Al Iaquinta gives some promising updates on possible UFC return

Ragin’ Al Iaquinta is one of the best lightweights in the world. Unfortunately, his gripes with the UFC have caused him to question his continued fighting career, and he’s been quite inactive over the last few years.

Earlier this year, of course, Iaquinta did step back into the Octagon, dazzling with a thunderous first-round knockout of the notoriously durable Diego Sanchez. Since then, however, he has once again been noncommittal on his fighting future.

Now for some good news for Ragin’ Al Iaquinta fans.

Speaking to FloCombat.com this week, the dangerous lightweight contender shared some promising updates surrounding his possible UFC return.

“I don’t know if I’m really taking a stand [against the UFC], I’m just doing what I want to do,” Iaquinta said of his inactivity. “If I’m hurt, if my body’s aching and I’m not getting paid great to fight, I’m just not going to do it. When I need to fight, if I really get the urge to fight, that’s when I fight. 

“If I find the right opponent that I think is a good fight for the money that I’m getting paid, then I take it. But I’m not going to fight a top-five guy for entry-level money, especially when I’ve been doing this this long and when I know I’m at the top of the game — like I know I am.”

“There’s some good fights out there for me right now,” Iaquinta added at the end of his chat with FloCombat. “I just hope it works out. We’ll be back. We’ll be back. It’s not an ‘if’ but it’s ‘when.’ When I’m back, it’ll be good.”

Al Iaquinta is currently on a five-fight streak, having recently bested Diego Sanchez, Jorge Masvidal, Joe Lauzon, Ross Pearson and Rodrigo Damm. Who do you want to see him fight next?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 9/21/2017.