AL IAQUINTA NAMECHEKED Conor McGregor as a potential next opponent after overcoming Kevin Lee in a unanimous decision victory at UFC on Fox 31 on Saturday night.
The lightweight bout saw the 31-year-old rally after an impressive opening start from Lee, with the judges scoring the fight 48-47, 48-47 and a 49-46 in the New Yorker’s favour in Milwaukee.
Iaquinta took advantage of Lee expending much energy in the opening pair of rounds locking his opponent and landing successive elbows, “Raging Al” prevailing with a late flurry of punches in the final 10 minutes to deliver the biggest win of his career to date.
Saturday saw him make a successful return following a decision defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 223, extending his record to 14-1-1.
“With the right preparation, the right fight, I could beat anyone in this division,” Iaquinta said speaking afterwards last night.
When asked about his next bout, he called out McGregor, with Iaquinta insisting that in order to have another chance to meet Nurmagomedov the Dubliner would need to overcome him first.
“If Conor wants a rematch against Khabib, he’s gotta go through me first,” said Iaquinta. “He tapped out.”
Nurmagomedov defeated McGregor in October, with the reigning undisputed UFC Lightweight Champion congratulating Iaquinta after his impressive win against Lee.
“I know how strong you are, that’s why I was waiting for your fight,” the Russian tweeted.
Murray Kinsella, Gavan Casey and Eddie O’Sullivan preview another big weekend of Heineken Cup action and dissect the week’s main talking points.
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It’s the kind of fight Conor should have had in the first place, the idea that he could come in from two years on the session and beat Khabib was always far fetched.
If he has serious ambitions about fighting on (that’s a big if) this would be a good next move, Al is a quality opponent who won’t be intimidated but McGregor should still have too much for him, hard competitive rounds and a vicotory are what he needs to get his spark back before he even looks at a rematch.
@Sean: All very true. Including being on the sesh for the last 2 years.
@Sean: Mcgregor is done spark is gone I’m afraid. He will lose to one of these lower ranked lightweights and that will be it
@Mike Flannery: Agreed. That spark is gone. Hard to keep it alight with millions in the bank.
I wanna see Tony McGregor fight khabib.
@Bill Clay: in a slim-fit, hand-fitted Hugo Boss suit
@Bill Clay: I’m non too plussed about this fight…
I think McGregor may have other things on his mind at the moment
He won’t have time for any fights after what the scu**b** done last weekend.
@John Macken: Any proof? Link if so please. Otherwise fcuk up spreading shit
@Coco86: ha you must be some sort of fan girl.
Do you really believe it’s not him?
I think it’s pretty much common knowledge around Dublin.
Their was a well written article about it in the daily mirror today, I suggest you read it.
What other high profile Irish star gets a team of “representivies” to go to do the station for him.
Don’t make me laugh, he’s a jumped up little f’er. Used to be a fan of the fighter, but as a person he is dirt.
@John Macken: what did he do?