Justin Gaethje might be ‘f-ing pissed’ but Al Iaquinta still not interested in fight: ‘I’m looking up the rankings’ 24

BLoodyelbow.com

Earlier this week, top-seven lightweight talent Justin Gaethje said he was ‘f—ing pissed’ that he didn’t get to fight Al Iaquinta last year.

‘Raging Al’ and ‘The Highlight’ were expected to meet in the Octagon last August, but Iaquinta pulled out of the bout to renegotiate his UFC contract.

Gaethje went on to accept a fight against the lower-ranked James Vick while Iaquinta returned to the cage against former title challenger Kevin Lee. Both men were victorious, but Iaquinta surged past Gaethje in the rankings to land a spot in the top-five.

Gaethje is still itching for a fight against Iaquinta, but Al is no longer interested.

Speaking on MMA Junkie Radio recently, Iaquinta said it doesn’t make sense to fight a lower-ranked opponent.

“I’m looking up in the rankings,” Iaquinta said. “I think Gaethje, he’s kind of had his opportunity, and he chose to fight Vick. He wanted to do what was best for him, so now I’m going to do what’s best for me. Fighting below me in the rankings is definitely not (it). It’s a good fight, but I think there’s guys that’ll put me right up there. Those are the guys I’m gunning for.

“And I think that the fans want that, and the UFC wants that, so I think everyone is on the same page, except for him.”

Rather than fight Gaethje, Iaquinta wants to get his hands on one of the top-three to establish himself as the next No. 1 contender.

“I could see it being any one of those top three guys, really – Ferguson, Conor or Dustin,” he said. “I think it’ll be one of those guys.”

“I think all three of those guys … a good win over any one of them puts me right up there to get that title shot again. I put on a better fight than Conor did against Khabib, so I think he should have to fight somebody (before an immediate rematch). … And I beat Kevin Lee, who I think is another guy that would give Conor tons and tons of trouble.”