Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
You have to believe matchmakers rejoice when one top contender calls out another, and the the response comes back mutual. That’s just what happened recently after Al Iaquinta took his shot to call for a showdown against former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) interim Lightweight champion, Dustin Poirier.
Not long after “Ragin’ Al” drew a line in the sand, “The Diamond” took to Twitter to respond to the callout, saying that he is more than willing to face off against the New Yorker.
Of course, two requirements have to be met, as Poirier says he’ll take the fight at Welterweight, as long as UFC compensates him well enough to sign on the dotted line to make it worth his while.
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While a fighter asking for more coin isn’t unusual, the 170-pound stipulation may have raised a few eyebrows, as Poirier has competed at 155 or 145 pounds his entire career as a professional. That said, “The Diamond” did say he’d take meaningful fights at 170 pounds if the occasion called for it.
Iaquinta meanwhile, has competed as a lightweight his entire mixed martial arts (MMA) career, though I’m sure he wouldn’t mind taking a break from the weight cut to partake in a welterweight showdown.
Both men want it, all UFC needs to do now is come up with a big enough number to compensate Poirier, as well as Iaquinta, I’m sure.