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Late last night I saw this article on TUFUFC.com to be honest I considered not posting it at all. For starters it was just reiterating information that most of us all ready knew. Yet the main reason I didn’t post it was because of the disrespect that the article ends with. Since these fights are live for the first time this season now fans have the options of actually putting bets down on each fight. Continue Reading
Check out Al’s weekly Q and A with Newsday.com! Al answers important questions on the fight selection, weight cutting, and much more. As always a very big thank you to Mark La Monica for putting all this together. Check out the video HERE.
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After taking a closer look into Al Iaquinta and Myles Jury you’ll learn they actually have a few things in common. Both come from a strong wrestling background. Al and Myles have ended many of their fights in the first round by way of knock out or submission. Yet the the thing they have strongest in common is probably what serves as the biggest motivation for both fighters. Both Al and Myles were supposed to be on previous seasons of The Ultimate Fighter. Al broke his hand before he could be on Season 12, while Jury was on Season 13 before a torn ACL forced him off the show. With that missed opportunity looming, both fighters have something to prove. Yet with all those similarities only one of them will have their hand raised Friday night and I have a feeling it’s going to be Al Iaquinta. Continue Reading
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Check out this VIDEO “In his Words: Al Iaquinta” via Ultimate Fighter.com. Al discusses living in the house and his upcoming Fight Friday night with Myles Jury. Check back here later on for preview of Iaquinta/Jury as well as another interview.
If you’re looking for some where to watch Al’s fight Friday night look no further. McCanns Pub and Grill ( 5590 Merrick Rd, Massapequa NY 11758) is going to be the number one spot to watch this weeks episode. McCanns will offer a $40 open bar with food, and have the fight on every TV with audio. Check out some more details on the Facebook event page HERE. Continue Reading
If you’ve ever seen Dominick Cruz fight you know he has a very unorthodox style. He’s taken that same unorthodox fight style and incorporated it into his strategy for picking fights so far this season. Week one Cruz picked his number one guy Justin Lawrence to fight, and then gave control back to Faber to choose someone from his team to fight. Once Faber didn’t choose, Cruz picked Cristiano Marcello a guy who many felt was one of the top fighters on the show. This is a strategy we’ve never seen before. Usually coaches choose their match ups very carefully trying to put a stronger fighter against a weaker opponent. Last week it payed off as Lawrence knocked out Marcello in the second round. Cruz went with that same game plan this week picking Faber’s number one pick Al Iaquinta to fight Myles Jury. If Cruz thinks it’s a good idea to call out Iaquinta and try and send a message that’s all well and good, but I’m sure most would agree he picked the wrong guy to try and make an example out of. Al had some thoughts of his own via twitter late Friday night saying “Got called out tonight, not the first time, probably won’t be the last… got my ass kicked then won the fight, he’s never been in a war.” Check out an article from MMAjunkie HERE touching more on Cruz’s unique fight selections and check back here all week for constant updates leading up to Fridays Fight.
-Matt Pellicane
A lot of controversy right off the bat to start the show last night. Both teams had a lot to say about Cruz’s choice to let Faber pick who he wanted to fight Lawrence this week. A lot of trash talking ensued from Team Cruz’s guys commenting that no one stood up, and Team Faber’s guys didn’t want to fight. As I talked about HERE of course Faber’s guy’s want to fight but they can’t stand up it’s to early to do that. Al put it very simply ” No one is going to jump out of their seat to fight the number one guy, it’s just not smart.” Faber admitted it was a good move by Cruz and went on to discuss how Cruz get’s on his nerves and he has the urge to punch him in the face.
The most trash talking came from Chris Tickle who seems like he’s going to be a real character on the show. Tickle who the guys on Team Faber have described as obnoxious, continued to call out some of Faber’s guys including Al back at the house. He said none of them wanted to “bang” because no one stood up, and called out Faber for not choosing anyone. Later in the show we see Tickle getting into practice late, making excuses, leaving practice to use the bathroom. Cruz who is frustrated with this talks about how he “needs to encourage him and just deal with him, and get him ready to fight.” Tickle who also started a verbal argument with Cofer during the episode will be very interesting to watch this season.
Leading up to the fight we learn a little bit about this weeks fighters Justin Lawrence and Cristiano Marcello. Lawrence who’s family owns their own gym has been in competition for most of his young life. Lawrence has been wrestling since he was in 3rd grade and fighting since he was six years old. He has 150 amateur fights and is the youngest guy (21) in the house. He feels like he’s “born to fight” and wants to “shock the world.” Cruz talked about how this fight could be a semi final or final fight. He discussed picking this match up to challenge his first team pick Justin Lawrence.
Cristiano Marcello is a jiu-jitsu expert and oposite of Lawrence is the oldest in the house (34). Marcello is a Gracie black belt and has coached guys like Wanderlei Silva and Shogun Rua. Cristiano talked about the edge he had over everyone else in the house being that he wasn’t just fighting for money. He’s fighting for his wife and children. Faber stressed to Marcello that he needed to push the action in the fight and do some dirty boxing. Faber went on to remind him to be sure to keep his chin down on account of Lawrence’s heavy hands. Most importantly he warned him to be aware of the big left hook.
Faber was spot on with his scouting report, because a big left hook by Lawrence ended the fight in the second round. The fight gave us a look at Lawrence’s good hands, as well as some great movement on his feet. Where Lawrence looked comfortable and played his game, Marcello didn’t look as aggressive as many expected. The two stood up the entire fight as Lawrence smartly wanted no part of Marcello’s ground game. Although Marcello looked a bit more aggressive in the second round, he seemed to tire near the end leaving Lawrence in complete control, and putting him in position for the big knock out.
With the Lawrence victory Cruz kept control to pick the next fight setting up a big match up for next week. He chose Myles Jury from his team to fight Al Iaquinta. Hold on to your seats Iaquinta Nation it’s going to be an exciting week with a big LIVE fight next Friday. Be sure to check back here all week for constant updates leading up to the fight!
-Matt Pellicane
Check out a new episode of The Ultimate Fighter TUF Live tonight, 10pm on FX. Find out what Al’s been up to and see if Cristiano Marcello can win his fight against Justin Lawrence and gain control back for Team Faber. Many feel the fight may be one of the best we see all season. Be sure to watch and check back here tomorrow for an episode recap. Everyone enjoy and have a great weekend.
If your looking to watch the full first episode and see all 16 fights including Al’s to enter the house check it out HERE courtesy of UltimateFighter.com and be sure to tune into FX tomorrow night at 10pm for a brand new episode of TUF LIVE.
Check out this great video from Newsday.com where Al answers a few questions courtesy of Newsday’s Mark La Monica. Very special thank you to him for putting these Q and A’s together with Al. Be sure to follow him on twitter @LaMonicaMark Check out the video HERE!
Iaquinta Nation 