Joe Lauzon makes pizza his next opponent to raise money to fight cancer

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 31: (R-L) Joe Lauzon punches Al Iaquinta in their lightweight bout during the UFC 183 event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 31, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

UFC lightweight Joe Lauzon has loved, trained and competed in mixed martial arts since he was a teenager. He's loved food even longer, however.

So, even though the all-time UFC performance bonus leader has a fight against Evan Dunham coming in December, it wasn't surprising to hear him describe the charity competition he'll be a part of Friday as something he's looking forward to with a burning desire. Lauzon has partnered with Baking Steel and The Underground to raise money for the Jimmy Fund, which supports Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute by raising funds for adult and pediatric cancer treatment.

Joe and his team of six fighters will meet Friday at the Baking Steel test kitchen in Cohasett, Mass., to eat pizza by the slice. For each slice of pizza consumed in one hour from a 10-inch pizza, Baking Steel will donate $5.00 directly to the Jimmy Fund. All proceeds going directly to the Jimmy Fund.

"I've been training for something like this my entire life," Lauzon told FOX Sports when talking about the pizza-eating contest fundraiser.

Indeed, Lauzon is known to eat well, even leading up to fights, and he even holds a Lauzon MMA eating competition each year. So, scarfing slices of delicious pizza for a good cause has Joe amped up for more reasons than one.

This effort is just the latest cancer-fighting fundraising effort by Joe and his team. So far, they've raised $25,000 this year for the Jimmy Fund. The cause is especially close to the Lauzons since Joe's son Joey Lauzon III was diagnosed with neuroblastoma shortly after his birth.

With the help of his doctors at Boston Children's Hospital and the Jimmy Fund, Joey was able to beat cancer and make a full recovery. Now, he's a healthy, strong and happy little boy, and the Lauzons want to do their part to help others get the same great care he's gotten.

Lauzon is expecting an average of five personal pizzas eaten per member of his team in the hour they'll have Friday. "Some may be a little under, like myself, but I expect others to be way over," he calculated.

"The Jimmy Fund Walk went awesome. We had about 40 people take part and we just want to keep the momentum going."

For those interested in donating directly to the Jimmy Fund walk, visit donate.joelauzon.com.