Joe Lauzon reveals UFC’s reaction after explaining his desire to come back for BKFC fight

Joe Lauzon is stepping out of a seven-year UFC hiatus to make his bare-knuckle boxing debut with BKFC at Fenway Park on August 29, and he wanted to set the record straight: he never formally retired from mixed martial arts.

The 42-year-old Massachusetts native last fought in the UFC in 2019, when he defeated Jonathan Pearce. Though he expressed interest only in high-profile opportunities going forward, Lauzon remained on the UFC roster and was never released from his contract. When a BKFC contact approached him about competing, Lauzon was initially uninterested—until he learned the event would take place at the historic Boston baseball stadium. "That's what really got me," Lauzon told MMA Fighting. "The fact that it's at Fenway."

Before signing with BKFC, Lauzon had to secure permission from his old promotion. He called UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell to discuss the move. According to Lauzon, Campbell expressed admiration from the organization, noting that UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby and former matchmaker Joe Silva both held him in high regard. Campbell also offered financial assistance if money was the issue, but Lauzon clarified that wasn't the case. "It's about Fenway," he said. "It's a really, really good opportunity and I'm excited for it." The UFC ultimately approved the bout.

Lauzon emphasized that his return has nothing to do with finances. He noted that his gym business is thriving and he received a payout from a recent UFC lawsuit settlement. The allure of competing at Fenway Park—a venue that has never hosted a professional fight inside the actual ballpark—was simply too compelling to pass up. "I know if I passed up on it when this fight's at Fenway, I'd be kicking myself," he said. Beyond August 29, Lauzon remains noncommittal about his fighting future, preferring to assess how the bare-knuckle experience goes before making any plans.