In a recent interview with the Three Amigos Podcast, UFC lightweight contender Al Iaquinta served up his unfiltered thoughts on the craziness that was the New York state assembly hearing to legalize MMA, Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 2, Jon Jones vs. New Mexico’s legal system, and more.
It’s a shade over 1 year ago to the day since Al Iaquinta’s last appearance inside a UFC cage. In the co-main event of UFC Fairfax, Iaquinta rallied from a rough 1st round to defeat Jorge Masvidal by split decision, extending his winning streak to 4 (matching his previous MMA career-best). The majority of fans in attendance booed the outcome, which led to this legendary outburst by “Raging” Al.
Unfortunately for the 28-year-old, knee problems (which resulted in surgery) have prevented the entertaining #11 ranked UFC lightweight from making his much anticipated return. Even at present, he’s still recovering from surgery, but vows to be unstoppable once he has “two healthy knees.”
Iaquinta, who is never one to shy away from saying what is on his mind, recently joined the Three Amigos Podcast to discuss a variety of topics, starting with the long awaited legalization of MMA in his home state of New York, and continuing with Conor McGregor/Nate Diaz II, post-fight bonuses, and Jon Jones’ ticket troubles.
TAP: After being very invested in the legalization of NY MMA, how does it feel to have finally crossed the finish line?
Iaquinta: “I never thought it would happen. The first couple of years everyone was like, ‘Oh this year it’s going to happen, this year it’s going to happen,’ and it never did. In the last 5-6 years I wasn’t holding my breath. Everyone would say it’s coming up for a vote and I was just like, ‘Ehh whatever.’ And then out of nowhere it passed the assembly and got on the floor. I turned on this press conference and it was pretty entertaining and kinda scary too when you really listen to what these people are saying. To be able to fight in New York is a dream come true. It was worth the wait because they’re planning some big things and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”
TAP: What are your thoughts on some of the arguments against you heard during the assembly meeting?
Iaquinta: “Oh yeah there were some really good ones. The one lady [Deborah Glick] was all, ‘Oh they punch each other in the head bare-knuckled!’ She’s obviously never seen a fight before, because we wear gloves. I wish someone would’ve stood up and told her that. Then the other guy, Rosie O’Donnell’s brother, talking about going to Fire Island to watch two hot guys wrestle for a championship belt … that was just odd. I don’t know what’s going through that guy’s head when he’s watching fights, and I don’t really want to know, but he definitely doesn’t get what the whole sport’s about. I think Rosie O’Donnell even called him and tried to convince him to vote for it, but he wasn’t having it.
It was pretty scary that these people could be so uneducated about something that they’re so passionately talking down about and trying to keep it out of the state; something that would bring so much revenue to the state. For them to have such a passionate hatred for the sport — is what they came off sounding like — it’s really scary because MMA is really not that big of a deal in the whole grand scheme of things. These people are passing really important things in the state of New York and I hope they’re more educated about the important stuff, because they definitely didn’t take the time to research MMA at all, most of them didn’t, at least.”
TAP: The last time you were on with us in January, you said Frankie Edgar should be next for Conor McGregor. Obviously Conor fought Nate Diaz and lost, but the UFC has set up an immediate rematch instead of Conor defending his featherweight belt. What’s your take on that, and do you feel we’ll see McGregor’s behavior change because of how Diaz beat him?
Iaquinta: “I think he’s going to come back the same old guy. I think he’s going to use the ‘I jumped up [two] weight classes on short notice’ route. But the thing is, he really only jumped up one weight class. Nate’s a 155er, McGregor’s a small 155er — he’s a huge 145er [and] an average-sized 155er. They’re basically two 155ers fighting at 170 and McGregor couldn’t really hurt him; he landed a bunch of good shots and Diaz ate them all. The only way I see McGregor winning is by knocking him out, and Nate took his shots, so I don’t see that happening. I think Nate’s in a good spot coming into the rematch. He was in Cabo drinking freakin’ margaritas like a week before the fight, so this time I think he’ll be a little more prepared, a little more in shape, and I think McGregor’s going to be in trouble again.”
TAP: Looking through your record, and we find this incredibly hard to believe, but not once have you won a post-fight bonus in the UFC. A $50,000 bonus is more than what most fighters make, including yourself, yet only 4 are handed out per night. Do you think the UFC should change the way post-fight bonuses are awarded so that either more fighters receive them or the dollar amounts are higher?
Iaquinta: “I’m cool with the way they are, just freakin’ pick me, please! What do I got to do? I was in the locker room [at UFC 183], and I like Tim Boetsch — he’s a good guy — but I was watching him warm up, and I was like, “Alright, that’s cool.” Then one of his coaches was giving him a pep talk, and I was like, ‘Oh my god, is this really happening right now before this guy’s about to go fight?’ Then he went out there and fought [Thales Leites] and it was kind of a wild fight. To me, it wasn’t very technical, it was just two guys winging punches. It was kind of a fight like I’d see in a bar. I was impressed by something, but you could tell that there wasn’t much technique going on. So I went out there, and believed I perform very well [against Joe Lauzon]. I went out there and I was smart, I picked my shots, I picked apart a guy that doesn’t get picked apart, and I finished him. I think Anthony Pettis is the only other guy to [knock out] Lauzon.
They give Thales Leites $100,000 — he gets the performance and FOTN — and then Tim Boetsch, who I’m like, ‘This guy?’ You know, he’s a nice guy and everything but I saw him warm up and it wasn’t … I kinda wanted to go over there and show him how to do a few things and then he went out there and he wins a bonus, and I was like, ‘What is going on?’
I just … I guess I don’t know know what they’re looking for, but I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing. I’m learning, I’m getting better, and I’m not getting beat up too bad. Maybe I’ll win it one day, if not then I’m not sweating it. I mean, it’d be nice, it’d be real nice, but I’m not going to change what I’m doing and maybe give up a win instead of just trying to go for the bonus like some of the guys do. It bothered me for awhile. I got pretty mad that I could be investing $50,000 doing something crazy, instead I’m teaching private lessons in my garage, but it’s all good. We’ll get it, we’re going to get it, I’m telling you! Next fight, 50Gs, it’s in my pocket already.”
TAP: Your thoughts on Jon Jones’ whole legal mess?
Iaquinta: “That cop was out of his mind. I got Jon Jones’ back on this one. If that tape was all that was really happening, then that cop was a little … he thought he was the king and he was just rolling down on everybody, you know? He probably revved his engine, the cop probably thought he was going to go crazy and drag race. From what they said it was a 35 MPH zone and he didn’t go over the speed limit, so the whole drag racing thing is ridiculous. I think he was just revving the engine and trying to be a little cool, and the cop just had it in for him, and no matter what he did, I think he was in trouble. I think he could’ve probably been nicer to the cop, but screw that guy.”
You can check out the entire interview with Iaquinta here at the 1:16:40 mark of the audio or via the embedded player below. Remember, if you’re looking for us on SoundCloud or iTunes, we’re under the MMA Nation name. Follow our Twitter accounts: Stephie Haynes, Three Amigos Podcast, Geroge Lockhart, Iain Kidd and Mookie Alexander or our Facebook fan page, Three Amigos Podcast.