Justin Gaethje and Al Iaquinta go back and forth over potential summer scrap

On a recent episode of his podcast Call me Al, recent UFC lightweight title challenger Al Iaquinta suggested there is a possibility he’ll fight former World Series of Fighting lightweight champion Justin Gaethje sometime this summer.

“We’re hoping for sometime in August,” Iaquinta said, offering a time frame for this potential fight, but acknowledging that Gaethje probably needs some time off after his last two fights, which were particularly brutal. “August, September. I think they wanted it to be sooner, but like, that guy needs a rest. I was looking out for his health with that one. He needs a break for a minute.”

“If it goes down the way it’s supposed to, it’ll be a good fight, a tough fight,” he added.

Justin Gaethje has now gotten wind of thee comments from Al Iaquinta, and he’s taken issue with them. In a Monday evening Tweet, the former WSOF champ suggested that, contrary to Iaquinta’s comments, an August fight didn’t seem likely.

Raging @ALIAQUINTA must have been trying to sound tough on his new podcast. Word on the street is he’s not ready for August #ufc #mma @ufc pic.twitter.com/qagMjw4IiD

— Justin Gaethje 🇺🇸 (@Justin_Gaethje) May 28, 2018

“Raging [Al Iaquinta] must have been trying to sound tough on his new podcast,” Gaethje said on his Tweet. “Word on the street is he’s not ready for August.”

This Tweet quickly got a response from Iaquinta, who seemed to suggest he’s down to fight Gaethje pretty much anywhere, any time.

What street

— Al Iaquinta🗽 (@ALIAQUINTA) May 28, 2018

“What street?” Iaquinta said.

“Somewhere in middle America,” Gaethje replied. “Sign up.”

Somewhere in middle America. Sign up.

— Justin Gaethje 🇺🇸 (@Justin_Gaethje) May 28, 2018

Does a fight between Al Iaquinta and Justin Gaethje interest you? Join the conversation in the comments section!

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 5/29/2018.