Take a minute and catch up with Al. Look for interviews like this one right here every week. If you have any questions you’d like Al to answer email them to MattPellicane@gmail.com If you’d like an Iaquinta T- Shirt or tank you can send me an email there and let me know as well.

How’s the knee feeling and how’s the progress coming along?

My knee is feeling pretty good! My leg is still small and weak. Aside from that there’s very little pain and I have full range of motion.

What’s your rehab like at this point?

Rehab is going good. Three times a week I’m going over to Mike Camp over at Bethpage PT. He does a great job, pushes me hard but not too hard.

Although you can’t fully train yet yourself, you’re back to training clients. How’s that going? Does it give you the itch to get back in there as soon as possible?

I’m definitely itching to get back in there and train myself! I’m back to training all my clients and that definitely keeps me occupied. Since TUF I have added a good amount of clients so I have definitely been busy as of late.

Both Jose Aldo and Rampage Jackson have been injured and are of the next UFC in Brazil. What do you think about all these recent injuries?

Injuries are just part of the game. People get injured and it makes for a difficult job for the UFC to save these fight cards. I heard that both Urijah Faber and Chad Mendez have put in to fill Jose Aldo’s spot and fight Frankie Edgar. I think if Edgar fought Urijah or Chad Mendez either would be a great fight.

When can we expect to see you back in the octagon? Who would you like to fight?

I think it is reasonable for me to get back in the mix around the end of January or February. I want to fight on the main card. I realize that may not happen my first fight back. If that’s the case I want to fight whoever I have to so that a win would ensure my next fight will be on the main card.

Photo by UFC

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As most of you know by now Al Iaquinta is currently sidelined as he recovers from knee surgery. Iaquinta had some torn cartilage under his patella from his semi final fight on TUF Live with Vinc Pichel. Al was forced to have surgery to remove the torn piece. The recovery time is roughly three months, which would allow Al to start training again in October.

One of the most difficult things in the world for an athlete is not being able to do what he or she loves. When you’ve played a certain sport for so long it’s frustrating to have to sit back and watch from the outside. When training and competing is part of your every day life, sitting around and being restricted from doing that can be a true test on one’s patience. I would imagine this is something like what Al is going through now. The battle of playing the waiting game as the body takes it’s time to heal.

There’s that old cliche of everything happens for a reason. The same can be said about Al’s first opportunity to be on the Ultimate Fighter which he was unable to participate in due to a hand injury. Following his recovery, Al had some more time to mature and had some of the toughest fights of his young career leading up to his run on TUF Live. Although it may not seem like it now, and may be frustrating, this will also prove to only be a small bump in the road of a successful career for Iaquinta.

As far as Al goes there isn’t anything to be worried about. His strong work ethic will help him come back from this injury stronger then ever. It will be exciting to watch a determined Iaquinta get back in the gym and prepare for whoever his next opponent may be. Whoever it may be is irrelevant. They’ll be facing a guy in Iaquinta who will be more motivated and driven then ever. Sit tight Iaquinta Nation, Al will be back in the octagon before you know it.

-Matt Pellicane