Al Iaquinta cancels Fight Night lightweight bout vs. Justin Gaethje

[FrankieNYC]

Hold the phone on the upcoming Justin Gaethje vs. Al Iaquinta lightweight fight.

Iaquinta told ESPN Wednesday night that he is not fighting Gaethje on Aug. 25 in Lincoln, Nebraska, after all. He said he informed the UFC of his decision to withdraw from the fight, and according to sources, the UFC is currently seeking a new opponent to fight Gaethje in the main event of the Fight Night card. Iaquinta would not disclose his reason for canceling the fight.

It appeared as though Iaquinta, who hasn't always seen eye-to-eye with UFC brass, was back in the promotion's good graces after he accepted to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov on 24 hours' notice in April. While he ultimately lost the fight via unanimous decision, the UFC quickly booked "Ragin' Al" in the main event of the Nebraska card against the fan-favorite Gaethje. Prior to that loss, Iaquinta (13-4-1) had won his last five in a row.

Gaethje (18-2) has lost his last two fights in a row against Eddie Alvarez and most recently Dustin Poirier.

"I can't question Al's heart," Gaethje's manager Ali Abdelaziz told ESPN Wednesday night, "but at the end of the day, when you fight Justin, people have to think about it. I got nothing against Al, but it's a tall order to fight Justin. When you go in there, you leave a piece of yourself in the cage. Some people don't want to do that. If I'm a fighter I don't want to fight that guy. I don't know if this is a negotiation tactic from Al, but he is out.

"For the record, he called out Justin, Justin took the fight and then he pulled out. It's his business. UFC will find someone else to fight Justin, and it will be an exciting fight. It doesn't matter who fights Justin, it could be a chair in there, it will be exciting."

The event will take place at the Pinnacle Bank Arena and will mark the UFC's first event in Lincoln.

Iaquinta says he's bowed out of Gaethje bout

 

[FrankieNYC]

This is why I rarely get excited about fights until fight week

 

[Wild]

Man that sucks. I don’t think Al fears Gaethje whatsoever. This has to do something with his relationship with the UFC. Looking forward to hearing what he has to say about it. That will be as interesting as this fight would have been.

 

[dtrain24]

Man that sucks. I don’t think Al fears Gaethje whatsoever. This has to do something with his relationship with the UFC. Looking forward to hearing what he has to say about it. That will be as interesting as this fight would have been.

You think Ariel has him on his new show? (I almost typed MMA Hour).

 

[NHBStriker]

Iaquinta says he's bowed out of Gaethje bout


Hold the phone on the upcoming Justin Gaethje vs. Al Iaquinta lightweight fight.

Iaquinta told ESPN Wednesday night that he is not fighting Gaethje on Aug. 25 in Lincoln, Nebraska, after all. He said he informed the UFC of his decision to withdraw from the fight, and according to sources, the UFC is currently seeking a new opponent to fight Gaethje in the main event of the Fight Night card. Iaquinta would not disclose his reason for canceling the fight.

It appeared as though Iaquinta, who hasn't always seen eye-to-eye with UFC brass, was back in the promotion's good graces after he accepted to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov on 24 hours' notice in April. While he ultimately lost the fight via unanimous decision, the UFC quickly booked "Ragin' Al" in the main event of the Nebraska card against the fan-favorite Gaethje. Prior to that loss, Iaquinta (13-4-1) had won his last five in a row.

Gaethje (18-2) has lost his last two fights in a row against Eddie Alvarez and most recently Dustin Poirier.

"I can't question Al's heart," Gaethje's manager Ali Abdelaziz told ESPN Wednesday night, "but at the end of the day, when you fight Justin, people have to think about it. I got nothing against Al, but it's a tall order to fight Justin. When you go in there, you leave a piece of yourself in the cage. Some people don't want to do that. If I'm a fighter I don't want to fight that guy. I don't know if this is a negotiation tactic from Al, but he is out.

"For the record, he called out Justin, Justin took the fight and then he pulled out. It's his business. UFC will find someone else to fight Justin, and it will be an exciting fight. It doesn't matter who fights Justin, it could be a chair in there, it will be exciting."

The event will take place at the Pinnacle Bank Arena and will mark the UFC's first event in Lincoln.

Thanks for having posted this. I'm amused by Gaethje's manager simultaneously not questioning, and then questioning Iaquinta's heart.

Gaethje is a long night for anybody, but whatever Iaquinta's reason for pulling out of the fight is, it almost certainly doesn't have to do with Gaethje. More likely he's pissed about being jerked around by the UFC in general, or by Dana White specifically.

 

[Wild]

You think Ariel has him on his new show? (I almost typed MMA Hour).

Definitely and it will be must watch lol.

 

[KWingJitsu]

Intredasting.

Al has said if he fights anyone ranked above him, he wants to be paid more.

At least that's what BLAF said.

Which means... nothing.

 

[Rambo John J]

This is why I rarely get excited about fights until fight week

agree...I check the cards out 7-10 days from fight time
I only know a few of the matchups before that time cause they are belts or big names

I used to know every fight months ahead and have bets on it with early odds

so much MMA nowadays and so many cancelled fights



OH well fight cancelled...Al is probably being smart here, he took some damage in last fight and damage to face is certainly coming in any JG fight...hope for an interesting replacement

 

[Sex Chicken]

I think he's daring them to cut him. He wants out.

 

[Wild]

I think he's daring them to cut him. He wants out.

I get that feeling as well.

 

[Howard Moon]

I think he's daring them to cut him. He wants out.

I wonder why? I can't see him going to Bellator, and if he just wants to retire from fighting, nothing is stopping him.

I take pleasure in imagining this is all an elaborate troll. Al hates Egg and just wants to be the biggest pain in the ass he can be for as long as he can get away with it. It's even better if I imagine Serra is in on it.

 

[Wild]

I wonder why? I can't see him going to Bellator, and if he just wants to retire from fighting, nothing is stopping him.

I take pleasure in imagining this is all an elaborate troll. Al hates Egg and just wants to be the biggest pain in the ass he can be for as long as he can get away with it. It's even better if I imagine Serra is in on it.

Why don’t you think he would go to bellator?

 

[FrankieNYC]

I wonder why? I can't see him going to Bellator, and if he just wants to retire from fighting, nothing is stopping him.

I take pleasure in imagining this is all an elaborate troll. Al hates Egg and just wants to be the biggest pain in the ass he can be for as long as he can get away with it. It's even better if I imagine Serra is in on it.

If Al gets cut for a reason like this, he will use it to help PROJECT SPEARHEAD
No chance Serra is into how Al & Dana get along
It must be a PITA for him actually

 

[Howard Moon]

If Al gets cut for a reason like this, he will use it to help PROJECT SPEARHEAD
No chance Serra is into how Al & Dana get along
It must be a PITA for him actually

Let me have my fantasy of Egg in an impotent rage while Al and Serra giggle like schoolgirls on the other end after hanging up the phone. C'mon, picture that and tell me it doesn't make you smile.

 

[Sex Chicken]

Twitter tonight;

I can see Al using this opportunity to make a statement to Dana like, “Fuck you. I hold the cards it’s my decision if I fight or not. You don’t own fighters.”

 

[Howard Moon]

Why don’t you think he would go to bellator?

Nothing concrete. He just has his real estate career and he's already treating UFC as a side gig. I guess I just can't see him bothering. Pure conjecture on my part, which is why I solicited possible motivations.

 

[Wild]

Nothing concrete. He just has his real estate career and he's already treating UFC as a side gig. I guess I just can't see him bothering. Pure conjecture on my part, which is why I solicited possible motivations.

Fair enough my man. You may be right too. He may just walk away and go do something else.

 

[Wild]

Looking like it may be James Vick that steps in.

 

[NHBStriker]

Twitter tonight;

I can see Al using this opportunity to make a statement to Dana like, “Fuck you. I hold the cards it’s my decision if I fight or not. You don’t own fighters.”

Iaquinta isn't wrong about the brain dead part. I would love to be able to inflict Justin Gaethje like damage with my leg kicks... but not if that means getting punched in my head 400% more than normal.

 

[FrankieNYC]

Looking like it may be James Vick that steps in.

UFC lightweight contender Al Iaquinta has pulled out of his scheduled bout against No. 7-ranked Justin Gaethje.

Stepping in for Iaquinta in UFC’s inaugural event in Lincoln, Nebraska is No. 11-ranked James Vick, who is currently riding a four-fight win streak and has won 13 of his 14 professional fights.

If the long-standing personal feud between them is any indication, Gaethje vs. Vick has all the makings of a ‘Fight of the Night’ contender as the two powerhouses meet in the five-round main event at Pinnacle Bank Arena on August 25th.

 

[benjo0101]

UFC lightweight contender Al Iaquinta has pulled out of his scheduled bout against No. 7-ranked Justin Gaethje.

Stepping in for Iaquinta in UFC’s inaugural event in Lincoln, Nebraska is No. 11-ranked James Vick, who is currently riding a four-fight win streak and has won 13 of his 14 professional fights.

If the long-standing personal feud between them is any indication, Gaethje vs. Vick has all the makings of a ‘Fight of the Night’ contender as the two powerhouses meet in the five-round main event at Pinnacle Bank Arena on August 25th.

Nice fight, no Al though

 

[kaladin stormblessed]

Man that sucks. I don’t think Al fears Gaethje whatsoever. This has to do something with his relationship with the UFC. Looking forward to hearing what he has to say about it. That will be as interesting as this fight would have been.

yeah, Al doesnt seem to fear anyone. has to be another reason behind the scenes

 

[Mix6APlix]

He wants the Bellator belt.

 

[Yossarian]

Twitter tonight;

I can see Al using this opportunity to make a statement to Dana like, “Fuck you. I hold the cards it’s my decision if I fight or not. You don’t own fighters.”

Not an Iaquinta fane here, but he is right. It's time that fighters consider the concequences of fighting, health, etc, before signing a contract. To just fight anybody for anything, that is a high price to pay. It's the old way of thinking.

 

[SongExotic2]

It's because of the early weigh in stuff