UFC President Dana White has given his take on a potential Al Iaquinta vs. Justin Gaethje fight.
If you recall, talks of this potential fight all started once Iaquinta went on record by telling MMAJunkie that he would like to fight Gaethje later this year.
“We’re hoping for sometime in August,” Iaquinta said. “August, September. I think (the UFC) wanted it to be sooner, but 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.”
The UFC attempted to book Khabib Nurmagomedov against Tony Ferguson and Max Holloway in the UFC 223 main event for the lightweight title.
However, those fighters weren’t able to make the fight due to weight cutting issues or injury. Thus, they got Iaquinta to step in on short notice to take on the undefeated champ in the headliner. Khabib ended up winning the fight along with the undisputed UFC lightweight title.
This led to Gathje responding to the idea of this possible fight and has voiced some interest in making it happen.
The former WSOF champion is one of the most exciting fighters on the roster of the UFC, and for years, fight fans around the world have wanted to see Gaethje compete inside of the Octagon.
There were several dream fights for Gaethje him to take part in and he has done just that. However, despite signing with the UFC just last year, he has his sights set on the exit door following his latest loss.
As seen in the main event of the UFC on FOX 29 show (April 14, 2018) that took place at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona, Dustin Poirier picked up a TKO win in the fourth round over the former WSOF champion.
During a recent appearance on the UFC Unfiltered podcast, White went on record by stating that doesn’t think the fight will be taking place any time soon.
“Yeah that’s a fun fight, but it isn’t going to happen,” White said (transcript courtesy of MMANytt). “Iaquinta is absolutely 100-percent out of that fight.”
“He believes that I’m pretty sure we just did a new deal with Al Iaquinta and he just got a good pay day against Khabib and he feels like, he has a deal, let me reiterate he has a deal,” White said.
“He feels like if he moves up and fights guys higher ranked than him that he should be paid a lot more money. He feels that if he fights guys that a lower ranked than him, then he should make a lot less money.”
What are your thoughts on White not being high on this fight? Sound off in the comment section below.
