Lost three fights in a row and facing the firing squad? Needing to regroup and make another go at your once-great career? Thank god for the WEC merger.
That's because recently embattled lightweight Joe Stevenson, after losing his last three fights, has made the decision to drop down to featherweight and will take on Javier Vazquez in his first foray into the 145-pound division at UFC on Versus 4 on June 26.
Sources close to one of the fight camps alerted MMAmania.com to the pending match-up earlier today.
After winning season two of The Ultimate Fighter, Stevenson rocked and choked his way to a 155-pound title shot against legendary lightweight B.J. Penn. "Daddy" got his hand caught in the cookie jar, though, and "The Prodigy" spilled his blood all over the mat in England.
His 3-5 record since that night has shown the kind of devastating effect a loss like that can have on a fighter's career but a drop in weight always brings the hope of new life.
Javier Vazquez, a jiu-jitsu specialist taught by none other than Carlson Gracie himself, will be making his Octagon debut after a somewhat rocky stint with the WEC.
"Showtime" is 2-3 in his last five fights, albeit with two of those losses coming by way of controversial split decision.
He'll do his damnedest not to let this one get to the judges against the always feisty Stevenson, and considering his propensity for spectacular submission finishes, don't be surprised if he does so by taking home a limb.
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