Jorge Masvidal Is Not Happy Fighting Al Iaquinta
UFC Fight Night 63 is set to go down on April 4, 2015 from Virginia with top featherweight contenders Chad “Money” Mendes and Ricardo Lamas headlining the show. However, there is also a very crucial lightweight showdown taking place in the co-main between two fighters on the brink of contention as Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal meets “Raging” Al Iaquinta.
Masvidal who is currently ranked No. 14 in the division, originally had a huge opportunity in front of him, as he was supposed to meet No. 5-ranked former champion Benson Henderson. However, when Henderson was pulled from the card Iaquinta stepped in and “Gamebred” is not happy about fighting the No. 15-ranked lightweight instead of No. 5, despite Iaquinta’s recent success:
“I said that and I don’t want to go back on myself,” Masvidal told MMAjunkie. “Nothing’s changed. I wanted No. 5 (in the rankings), not No. 15, but it’s whatever. It’s the business. People get hurt and things happen. I’m not stoked about it.”
Masvidal may not necessarily be looking for a title shot, but he would like some tougher competition from his employers. Claiming that he’s succeeded throughout his 36-fight career and sitting at 7-1 inside of the Octagon, “Gambred” is looking to fight the best, and he doesn’t see that in Iaquinta:
“Just give me the toughest guys out there,” Masvidal said. “I’m not asking for a title shot, I’m not asking to be ranked in the top-three or anything like that. What I’m asking for is: whoever you think can kick my ass, put them in front of me. If you think this guy is going to run right through me and embarrass me, put that dude in front of me. Watch what I do to him.
“I’ve been fighting for a long time and everywhere I’ve been at, I’ve kicked ass. Every major promotion I’ve had a winning record. It hasn’t changed in the UFC. I still have a winning record. If you put me with bigger, badder names, then I’m going to keep winning and get the biggest names possible. That’s all that’s in my head and what I think about every day. Just fighting the best out there.”
The ironic thing here, is that just like Masvidal, the Long Island Native Iaquinta has also won six out of his last seven fights, and has scored three-straight TKO wins, as opposed to Masvidal’s three-straight decision victories. Still, “Gamebred” is not impressed:
“He’s talented enough to be in the UFC, but there’s nothing that he’s doing that I haven’t seen,” Masvidal said. “I think nobody’s on my level, but I don’t think he’s fought anybody like me in his whole career. They’re hyping him up off this Joe Lauzon fight, but I beat Joe Lauzon eight years ago. Welcome to club, buddy. It’s not a big deal. Joe is the same fighter. It wasn’t nothing to me to see him beat Joe. He’s never seen anyone like me in his life.”
Continuing his brash talk, Masvidal even compared Iaquinta to a young boy, saying the Serra-Longo product isn’t ready for a man like himself:
“Me and him ain’t the same,” Masvidal said. “He’s a new generation, and some time from now I’m sure he’ll be on the top, but me and him are different generations. I’m looking at him like he’s a boy and I’m a full-grown man. Come April 4th, I’m going to show the world just what the f-ck I mean.”
Although he may not be happy with his opponent, Masvidal claims that there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel, and all he can do is continue to win fights:
“There’s always light at the end of the tunnel,” Masvidal said. “As long as I get to compete and do what I love to do, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. I just want to get the biggest names possible. That’s why I get a little upset.”
Can Masvidal back up his bold words come fight night or will he become another victim to Iaquinta’s heavy hands?
