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Lightweight Gabe Ruediger is going to get one more opportunity in the UFC after getting thoroughly dismantled by Joe Lauzon at UFC 118.
Ruediger, who infamously got himself kicked off of the Ultimate Fighter season five for missing weight after eating cake and getting a colonic, was brought back on short notice to replace an injured Terry Etim on the card in Boston.
Ruediger posted on his official website his thoughts on the Lauzon bout, and said he's being given another fight in the organization.
"Well, I fought Joe Lauzon and lost," Ruediger wrote at GabeGodzilla.com. "I didn't just lose; I lost without even really getting to fight. Joe overwhelmed me, and I never was able to start. Congratulations to him."
"I felt fine going into the fight. My weight cut was the easiest ever, and I had a great group [in my] corner. Joe came out hard and kept the pressure on me. After some of the shots he landed, I honestly have no idea what happened or what was going on. I took this fight with two weeks to prepare, and I truly felt that I would be ready."
Ruediger could have found himself justifiably cut immediately after a poor showing, but he'll get his chance for at least one more opportunity. The loss was the first he's suffered in two years.
"I spoke with Joe Silva from the UFC, and he told me I would have at least one more chance and next time I would have the proper time to prepare," he wrote. "For that I am happy, but I still cant believe how bad that fight was for me."
Penick's Analysis: It's good to see the UFC give the guy another chance to perform better after a full camp, but I also wouldn't have been the least bit surprised if they had cut him. His TUF history has that stigma, so I could have seen them cut him, but he's going to get a chance for a better fight next time around. But that was a completely one sided fight against Lauzon, and he did not look good.
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