Former Affliction fighters Rafaello Oliveira and Dan Lauzon to square off at UFC 103
by Jason Benfari on July 30, 2009

Two more orphaned Affliction fighters have found a home.

A source close to the event has informed FiveKnuckles.com that Dan Lauzon will square off against long time B.J. Penn training partner Rafaello Oliveira at UFC 103 in Dallas, TX. The fight is expected to be announced by Dana White as part of a UFC press conference tomorrow.
Both lightweights were under contract with Affliction previously and have signed new undisclosed agreements with the UFC thought to be similar to the deal recently penned by fellow Affliction transplant Paul Daley who's now under the UFC banner for a reported four fights.

Lauzon (12-2), the younger brother of UFC star Joe Lauzon, was scheduled to face Chris Horodecki at Affliction: "Trilogy" before the event was canceled late last week. This is the second time the two had their match canceled; the first was scrapped due to a neck injury Horodecki suffered during training. Lauzon instead faced and defeated Bobby Green via first round submission.

This is the 21-year-olds second go round with the organization. He became the youngest UFC contestant ever when he squared off against Spencer Fisher at UFC 64 two years ago, dropping a 22-second KO loss at the hands of the popular veteran. Lauzon is currently riding an eight fight win streak.

Oliveira (8-1) hails originally from Brazil where he earned his first four career MMA victories. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu blackbelt is currently helping UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn train for his UFC 101 lightweight title showdown with Kenny Florian and has been praised by Penn as an exciting prospect.

Oliveira, 27, was slated to face MMA legend Takanori Gomi at Affliction: "Trilogy" but will now settle for a lesser name on a bigger card. He comes into the fight with three straight wins after a loss to Strikeforce prospect Lyle Beerbohm at a ShoXC event last year. The loss was, unfortunately, the result a controversial doctor's stoppage due to a cut over Oliveira's left eye in a fight that many had the Premier Martial Arts product winning.

Make sure to check back with us the day of the event for free, live, round-by-round coverage of UFC 103 right here at FiveKnuckles.com! Join expert analyst Mike Williams as he takes you through the entire fight card blow-by-blow and then keep it right here for all the post-fight news and notes you can handle!

HOW WILL THE NICK DIAZ VS. CARLOS CONDIT FIGHT END AT UFC 143
Diaz def. Condit via TKO/KO
Diaz def. Condit via submission
Diaz def. Condit via decision
Condit def. Diaz via TKO/KO
Condit def. Diaz via submission
Condit def. Diaz via decision
TAKE ANOTHER POLL!