Al Iaquinta On Bobby Green: I’m Going To Put My Hands Up And Fight

No. 13-ranked “Raging” Al Iaquinta has quietly been making his way up the lightweight rankings, currently riding a four-fight win streak which includes three finishes. Despite his recent success, Iaquinta may have gotten the most attention due to his now infamous post-fight rant where he was seen yelling at fans who were unhappy with the decision after his UFC Fight Night 63 bout against Jorge Masvidal in April.

The Serra-Longo product has been winning nonetheless, and he will now get a step up in competition as he is set to meet dangerous striker and No. 11-ranked Bobby “King” Green at UFC Fight Night 71 on July 15, 2015 in San Diego.

Green seems to have lit a fire under Iaquinta with his most recent comments. Appearing on last week’s edition of the MMA Hour, “King” described that he believes many of his opponents are not actually there to fight, but they all run, and he thinks “Raging” Al will do the same:

“These guys are not here to fight,” Green said. “Are we dancers? Are we CrossFit guys? Are we track stars? Are we breakdancers? I thought we were called fighters.”

The Long Island native seems to have gotten wind of Green’s latest antics and actually appeared on this week’s edition of the MMA Hour to respond. Iaquinta noted that all Green does is complain, and that “King” can expect Iaquinta to stand in front of him and fight, because that’s what “Raging” Al does:

“I was like, aww man, this guy doesn’t get it,” Iaquinta said, after he was played a tape of Green’s comments. “He doesn’t get it. He’s talking about Donald Cerrone and he’s whining and complaining about this and that, and, half the people don’t give a s— that he’s complaining, and half the people listening to him complain are glad. Who does this guy, he talks the whole time, he doesn’t fight. He’s telling me stand in front. That’s what I do. Does he watch me and my fights? I don’t know.”

Continuing on, Iaquinta noted that people know him as a “tough as hell” fighter who always brings it, while fans simply know “King” for running his mouth and his trash talk:

“When people say, ‘who’s your next fight?’ I say ‘Bobby Green,'” Iaquinta said. And then people say ‘oh, that’s the guy who talks a lot, huh?’ I don’t think, if anyone asks Bobby Green, who’s your next fight, ‘oh, Al Iaquinta,’ they’re not going to say ‘that’s the guy who talks a lot,’ they’re going to say ‘that’s the guy who’s freakin’ tough as hell,’ comes forward, comes to fight every time.'” That’s what you’re going to get.

Quite oddly, when Green appeared on the MMA Hour, he seemed to have multiple members of his camp with him and “Raging” Al was not too impressed with them. Speaking of the lack of intelligence possessed by Green and his camp, Iaquinta stated that they don’t compare to the members of the now highly-touted Serra-Longo camp in New York:

“Maybe he’s playing up the whole WWF, acting thing,” said Iaquinta, who will aim for his fifth straight win when the duo meet in San Diego. “Maybe I’m giving him too much credit, but he doesn’t seem too intelligent, his team doesn’t seem too intelligent. There’s a reason I’m where I’m at. Guys like Bobby Green don’t train where I’m at. They get weeded out real quick. Guys like Chris Weidman, guys like Aljamain Sterling, guys like myself, don’t train where he’s at, because we’re way too smart for that. That what it is right there.”

Green also claimed that he would take the center of the cage and fight, while Iaquinta runs, but the Long Island native isn’t expecting that. Iaquinta is sure of one thing, however, and that’s that he will stand in front of “King” and fight:

“He’s not going to do that,” Iaquinta said. “He’s going to do this [Iaquinta makes gestures with his hands], he’s going to do this a little bit, he’s going to make a face like I really didn’t hit him, though I really did. That’s what he does every fight. He talks while he’s getting his ass kicked, then he thinks he won. He says, ‘oh, Edson Barboza threw that kick and a blocked it, but it got through.’ What the f— happened? Did it get through or did he block it? And he’s talking ‘it didn’t hurt,’ and this and that. Dude, I’m going to put my hands up, and I’m gonna fight, and he’s not going to do that. If he does? You’re going to get an exciting fight.”

Despite all of the talk, Iaquinta knows deep down that he has a challenge in front of him, and although he may not be happy with “King’s” comments, he indeed respects Green’s skills as a fighter:

“I know Bobby Green has the potential to be a tough guy,” Iaquinta said. “He has some skills that are very good. He has great boxing when he wants to have great boxing. He’s got great kicks when he wants to have great kicks and his wrestling is very good as well. I’m going in there and training hard. I’m pushing myself to the limit every day.”

Which lightweight will continue his rise up the rankings come July?