Lorenz Larkin’s long, strange trip through MMA

Kung Fu stylist Lorenz Larkin has take a long, strange trip through combat sports. He started as a boxer, at heavyweight, going 5-0 as an amateur. However, at 5′ 11″ he felt undersized. He then took up BJJ and kickboxing, which naturally led to MMA.

Larkin started fighting in MMA at light heavyweight, where he won nine in a row, and signed with Strikeforce. He then won three more in a row, before getting KOed by King Mo (Lawal then tested positive for drostanolone, and the win was changed to an NC).

Larkin then dropped to middleweight, and in his debut at 185, he took a decision win over now UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler.

Then the UFC acquired Strikeforce, but Larkin came up short in the world’s dominant league, losing to Francis Carmont, then beating Chris Camozzi, before losing three straight, to Brad Tavares, Costas Philippou, and Derek Brunson. Losing three in a row and four of five is generally when you get a call from UFC head of Talent Relations Joe Silva, who explains as kindly as possible that it is time to put some wins together, in other shows.

Instead, the UFC kept him on, but now as a welterweight.

In his first fight at 170 he knocked out John Howard in the first, winning a $50,000 performance bonus. In his second welterweight fight Saturday night at UFN 70, he beat Santiago Ponzinibbio, and won another $50,000, this time for Fight of the Night. And unlike nearly every fighter who moves down, he looked exceptionally fast.

“I don’t want to say they looked out for me, but they stuck their neck out for me,” said Larkin of the UFC post fight, as transcribed by Dave Meltzer for MMAFighting. “If I lost my last fight, I’d have probably gotten the ax. I appreciate them for pretty much giving me a second chance and I’m here to make them think they didn’t make a stupid move. I’m trying to turn my career around.”

“He hit me with a pretty good leg kick. I felt it. I feel it right now. Other than that, I didn’t get hit with a big shot, thankfully. He brung it, just like I thought he was going to. I was happy UFC gave us a chance to be in the co-main event and we weren’t duds out there. It worked out the best for me, and not as much for him, but something for him because we got the bonuses.”

Showing his characteristic class, Larkin declined to chatter his way to a rematch with Lawler.

“You know, that was the past,” said Larkin. “That’s what I said. If I get it (a high ranking or title shot), I’m going to earn it. I don’t want to talk mess. (Lawler) earned his spot the right way. He came in through Strikeforce and beasted through the division, and that’s why he’s on top. I’m going to earn my shot. If he still has (the title when I get there), it makes for a good story. Until then, I’m going to keep working my way to the top.”