pay Per View card featuring former champions Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Lyoto Machida.

Said 155-pound match up, will be pitting budding contender George Sotiropoulos against fellow “The Ultimate Fighter” veteran Joe Lauzon. George was featured on season six on Matt Serra’s team and Lauzon on season five with BJ Penn. Neither won their respective season’s, however were early favorites to take the title of “The Ultimate Fighter” and did well on their return to the organization post-show.

Lauzon is on the heels of a commanding victory over former housemate Gabe Ruediger. “Godzilla” stepped up on a couple of weeks notice when Joe’s original opponent Terry Etim was forced to withdraw at UFC 118 due to injury.

“J-Lau” steamrolled through Ruediger en-route to an arm bar victory, earning him “Submission of the Night” honors, in just little over 2 minutes, giving him his first win since a disappointing loss to lightweight slugger Sam Stout. Prior to his fight with Stout, Lauzon was out of the octagon for over a year nursing a knee injury which required him to have his ACL replaced. However Lauzon looked every bit the world beater he was prior to his bout with the Canadian, when he manhandled Ruediger in front of his hometown crowd in Boston.

Sotiropoulos meanwhile, is riding a 6-fight win streak inside the octagon, and with a win over Lauzon can secure himself a title shot in the future against the winner of the Gray Maynard against champion Frankie Edgar, which is expected to take place at UFC 125 in January.

A former welterweight in the UFC, George dropped down to the UFC’s 155-pound division beginning with a submission victory over George Roop. Collecting notable victories over perennial contenders Joe Stevenson and Kurt Pellegrino has put the Australian in an enviable spot in the UFC’s lightweight division and should prove a stern test for anyone he faces inside the weight class.

The news was originally derived from MMAJunkie, who also hinted that George could earn a title shot with the victory over Lauzon–though that will be no easy task.

So, MMA peeps, who takes this match up at UFC 123? Does Lauzon have the stuff to topple George, who is riding high with a 6-fight win streak in an ultra competitive division. Should Sotiropoulos be granted a title shot with a win over Lauzon? Let your opinions known below.