“Raging” Al Iaquinta is looking for a fight, after calling out Dustin Poirier for a lightweight fight during ESPN’s Ariel Helwani show the “Ariel Helwani MMA Show.” Iaquinta was promoting his upcoming grappling match for the promotion Submission Underground against UFC welterweight Mike Perry. He then turned his attention to Poirier, criticizing his last fight against lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Iaquinta suggested that Poirier quit during the fight and said, “You knew that Khabib is a wrestler that just gets on top of you and doesn’t give you any space, right? And he was going to his coaches in the middle of the round, ‘not a lot of space guys, can’t get him off of me.’ Bro that’s what the f–ck you signed up for.”
Raging Al is looking to have a strong 2020 and move up in the lightweight rankings. Ranked ninth in the lightweight division and is currently on a two-fight losing streak. When speaking on why the matchup with Poirier makes sense, he said “He doesn’t have a fight coming up, that’s the fight. The UFC just has to call him.” Iaquinta then went on to say “He thinks he’s like the number one contender, but he’s really not.”
Poirier has been looking for a fight against Nate Diaz but is now walking away from calling out Diaz. He is ranked second in the lightweight division and is a former interim lightweight champion. Now Poirier just wants an exciting fight. Iaquinta thinks he can deliver on what Poirier is looking for. Iaquinta said in the interview that, “He was saying I want an exciting fight, he’s going to get an exciting fight. I am going to f–ck him up.”
Poirier has since responded to Iaquinta on twitter and Iaquinta has responded back.
@ALIAQUINTA Bro you won 2 fights in the last 5 years…. pipe down
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) February 17, 2020
Do something about it
— Al Iaquinta🗽 (@ALIAQUINTA) February 17, 2020
With both fighters looking for a fight, the UFC may grant Iaquinta’s wish. Iaquinta mentioned in the interview that he reached out to UFC Matchmaker Mick Maynard to fight Poirier. With Iaquinta calling out Poirier publicly, it sets up this potential and interesting lightweight matchup.