UFC on FOX: Lee vs Iaquinta 2 - Dec 15

[Keith Houchen]

This was one of the highlights.

 

 

[ColinBollocks]

A brilliant send off for the big FOX era.

Raging Al is one of the most likeable characters in the sport - anyone that was a regular listener of the Helwani MMA Hour will know this. As Supremo pointed out, it's mad that he's now got as good a shout as anyone for the title. I mean, he was pretty much out of the sport a couple of years ago because he felt the UFC was fucking him so bad. Now here he is derailing one of their heavily pushed pretty fighters. I'd love Al v Nate in the future.
I thought Al clearly won the fight. Lee did get a couple of takedowns, but could not really do much with Al's defence being so sound. I like Lee too, but it's always funny when fighters are giving it the big 'in and end up looking like tits.

Hopefully Dana gave Hooker a bit extra for his performance out there. Barboza gave him absolute hell, but he was still coming forward hoping to tire Barboza - there were a couple of times that happened too. Body shots never fail to make me wince and it was quite a night for them (yo, Canelo), my ribs are sore after watching all that.

Nice to see DC back and elevating Paul "Fo Sho" Felder.

[wandshogun09]

So glad Raging Al won. Like I said, I don’t hate Lee, he’s grown on me since the Ferguson fight and especially since the Rogan podcast. But he was so cocky coming into this one. I prefer Iaquinta anyway but Lee’s overconfidence made the result all the sweeter. Just watch Lee’s entrance. That’s a man who thinks he’s got the win in the bag. He always does his silly dancing on his walkouts but this was next level. There’s confidence, then there’s arrogance. And I think Lee swung a bit too far to the latter for this one. That’s not the only reason he lost, of course. The main reason is that Iaquinta is a legit operator. But it can’t have helped and unfortunately I think it’s something that might hold Lee back in the future. He seems to me like one of those guys who’s always going to be a victim of his own self confidence. He’ll probably be fired up now and come back better from this. But unless he completely overhauls his attitude, after a couple of wins he’ll probably think he’s invincible again and get another rude awakening. Maybe it’s bollocks and Al’s just got his number but I really think there’s something to it. I mentioned it going in and the signs were there throughout the buildup. He was talking like this was easy work, looking past Al to fights with Khabib and whoever and dismissing a beast like Poirier as if he’s beneath him. In a division like lightweight, there’s no room at the top for that. You’ll go so far but I think you’re putting a ceiling on your potential if you think you’re above getting humbled. You can’t dismiss anyone in that 155 shark tank. 

Whatever, chuffed for Iaquinta. Gaethje is already angling for the fight. They were actually signed to fight in August but Al pulled out and Gaethje ended up fighting Vick. I’d love to see that fight rebooked. If not, Iaquinta vs Nate or Poirier would do nicely. 

Barboza vs Hooker was brutal viewing. Hooker is insanely tough but you really don’t need too many beatings like that in your life. It was hard to watch at points and seeing the footage of Hooker hobbling out of the cage still grimacing and wincing in pain really hammered home just how hard Barboza must hit. I really had my doubts that Barboza would bounce back like this. This was always going to be a better style matchup for him than his last couple but he took really bad, drawn out beatings from Khabib and Lee. The kind that can turn a good fighter into a spent force. Good to see Barboza looking so sharp still. But Christ, poor Dan Hooker. 

Charles Oliveira pissing through Jim Miller was mildly surprising. But Miller has seen better days. That’s them 1-1 now, both subbing each other quick. 

Saw a few clips of my ‘one to watch’ just now. Juan Adams vs Chris De La Rocha. As expected, looked like a fun, if sloppy, heavyweight brawl. Adams could have something if he improves his conditioning. He’s young and raw but he’s huge, aggressive and with more experience there might be some potential there. Probably never be title contender material but I’m looking forward to seeing more of him. 

[WeeAl]

Iaquinta really fought a great fight. It came down to round five in the end and he went out there and calmly pieced Kevin Lee apart. 48-47 Al was the right call in my book. I'm happy to see these two fight whoever next as I would think whoever they come up against will be exciting. I would like to see Justin Gaethje against Kevin Lee, and Iaquinta Vs Poirier/Ferguson/Barboza. Lee will have to rebuild a little after that loss, but there seem to be less people unbooked in the lower half of the division than the championship contenders (as they are all twirling their thumbs waiting on Khabib and Conor). 

What a performance by both Barboza and Dan Hooker. Hooker showing the toughness of pure steel and Barboza with a striking masterclass. I have no idea how Hooker took those shots for as long as he did. 

 

[ColinBollocks]

Al was on Helwani's show last night and I thought he did a tremendous job breaking down the flaw of Lee. Al kept saying "same old Al" in a positive way, after Lee used it to put him down, because the "same old Al" is mentally stronger than Lee, so despite Lee being a more complete fighter now than their first fight he was still the "same old Kevin Lee". Al said he knew he could mentally break him and he did once Lee realised Al's defence was so good on the ground.

Hilariously, Al roasted his walk out a bit too. Al said he saw that and all it did was convince him he was never losing to Lee, because while Lee is out there doing a shit Too Cold Scorpio, Al was going through training drills game plans in his head.

[wandshogun09]

Yeah that was good stuff. Here it is for anyone who didn’t catch it;

At a time when so many are trying to be a poor man’s Conor McGregor, talking bollocks, trying to be flash and wearing silly outfits, it’s refreshing to have a guy like Raging Al who can talk shit without putting on a gimmick. He’s entertaining just being himself and you don’t get any sense that there’s anything fake or manufactured about it. I’m so glad he’s seemingly rediscovered his love for MMA. There was a time there a couple of years ago, and he alluded to it with Ariel, where he just seemed really fucked off and disillusioned with it all. He was ranting about Dana, when he was tweeting he always seemed angry and he just seemed like he’d had enough and was gearing up to just sell houses full time. I don’t know what changed but he’s definitely got the bug again. Maybe it was him getting that last minute main event slot against Khabib that’s rejuvenated him. It wasn’t supposed to happen. If the UFC had their way they’d probably not have given him an opportunity like that any time soon but they were shit out of luck and didn’t have many other options. I don’t think taking short notice fights is always good. Fans shit on fighters when they turn them down but they’re not always the right move. But I think Al stepping up was good for him, of course it was a huge opportunity and he had way more to gain than he had to lose. It seems that taste of the top level has given him that extra motivation to push on with his career. And also, him stepping up the way he did has probably gone some way to mending fences with UFC management. All that time with no bonuses and no headline fights. Then he steps in and fights Khabib and in his very next fight he’s main event and gets a bonus. He hasn’t always done himself favours with being so outspoken but in a way it’s admirable and it’s good to see things are going on the right track for him now. 

And I really like this thing that’s bubbling up between him and McGregor. It started with McGregor matter of factly shitting on Al while he was dismissing Khabib’s win with the ‘you beat a real estate agent’ line. That clearly never went unnoticed by Iaquinta. Also, it’s a cool little backstory that Al ended up fighting Khabib that same week Conor got into a fight with a bus. I want to see McGregor vs Iaquinta. I think the fight would be good and the buildup even better. I get the feeling Matt Serra doesn’t like McGregor either. I’d love to see how that dynamic would play out with Serra and Longo vs McGregor, let alone Iaquinta! 

It probably won’t happen but if we get Khabib vs Ferguson and McGregor vs Iaquinta I’ll be very happy. Even happier if they manage to get that Poirier vs Diaz fight rebooked as well. And maybe Gaethje vs Cerrone if Cerrone gets by Hernandez. The lightweight division is ace. 

[Egg Shen]

id go for Ragin' Al vs. Conor at MSG, that'd be fantastic.

 

[WeeAl]

That's a fucking year away Egg! The pair of them better fight a warm body at some point before then, if they can find their way out of the gates of the distillery/estate agents. 

[Carbomb]

I've obviously missed something - why would that be a year away?

Either way, McGregor vs. Iaquinta would be awesome, both in terms of build-up and the fight.

[AdamTH17]

15 minutes ago, Carbomb said:

I've obviously missed something - why would that be a year away?

Either way, McGregor vs. Iaquinta would be awesome, both in terms of build-up and the fight.

Presumably to do with the fact that MSG is seemingly now reserved for their big November show.

Really good main event. Didn't expect Lee's wrestling to have such little impact as it did, especially after seeing how he completely fucked Barboza up with it. Lightweight division is so mad at the moment, there's so many great fights ready to be made.

If I'm matchmaking, I'm going for something like: Khabib vs Ferguson, McGregor vs Poirer, Pettis vs Gaethje, Iaquinta vs Diaz, Barboza vs Vick and Lee vs the winner of Cerrone/Hernandez. Crazily stacked.

[WeeAl]

2 hours ago, Carbomb said:

I've obviously missed something - why would that be a year away?

Like Adam said there, they have run MSG in November three years on the bounce now. 

2 hours ago, AdamTH17 said:

I'm matchmaking, I'm going for something like: Khabib vs Ferguson, McGregor vs Poirer, Pettis vs Gaethje, Iaquinta vs Diaz, Barboza vs Vick and Lee vs the winner of Cerrone/Hernandez. Crazily stacked.

An incredible list of talent throughout the division, it really is. There's not a fight they could make that I wouldn't be interested in. Sure some I may prefer more than others, or might make slightly more sense etc but the whole top 15 - and beyond that no doubt as well - are killers, all of whom I'd be excited about watching fight each other, including the potential re-matches as well. 

As long as we get Khabib Vs Tony whilst both are still in their prime. That damn well has to happen. 

[OzExile]

As someone who hasn't seen a lot of Ragin Al's fights - what does he bring to the table? I'm shocked he beat Lee who I think has great skills. 

[Carbomb]

6 hours ago, AdamTH17 said:

Presumably to do with the fact that MSG is seemingly now reserved for their big November show.

 

4 hours ago, WeeAl said:

Like Adam said there, they have run MSG in November three years on the bounce now. 

Thanks, guys. Honestly didn't know that, was a genuine question. Just realised it might have come across a bit snarky.

4 hours ago, WeeAl said:

 

 

[wandshogun09]

Sounds like Ray Longo is on board with my Iaquinta vs McGregor idea.