TJ Laramie
Record: 10-3
Age: 22
Weight class: Featherweight
Height: 5’7″
Birthplace: Canada
Next Fight: Friday vs. Andrew Cruz (7-3) at Prospect Fighting Championships 12 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Background: At 22, [autotag]TJ Laramie[/autotag] already has gotten the reps of a seasoned veteran. Unafraid to take tough fights despite his ever-evolving game and high potential ceiling, Laramie has fought Canada’s toughest tests. His only two losses since 2016 have come to the same fighter – Alex Morgan. His other loss was suffered at the hands of Vince Murdock – a fight which ended in controversial split decision.
Throughout his come-up, Laramie has competed mostly under the TKO banner. Highly regarded as the highest-level regional promotion in Canada, TKO has consistently tested him. Laramie holds wins over UFC fighter Charles Jourdain and WSOF veteran Jimmy Spicuzza. He trains alongside his brother Tony Laramie – a top prospect in his own right.
The Skinny: A well-rounded finisher through-and-through, Laramie is able to take the fight wherever necessary. With six knockouts on his professional resume, he has power – especially for a bantamweight. Don’t believe me? Check out his knockout against Yvon Agenord from Hard Knocks Fighting 48. Yikes. If the fight hits the mat, that’s not a problem. His wrestling and grappling are solid, too. An explosion waiting to happen, Laramie’s speed, energy, and cardio make him a nightmare outing.
Laramie is a monster and a tough outing for the most seasoned of regional fighters. Often that’s a signal that despite a younger fighter’s consistent evolution, it’s time for him to grow in the big leagues. With a win this month, Laramie will have won three straight fights. The UFC is allegedly aiming for three Canadian events in 2020, so Laramie seems destined to debut.
In his own words: “My well-roundedness is pretty hard to come by for most people. I’ve got wins across the board in every way. I’ve got decisions, knockouts – I’ve been five rounds. I’ve gotten a fifth-round finish. There’s nothing you can really say about my game where it’s like, ‘He doesn’t have skills here.’… I have a more dominating fashion. I don’t really have close fights. My fights have been pretty much dominant for the most part.
“I feel like (a deal with a major organization) is super close to happening. It was close to happening before this fight, but this fight is just going to solidify that for me. At the end of the day though, I’m not too worried. Just because I’ve been there before. I’ve been on the doorstep before and it can be gone in a second, right? For me, my next goal is always my next fight.”