Gruetzemacher beats Lauzon bloody to win corner stoppage after 2 rounds

Chris Gruetzemacher's faith in his iron chin paid off.

After this week's chaos got him promoted from prelims to pay-per-view, Gruetzemacher survived an early barrage and beat Joe Lauzon bloody until the latter's corner threw in the towel two rounds into their lightweight bout at Saturday's UFC 223 in Brooklyn.

The "TUF 22" alum came into the matchup on a two-fight skid, and likely saved his roster spot with a showing that brought his promotional record to an even 2-2.

The consummate gamer, Lauzon treated Gruetzemacher to a minute of uninterrupted leather - with a few nasty standing elbows sprinkled in for good measure - to open the contest, but 42 fights' worth of mileage soon reared its ugly head, as Gruetzemacher escaped a leg lock attempt and began pouring on the combos while fatigue sank its hooks into Lauzon.

Gruetzemacher's mitts had opened up a cut on the right side of Lauzon's face before first round's end, and he didn't leave an exhausted Lauzon a moment's respite in the second stanza, breaking his foe down with some crafty body work and busting him up further upstairs as Lauzon did little other than eat the onslaught.

With Lauzon's gas tank running on empty and crimson masking his noggin after two grueling rounds of action, the Massachusetts native's corner wisely opted to spare him further punishment and threw in the towel before the third-round horn could sound.

The 33-year-old Lauzon has now dropped three straight and seven of his last 10.