Spending the weekend in Vegas

Posted by MattPel on April 25, 2012
Posted in: Iaquinta Nation, Ultimate Fighter Live. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Photo by UFC

First off I want to thank everyone again for supporting Al, as well as reading and supporting the blog. It mean’s a lot to Al and myself, and we really appreciate it. Things are going to get even more exciting as we enter the quarter finals, so be sure to check here and stay up to date with everything that’s going on. With that being said from this post on will be a slow few days on the blog. I’m going to be in Las Vegas with a bunch of people(wish us luck) for my friend Jared’s bachelor party. A big congratulations to him and his fiance Jackie getting married in a few weeks. If anything important happens I’ll try to get on and keep everyone updated. Otherwise keep up with UltimateFighter.com and TUF on Twitter for constant updates. The TUF twitter account is doing a live chat Friday at 7pm that will be fun to get involved in. Don’t forget to watch Al on a brand new episode of TUF Live this Friday at 10pm on FX, and I’ll talk to you all next week!

-Matt Pellicane

Dana White motivates the Guys

Posted by MattPel on April 25, 2012
Posted in: Iaquinta Nation, Ultimate Fighter Live. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

If you missed this week’s episode, or wanted to see this again HERE’S  Dana White’s speech to the guys. White lends some advice trying to keep the guys focused and motivated. He reminds them how important their hard work is, and why it’so crucial to keep battling through. He lends some advice as the competition is about to get even tougher week by week.

 

Tuesday Chat with Marcel Robin

Posted by MattPel on April 25, 2012
Posted in: Iaquinta Nation, Interviews. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

This week’s interview is with Al’s training partner and friend Marcel Robin. Marcel is a great guy and I consider it a privilege to call him a good friend of mine as well. Marcel, who graduated from East Meadow high school in 2005 has been training with Al for the past six years. He has an interesting perspective not only being a teammate of Al’s but also one of his best friends. I appreciate him taking some time to do this interview and all his great insights. Continue Reading

Discussion- Next Oponent?

Posted by MattPel on April 24, 2012
Posted in: Iaquinta Nation, Ultimate Fighter Live. Tagged: , , , , , , , . 5 Comments

Photo by UFC

Hey everyone. I wanted to try and get some discussion going and hear who everyone would want to see Al Fight next. Once Sam Sicilia fights Chris Saunders, and Andy Ogle fights Mike Rio the quarter finals will be set. Everyone seems to have some thoughts, even Al himself via his Newsday Interview that he thought he matched up best against James Vick. I’m curious to hear from all of you. Who do you think Al should fight next and why? Possible fight choices from Team Cruz are Justin Lawrence, Vinc Pichel, and James Vick. Other choices pending what happens in their upcoming fights would be Mike Rio and Sam Sicilia as well. Comment below and lets hear what all of Iaquinta Nation has to say.

-Matt Pellicane

Episode Recap Cofer vs. Pichel

Posted by MattPel on April 23, 2012
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This weeks episode gets right back into all the after math after Chris Tickles loss over Joe Proctor. Back in the locker room Coach Cruz is very hard on Tickle following the loss. He is very adamant in telling Tickle about everything he did wrong. He stresses to Tickle that the loss “shouldn’t have happened. If you listen you win the fight.” Cruz went on to discuss that he isn’t here to be on TV he’s here to win. He hate’s loosing, especially to Faber. During one point of the very public conversation between Tickle and Cruz, Faber put in his two cents and tries to offer Tickle some support. He let him know he did good, it was a good fight, and to keep his head up. Cruz get’s angry with Faber for getting involved and the two exchange some heated words back and fourth. Cruz instructs Urijah to mind his own business. Continue Reading

Watch Al on TUF Live Tonight!

Posted by MattPel on April 20, 2012
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Photo by UFC

 

Don’t forget to watch Al on a brand new episode of UFC’s TUF Live tonight on FX at 10 PM. Catch up on whats been going on in the house as boredom begins to rise, and tempers begin to heat up. We’re only a few fights away from the start of the quarter finals and having a chance to see Al fight again. The show will conclude with Team Faber’s John Cofer facing off against Team Cruz’s Vince Pichel. This has the makings of being a very good fight. It will be interesting to see if Cofer can get another win for Team Faber as they try to keep the ball rolling after starting the show off 0-2. Make sure you tune in and be sure to check back here later this weekend for an episode recap. Everyone have a great weekend.

Also just another reminder if you haven’t gotten your Iaquinta Nation T-Shirt yet make sure you get in touch with me and pick one up!

-Matt

Jay Iaquinta talks about Al

Posted by MattPel on April 19, 2012
Posted in: Iaquinta Nation. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Photo by UFC

This week I had the pleasure of sitting down with Al’s dad, Jay Iaquinta. Jay is an outstanding football coach a dedicated Physical Education teacher, as well as a great husband and father. While he’s coached at Lynbrook High School as well as SUNY Maritime, he’s spent the past twenty two seasons coaching football for Hewlett high school. In that time Mr. Iaquinta has won the Nassau County Championship in 1999, as well as winning the Big Four Champions 11 of the past 15 years. Jay recently retired after 34 years of teaching physical education at Lynbrook High School. A big thank you to Mr. Iaquinta for taking some time to sit down with me an answer some questions. Continue Reading

Check out Al’s weekly Newsday Video

Posted by MattPel on April 19, 2012
Posted in: Iaquinta Nation, Ultimate Fighter Live. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Check out Al HERE on his weekly edition of “TUF Talk”. Al talks about training, life in the house, and looks ahead to his upcoming fight in the quarter finals. As always a big thank you to Mark La Monica for putting this together every week. If you have any questions you’d like to hear Al answer make sure you send Mark a message via twitter (@LaMonicaMark) Enjoy and look for a brand new interview here later today!

Video- Al Iaquinta and Andy Ogle

Posted by MattPel on April 18, 2012
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Here’s a pretty funny exchange between Al and teammate Andy Ogle. There isn’t much set up I can give you you’ll just have to watch for yourself and see Ogle’s adventure learning how to machine wash his pillow case, and Al attempting to understand what the heck he’s talking about. I’m sure that’s very confusing so just watch HERE and you’ll see what I mean. I’d love to see more exchanges like this on the actual show, but saving that time slot at the end for the LIVE fight restricts the TUF Live editors of how much they can show us.

“The Best Days, and the Worst Days”

Posted by MattPel on April 17, 2012
Posted in: Iaquinta Nation, Ultimate Fighter Live. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

Photo via TUF Twitter

Yesterday Al wrote something very interesting on his twitter which was great, yet simple advice for whatever your career may be. He wrote “ The best days of my life and the worst days of my life have come from this sport. Whatever your dream is pursue it.”  Not to get too deep but life isn’t always easy. You may have a goal in mind and encounter some road blocks along the way. If you have a dream, and something you feel passionate about you shouldn’t let anyone stand in your way. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices, which is exactly what Al and everyone else in the TUF house is doing right now. Continue Reading