Preparing for a fight, Dan Lauzon is used to getting hurt. Only this time the pain isn’t physical.

Part of the Reality Self Defense team based in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, Lauzon feels abandoned by his trainers, including his brother and fellow UFC fighter, Joe Lauzon.

“I think I’m going to be pretty much looking for a new gym and new coaches to train with. People I can actually count on and rely on and not somebody that’s going to halfway through a camp say, ‘Hey sorry, you’re going out there alone, good luck.’ Don’t think I’m laying down for this fight and I’m not looking forward to the fight. I’m definitely looking forward to the fight. I’m going in there and I’m going to fight, but it just (stinks). It’s not the way I wanted everything to happen for this fight going into it. In my eyes, I was doing everything right. I was making it to the gym; I was training hard two times a day. I was doing everything right. I was completely blown away. They were saying to me, ‘I understand that you’re mad at us.’ I told them, ‘I’m not mad. I’m hurt.’ Joe Pomfret is somebody I look at like a father, and he is going to do this to me? You’re going to tell me you can’t (work my corner) and you’re sending me out to Vegas alone for one of my biggest fights? I was completely hurt by it, especially my brother Joe. I don’t think anybody would ever do that to their brother. I can’t think of anyone else that would ever do that to their brother and just tell them, ‘Hey, you’re on your own.’ “

The elder Lauzon took to his website to try and clarify the situation. For him, it’s a matter of tough love. Conflicts frequently occur amongst co-workers and family members. When the two come together, it often creates a volatile mixture.

“Dealing with family can be really tough sometimes. When you mix business and family… it’s an absolute nightmare. You make a tough decision and its cold. You go easy on someone and they are only treated that way because they are family. I am usually tough on Dan, but it’s because I love him and want what’s best for him. I know that me being easy on him in training is not going to help him when there is someone across the cage from him trying with everything they have to hurt him. We never wanted to hurt Dan and we all want him to win. We had to take a such a tough stand though because he refused to change. We had exhausted every other option and this was the only thing left for us to try. This has been the most frustrating task of my life… because you can’t help someone that won’t help themselves. When you run around town telling people you are a professional fighter in the UFC… you have to train like one. I had really hoped Dan would see the situation for what it was… but it’s all twisted and he just has a delusional view of things. I wish none of this even came out… but it did and I am disgusted by him dragging all of our names through the mud. I have bent over backwards for Dan and opened so many doors and helped him out so many times. Joe Pomfret has treated Dan like his own son and no one has done more for Danny that that guy… and Danny acts like this. It’s all pretty disappointing… but that’s how it goes. I wouldn’t put up with any of this with anyone else at my gym, and I am no longer putting up with it with Dan.”

As in any disagreement, there are two sides to every story. While people outside of the situation shouldn’t pass judgment; it is clear that trouble is brewing within the Lauzon fight camp. Hopefully, the tension can be remedied before an insurmountable rift is created.

Dan Lauzon is scheduled to face Efrain Escudero on May 29 at UFC 114 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

(Sources: Boston Herald and Joe Lauzon.com)