Al Iaquinta will be competing for the first time in two years on April 22. Iaquinta is set to meet Diego Sanchez at an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Fight Night event in Nashville. It’ll be Iaquinta’s 17th professional mixed martial arts (MMA) bout. Despite going on a four-fight winning streak, Iaquinta took a hiatus due […]
Al Iaquinta will be competing for the first time in two years on April 22. Iaquinta is set to meet Diego Sanchez at an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Fight Night event in Nashville. It’ll be Iaquinta’s 17th professional mixed martial arts (MMA) bout. Despite going on a four-fight winning streak, Iaquinta took a hiatus due […]
Al Iaquinta’s Octagon hiatus may soon be coming to an end. After flirting with the decision to retire from mixed martial arts (MMA) competition, the former Ultimate Fighter 15 (TUF 15) finalist’s contract dispute with the UFC seem to have resolved itself. UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby posted the following on Twitter indicating that ‘Raging’s’ Octagon
Al Iaquinta’s Octagon hiatus may soon be coming to an end.
After flirting with the decision to retire from mixed martial arts (MMA) competition, the former Ultimate Fighter 15 (TUF 15) finalist’s contract dispute with the UFC seem to have resolved itself. UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby posted the following on Twitter indicating that ‘Raging’s’ Octagon return could be coming soon:
Recently Iaquinta joined Submission Radio (quotes via Bloody Elbow) to discuss what the ‘retired’ life was like, and also discussed the difficulties of working an office job while missing the thrill of competing inside the Octagon:
“It’s tough,” Iaquinta admitted. “I don’t know. I definitely would rather be fighting. It’s pretty hard when you’re fighting in front of thousands of people or whatever, and then you’re working in the office. But I gotta be honest, as far as my health goes, this is probably the healthiest I’ve been in a while. No injuries and I’m not going home every day with neck nagging, pain, stuff like that. So that’s definitely a good part.
“I miss a lot of it, but a lot of it I don’t miss. And I feel like I’m kind of saving myself. I don’t know. It’s not been easy, but I know I’m doing the right thing for right now. I’m going out to Denver this weekend to see Aljo (Aljamain Sterling) and I’m sure I’ll see a couple of people from the UFC and maybe we’ll have a conversation, maybe we won’t. But I definitely miss fighting, that’s for sure. I definitely miss fighting.”
Iaquinta could already have an opponent in mind, as he and Thiago Alves seem to have locked down a welterweight fight on April 8th:
Currently riding a four-fight win streak over names such as Joe Lauzon and Jorge Masvidal, how do you think a match-up against Alves at 170 pounds fares for Iaquinta?
You can listen to Iaquinta’s interview with Submission Radio here:
As a proud New Yorker, there’s nothing Al Iaquinta wants to do more than face Thiago Alves this November at UFC 205.
But he can’t.
Iaquinta, who has battled injuries over the course of…
As a proud New Yorker, there’s nothing Al Iaquinta wants to do more than face Thiago Alves this November at UFC 205.
But he can’t.
Iaquinta, who has battled injuries over the course of his Octagon career since finishing as runner-up on The Ultimate Fighter, recently told FOX Sports that his current contract just isn’t cutting it.
“I got the contract and I was just looking at it for a couple of days. I was like I just can’t sign it. I can’t do it. I felt like it wasn’t right. I talked to my manager, I said listen I really want to fight in New York. There’s nothing I want to do more than fight in New York, but I can’t take a pay cut for this fight,” he said. “I’m taking a pay cut from all of my sponsors. I’m taking a pay cut of all the last 18 months of the sponsors that could have been. I told (my manager) that I wanted more. I wanted to have a conversation with the UFC and see if they would do some kind of negotiation because when I signed my contract, there was no Reebok deal.”
Iaquinta (12-3-1) has been out of action since earning a split decision over Jorge Masvidal early last year. He has taken up a job selling real estate in New York to make money.
Things heated up on social media this weekend as #10th ranked fighter Al Iaquinta took a shot at UFC’s top prospect and chosen one Sage Northcutt. Iaquinta, who is snowed in up in the northeast, posted a video that reminded him of Northcutt and how peppy he is during his interviews. Check it out here:
Things heated up on social media this weekend as #10th ranked fighter Al Iaquinta took a shot at UFC’s top prospect and chosen one Sage Northcutt. Iaquinta, who is snowed in up in the northeast, posted a video that reminded him of Northcutt and how peppy he is during his interviews. Check it out here:
“What goes through my head every time I hear the fucking Sage Northcutt speak.”
What goes through my head every time I hear the fucking Sage Northcutt speak https://t.co/29tIUMZDPb
Iaquinta responded to a fan on Twitter and said that the UFC would never have him fight Northcutt and implied that he would beat Northcutt if given the opportunity.
“@MirkoCrosby relax its a joke…. They would never feed him to me lol.”
@MirkoCrosby relax its a joke…. They would never feed him to me lol
Iaquinta has been out of action since June of 2015 after suffering a knee injury. To be more exact, Iaquinta had very little cartilage left in his injured knee. Doctors transferred cartilage from a cadaver to Iaquinta’s leg, behind his knee cap. He was expected to be out action for six to eight months, so he should be ready to return to action soon.
On the other hand, Northcutt will be fighting Bryan Barberena at UFC on FOX 18.
It’s possible that if the UFC wanted to book this fight between the two they could. Do you want to see this fight? Let us know.
(Eddie wasn’t angry the moment he found out Gil was juicing, just dissapointed. via Getty)
Every time I hear a UFC fighter claiming that 90% of the roster is on one kind of PED or another, I go into something of an emergency rationalization mode. Suddenly and almost subconsciously, I find myself running around my apartment like a beagle after a bath, hands clasped over my ears and screaming “It can’t be that high! Surely it’s something closer to 75%!!” Then I nuke up a Hot Pocket and take a Forget Me Now to keep my sanity intact.
Unfortunately for delusionally optimistic MMA fans like us here at CagePotato (lol!), the results that these new UFC drug-testing policies have garnered seem to align with the increasingly popular opinion that everyone in the sport is on PED’s and it’s simply a matter of time until they slip up. Case in point: Gilbert Melendez (aka Giblert aka “Le Nino”), the last guy you’d expect to test positive for anything, who conversely just tested positive for something.
Statements from Gilbert and the UFC are after the jump.
(Eddie wasn’t angry the moment he found out Gil was juicing, just dissapointed. via Getty)
Every time I hear a UFC fighter claiming that 90% of the roster is on one kind of PED or another, I go into something of an emergency rationalization mode. Suddenly and almost subconsciously, I find myself running around my apartment like a beagle after a bath, hands clasped over my ears and screaming “It can’t be that high! Surely it’s something closer to 75%!!” Then I nuke up a Hot Pocket and take a Forget Me Now to keep my sanity intact.
Unfortunately for delusionally optimistic MMA fans like us here at CagePotato (lol!), the results that these new UFC drug-testing policies have garnered seem to align with the increasingly popular opinion that everyone in the sport is on PED’s and it’s simply a matter of time until they slip up. Case in point: Gilbert Melendez (aka Giblert aka “Le Nino”), the last guy you’d expect to test positive for anything, who conversely just tested positive for something.
Statements from Gilbert and the UFC are after the jump.
Yes, according to BloodyElbow, Melendez tested positive for an “exogenous origin of testosterone metabolites” following his split decision loss to Eddie Alvarez at UFC 188 and has been suspended for a year as a result. The news was announced by the UFC via a press release below:
Following his bout at UFC 188 in Mexico City on June 13, UFC lightweight Gilbert Melendez tested positive for exogenous origin of testosterone metabolites. The UFC has a strict, consistent policy against the use of any illegal and/or performance enhancing drugs, stimulants or masking agents by our athletes. As a result of the positive test, Melendez has accepted a one-year suspension, effective from the date of the bout, for violating the UFC Fighter Conduct Policy and Promotional Agreement with Zuffa, LLC.
“Regrettably, I tested positive in my post fight urine sample for UFC 188,” Melendez said. “I did not inject anything, but I am responsible and accept the consequences for the results. I will make sure I am better educated about the products I use and their implications. Going forward I will ensure no products I use will contain banned substances. I am sincerely apologetic to everyone who supports me, including my fans, sponsors and the UFC. I value your trust and respect and will do everything in my power to keep it.”
Melendez will no longer compete as scheduled on July 15. UFC officials are currently seeking a new opponent for Al Iaquinta, who was scheduled to face Melendez.
Well, at least Gil accepted responsibility for it. On a related note, I think “I did not inject anything” should become MMA’s version of “I never inhaled.”
As mentioned in the release, Al Iaquinta has now lost his second dance partner (after Bobby Green) for his Fight Night 71 co-headliner, and has since been pulled from the event altogether. He is not pleased, as you might imagine.
“I want to break something. I want to slam my head on the desk again. I don’t know. I’m just disappointed. I can’t describe it, man,” said Iaquinta on yesterday’s MMA Hour.
“I was ready to go. It was a perfect fight for me stylistically. I brought in guys who really had a good style and I’ve been doing great with the sparring, so it’s just, I don’t know, I’m just frustrated right now, man. I’m real frustrated.”
We’re frustrated too, Al. But while we’re waiting to hear when and where you’ll fight next, let’s just celebrate the fact that another cheater has been outed with that timeless Queen tune. Kick it, boys!
(Eddie wasn’t angry the moment he found out Gil was juicing, just dissapointed. via Getty)
Every time I hear a UFC fighter claiming that 90% of the roster is on one kind of PED or another, I go into something of an emergency rationalization mode. Suddenly and almost subconsciously, I find myself running around my apartment like a beagle after a bath, hands clasped over my ears and screaming “It can’t be that high! Surely it’s something closer to 75%!!” Then I nuke up a Hot Pocket and take a Forget Me Now to keep my sanity intact.
Unfortunately for delusionally optimistic MMA fans like us here at CagePotato (lol!), the results that these new UFC drug-testing policies have garnered seem to align with the increasingly popular opinion that everyone in the sport is on PED’s and it’s simply a matter of time until they slip up. Case in point: Gilbert Melendez (aka Giblert aka “Le Nino”), the last guy you’d expect to test positive for anything, who conversely just tested positive for something.
Statements from Gilbert and the UFC are after the jump.
(Eddie wasn’t angry the moment he found out Gil was juicing, just dissapointed. via Getty)
Every time I hear a UFC fighter claiming that 90% of the roster is on one kind of PED or another, I go into something of an emergency rationalization mode. Suddenly and almost subconsciously, I find myself running around my apartment like a beagle after a bath, hands clasped over my ears and screaming “It can’t be that high! Surely it’s something closer to 75%!!” Then I nuke up a Hot Pocket and take a Forget Me Now to keep my sanity intact.
Unfortunately for delusionally optimistic MMA fans like us here at CagePotato (lol!), the results that these new UFC drug-testing policies have garnered seem to align with the increasingly popular opinion that everyone in the sport is on PED’s and it’s simply a matter of time until they slip up. Case in point: Gilbert Melendez (aka Giblert aka “Le Nino”), the last guy you’d expect to test positive for anything, who conversely just tested positive for something.
Statements from Gilbert and the UFC are after the jump.
Yes, according to BloodyElbow, Melendez tested positive for an “exogenous origin of testosterone metabolites” following his split decision loss to Eddie Alvarez at UFC 188 and has been suspended for a year as a result. The news was announced by the UFC via a press release below:
Following his bout at UFC 188 in Mexico City on June 13, UFC lightweight Gilbert Melendez tested positive for exogenous origin of testosterone metabolites. The UFC has a strict, consistent policy against the use of any illegal and/or performance enhancing drugs, stimulants or masking agents by our athletes. As a result of the positive test, Melendez has accepted a one-year suspension, effective from the date of the bout, for violating the UFC Fighter Conduct Policy and Promotional Agreement with Zuffa, LLC.
“Regrettably, I tested positive in my post fight urine sample for UFC 188,” Melendez said. “I did not inject anything, but I am responsible and accept the consequences for the results. I will make sure I am better educated about the products I use and their implications. Going forward I will ensure no products I use will contain banned substances. I am sincerely apologetic to everyone who supports me, including my fans, sponsors and the UFC. I value your trust and respect and will do everything in my power to keep it.”
Melendez will no longer compete as scheduled on July 15. UFC officials are currently seeking a new opponent for Al Iaquinta, who was scheduled to face Melendez.
Well, at least Gil accepted responsibility for it. On a related note, I think “I did not inject anything” should become MMA’s version of “I never inhaled.”
As mentioned in the release, Al Iaquinta has now lost his second dance partner (after Bobby Green) for his Fight Night 71 co-headliner, and has since been pulled from the event altogether. He is not pleased, as you might imagine.
“I want to break something. I want to slam my head on the desk again. I don’t know. I’m just disappointed. I can’t describe it, man,” said Iaquinta on yesterday’s MMA Hour.
“I was ready to go. It was a perfect fight for me stylistically. I brought in guys who really had a good style and I’ve been doing great with the sparring, so it’s just, I don’t know, I’m just frustrated right now, man. I’m real frustrated.”
We’re frustrated too, Al. But while we’re waiting to hear when and where you’ll fight next, let’s just celebrate the fact that another cheater has been outed with that timeless Queen tune. Kick it, boys!
