Iaquinta: What’s McGregor’s excuse for not going 5 rounds vs. Khabib?

Bloodyelbow.com

If there is one thing common between UFC lightweight standouts Conor McGregor and Al Iaquinta, it is sharing the Octagon with Khabib Nurmagomedov. The difference, however, is how their respective fights turned out.

Both men failed to emerge victorious against the undefeated Dagestani fighter, but Iaquinta was able to bring the fight to the distance. McGregor, however, was forced to submission in the fourth round.

And for “Ragin’ Al”, this accomplishment speaks for itself.

“I took a five-round fight on a three-round camp, and I went the distance,” Iaquinta told MMAjunkie Radio. “What’s his excuse? He looked way more tired in the third than I was in the fifth, and I didn’t train for five. That says a lot.”

“The Notorious” had been involved in social media spats as of late, targeting Tristar Gym head coach Firas Zahabi, and most recently, Khabib and boxer Paulie Malignaggi. In Iaquinta’s view, this behavior by the Irishman has gotten out of hand.

“I was a big fan, but I think he’s getting a little out of control now,” Iaquinta said. “I thought he was the guy that would kind of do what he did but stay true to the martial arts. It seemed like, in the beginning, he was really kind of like the martial arts way, do the right thing, respect your fellow competitors, ‘we’re all in this’ kind of thing.

“His goal set out to be the best, and now that he is the best and he’s got a lot of money, I just think he’s a little out of control.”

Iaquinta and his team are also looking into a fight against McGregor sometime in the future.