UFC 123: George Sotiropoulos vs. Joe Lauzon for Title Shot In Auburn Hills?

Whether it's Gray Maynard or Frankie Edgar that walks out the UFC Lightweight Champion at the end of their title bout, the fact remains that one of these two men will have a tough competitor ahead of them waiting to take the title from them.

That contender may not be known right now, but he could be very well known after UFC 123 at The Palace of Auburn Hills on November 20th.

MMA Junkie reports that a bout between both TUF alumni could take place in Auburn Hills, Michigan in November, and the stakes could be at their all-time highest for both J-Lau and The Wizard of Oz.

While the winner won't be getting the immediate first crack at the gold, a convincing win for either Sotiropoulos or Lauzon could put them one step closer to either The Answer or The Bully.

Sotiropoulos, a veteran of TUF Six: Team Hughes vs. Team Serra, has been well established in his UFC run as a tough son-of-a-gun with wins over TUF Nine alumni and UFC veteran Jason Dent, Joe "Daddy" Stevenson, and of course his close but still impressive performance in his last fight against Kurt Pellegrino.

Lauzon's record isn't exactly terrible either, registering wins over Jeremy Stephens, Jens Pulver, Kyle Bradley, and of course his first-round "Submission Of The Night" win over fellow TUF Five alumni Gabe Ruediger (who by the way is slated to face Paul Kelly at the same event).

The only recent blemish for the TUF Five veteran is a UFC 108 loss to Sam Stout in what was a very hotly-contested bout.

With a title shot possibly hanging in  the balance, Lauzon can expect Sotiropoulos to bring nothing less than his A-game into the cage when the two meet in The Palace, and Sotiropoulos can expect the same out of Lauzon as well.

This fight is going to be one lightweight fight you won't want to miss.