A History of Interactions Between Al Iaquinta, Donald Cerrone
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Al Iaquinta and Donald Cerrone are set to collide in what promises to be an entertaining lightweight main event at UFC Fight Night 151 this week. The fight was booked somewhat out of left field, but it’s something the two have been open to in the past.
Here’s a look at the duo’s history of interactions leading up to
this bout.
Meanwhile, Cerrone had won eight in a row and was seemingly next in line to challenge then champion Rafael dos Anjos in a rematch. However, he would have to wait before he got his chance. When asked by a fan if he would want to face Iaquinta in the meantime, “Cowboy” was down for it.
It never happened, but Cerrone was booked to face dos Anjos in December 2015 for the title. Iaquinta, coming off a split decision win over Jorge Masvidal a few months earlier, was targeting a fight with the winner.
In the end, dos Anjos retained pretty comfortably but Iaquinta was still open to a fight with “Cowboy,” particularly in the summer of 2016 when he was slated to return.
Iaquinta though, would only return more than two years from that Masvidal fight when he defeated Diego Sanchez in April 2017.
A month later, Cerrone would have a successful return to the lightweight division when he defeated Alexander Hernandez at UFC on ESPN+ 1 and talks of a long-awaited Conor McGregor fight started to emerge.
At one point, both fighters were campaigning to face McGregor next, though it looked like Cerrone would be the one getting it.
In the end, negotiations broke down and the two of them were booked to face each other.
While there has been no trash talk between Iaquinta and Cowboy in the past, and there doesn’t seem to be any likely to happen before the fight, don’t expect them to be buddies.
“He likes that,” Iaquinta told BJ Penn Radio of Cerrone being friendly with his opponents. ”[He] tries to fool you into thinking, ‘Oh, we’re going to have a nice fight.’ It ain’t going to be a nice fight. I’m f —ing going after him. It’s going to be all respect, but I’m not going to be hugging his grandma after and like, ‘Oh, good fight. That was great,’ you know?
“He wants the same s**t I want, and I want it more, so I’m going out there to take it. It’s not going to be like f—ing a Yancy Medeiros fight. It’s going to be where I’m in his face the whole time. There’s no hugging in between knockdowns and s— like that.”
Al Iaquinta and Donald Cerrone are set to collide in what promises to be an entertaining lightweight main event at UFC Fight Night 151 this week. The fight was booked somewhat out of left field, but it’s something the two have been open to in the past.
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Rankings
Iaquinta first spoke of Cerrone when asked by a fan to check their own personal rankings back in 2012. “Ragin’ Al” believed Cerrone shouldn’t have been higher than Nate Diaz in that list because he lost to the latter.@PATCH_UFC Donald Cerrone ranked above Nate Diaz?
— A1 Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) October 3, 2012
@PATCH_UFC no problem bro ! I think head 2 head wins should mean more then overall wins/losses, no way Cerrone should be ranked above Diaz
— A1 Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) October 3, 2012
Eyeing each other
Of course, Iaquinta was still rising through the ranks at that time. He would go on to win seven of his next eight Ultimate Fighting Championship bouts over the next few years and emerge as a serious contender in the division.Meanwhile, Cerrone had won eight in a row and was seemingly next in line to challenge then champion Rafael dos Anjos in a rematch. However, he would have to wait before he got his chance. When asked by a fan if he would want to face Iaquinta in the meantime, “Cowboy” was down for it.
“@lesaboteur87: So does @Cowboycerrone want to fight Iaquinta for something to do in the interim? Got to make that money.
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) July 6, 2015
I sure like money
It never happened, but Cerrone was booked to face dos Anjos in December 2015 for the title. Iaquinta, coming off a split decision win over Jorge Masvidal a few months earlier, was targeting a fight with the winner.
@uscsagar winner jds cerrone but until then that who cares
— A1 Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) September 8, 2015
In the end, dos Anjos retained pretty comfortably but Iaquinta was still open to a fight with “Cowboy,” particularly in the summer of 2016 when he was slated to return.
@Crazy_MMA_Fan @Cowboycerrone I agree, let's see where everyone's at when I get back in the summer
— A1 Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) January 1, 2016
Iaquinta though, would only return more than two years from that Masvidal fight when he defeated Diego Sanchez in April 2017.
Campaigning for Conor
Iaquinta has only fought three times since he first spoke of wanting to fight Cerrone. Following his win over Kevin Lee in December, the New Yorker started to campaign for a high-profile fight.A month later, Cerrone would have a successful return to the lightweight division when he defeated Alexander Hernandez at UFC on ESPN+ 1 and talks of a long-awaited Conor McGregor fight started to emerge.
At one point, both fighters were campaigning to face McGregor next, though it looked like Cerrone would be the one getting it.
Looks like they are about to announce Conor vs Cerrone https://t.co/D5Is02eEj1
— A1 Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) March 2, 2019
In the end, negotiations broke down and the two of them were booked to face each other.
While there has been no trash talk between Iaquinta and Cowboy in the past, and there doesn’t seem to be any likely to happen before the fight, don’t expect them to be buddies.
“He likes that,” Iaquinta told BJ Penn Radio of Cerrone being friendly with his opponents. ”[He] tries to fool you into thinking, ‘Oh, we’re going to have a nice fight.’ It ain’t going to be a nice fight. I’m f —ing going after him. It’s going to be all respect, but I’m not going to be hugging his grandma after and like, ‘Oh, good fight. That was great,’ you know?
“He wants the same s**t I want, and I want it more, so I’m going out there to take it. It’s not going to be like f—ing a Yancy Medeiros fight. It’s going to be where I’m in his face the whole time. There’s no hugging in between knockdowns and s— like that.”
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