Iaquinta: ‘I’ve been dreaming of fighting a top 5’r like Melendez’

“I was going crazy. First, you know, going crazy in a bad way once I heard Bobby Green was out, and you don’t know who you’re going to get. He was an opponent ranked above me, so you know it has really good benefits to beat a guy like that.”

“I think he’s been in here a while and maybe his back’s against the wall coming off a couple of losses. But you know, I’m hungry. This is what I’ve been dreaming about. I don’t think he’s been dreaming about a fight with No. 13 ranked Al Iaquinta, but I’ve been dreaming about a matchup with a top-five guy to get me up there. So I’ve definitely been visualizing this moment and I’ve been visualizing it every way possible, and however it goes down I’m coming out with my hand raised.”

UFC lightweight Al Iaquinta talked to Submission Radio about getting a new opponent in Gilbert Melendez. Iaquinta was set to fight Bobby Green, who had to pull out due to injury, and now he’s squaring off with Melendez, who just came off a controversial loss to Eddie Alvarez.

Iaquinta said he was mad at first, when he found out Green was out, but couldn’t be happier with his replacement.

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