UFC Ottawa’s Al Iaquinta expects different gameplan from Donald Cerrone: ‘I honestly think he’s going to try to take me down’

Al Iaquinta is not expecting a striking battle with Donald Cerrone at UFC Fight Night 151. Donald Cerrone is known for his stand-up, but Al Iaquinta is expecting the UFC veteran to come shooting in for the take down in their headlining cla…

Al Iaquinta is not expecting a striking battle with Donald Cerrone at UFC Fight Night 151.

Donald Cerrone is known for his stand-up, but Al Iaquinta is expecting the UFC veteran to come shooting in for the take down in their headlining clash at UFC Fight Night 151 this Saturday evening.

Speaking to MMA Weekly’s Damon Martin ahead of tonight’s main event, Iaquinta predicts ‘Cowboy’ will turn into a wrestler once he lands a couple of stiff shots on the JacksonWink product in the opening round.

“I honestly think he’s going to try to take me down,” Iaquinta said ahead of the matchup. “I think there’s a good shot. He’s been wrestling more in his fights so I think he’ll use his kicks, try to wrestle if it gets to that.

“I think he’s just going to be in there, he’s going to enjoy fighting but very quickly I don’t think he’s going to be enjoying it.”

On paper Iaquinta vs. Cerrone has all the makings of a classic, but ‘Raging’ Al expects to make light work of his opponent on fight night.

“Everyone says ‘this has the makings to be a great fight, ‘Fight of the Night’, blah, blah, blah. That’s not what I’m in there to do,” Iaquinta said. “I’m in there to make it look seamless, easy and if it’s anything other than that, I’ll be ready because I’ve been putting in the work.”

UFC Fight Night: Iaquinta vs. Cowboy takes place tonight, May 4 at the Canadian Tyre Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.