Earlier this week former UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson took a jab at newly crowned champion Khabib Nurmagomedov on social media and, in the process, also mocked “Ragin’ Al” for being a part-time fighter and a real estate agent. Al Iaquinta didn’t take too kindly and fired back at ‘weirdo’ Ferguson:
.Beats a non-full time fighter real estate agent ranked #11 on @ufc roster, and I get Stripped when same thing happened to @rjwhittaker1990 @teamkhabib run til’ November #PaperChump 👊😎🇺🇸🏆🇲🇽 https://t.co/es3xBJEPSR
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) April 24, 2018
Bro you need to get off Twitter and shut it.. you blew it, you shoulda fought anyway. You lost your shot for good! this real estate agent would whoop you get dropped every fight
— Al Iaquinta🗽 (@ALIAQUINTA) April 24, 2018
the ufc stripped you cause your a weirdo and Whittaker isn’t
— Al Iaquinta🗽 (@ALIAQUINTA) April 24, 2018
Ferguson was originally booked to fight Khabib at UFC 223, but ‘El Cucuy’ suffered a gnarly knee injury and subsequently forced to pull out at the last minute, then Max Holloway stepped in on six-day notice, the latter was ruled medically unfit. However, the UFC left with no choice to bring in rank number 11 Iaquinta to fill the UFC 223 main headliner.
Khabib won all five rounds of the contest, relying on his grappling early and allowing his striking game to be put to the test in the last rounds. No doubt Iaquinta displays a tough performance on short notice. Al Iaquinta hung there for five rounds and landed enough punches to raise questions about Nurmagomedov’s striking defense.
Tony Ferguson fires back at Al Iaquinta on being called ‘weirdo.’ and that erupts a heated back and forth between the two lightweight contenders.
Damn Son You Didn’t Even Belong In That Cage, Although I WAS rooting For You, Weird Is Having To Make Your Own Name Plate At Media Day. Sad To See How You SOLD OUT To Fight For A Title When You Couldn’t Even Win The Title. Star Struck. Best Of Luck Kid. Get Back In Line.
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) April 24, 2018
I belonged more than you, you tripped on a rope
— Al Iaquinta🗽 (@ALIAQUINTA) April 24, 2018
It’s Ok Kiddo, I Forgive You. I’m Not The One You’re** Really Angry At. One Day We Will See Each Other In The Octagon If You Keep Winning. #TUFGuys
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) April 24, 2018
Be quiet until you come back until then your embarrassing yourself you can’t fight
— Al Iaquinta🗽 (@ALIAQUINTA) April 24, 2018
I’ll Never Be Quiet Kiddo. 👊😎 pic.twitter.com/cDJtdRQL7g
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) April 24, 2018
@TonyFergusonXT you said you were going to meet at the flag pole after school and you didn’t show up because you tripped on a rope 😂 hide bro
— Al Iaquinta🗽 (@ALIAQUINTA) April 24, 2018
Tony Ferguson riding on a 10-fight streak, is currently nursing his injured knee and is out of action for 6-8 months. A lightweight division is moving on with several worthy contenders knocking on the door for the title shot. Meanwhile, Iaquinta was on five-fight win-streak before entering a fight with Khabib is currently 13-4-1 overall.
