Al Iaquinta eyes fight with Paul Felder if the “Irish Dragon” doesn’t retire after UFC Auckland
Al Iaquinta is interested in fighting Paul Felder if the “Irish Dragon” doesn’t retire following UFC Auckland.
After Felder lost to Dan Hooker by split-decision, he took the mic from Dan Hardy and said this was most likely it for him. His manager and coach quickly said it is not definitive he will retire.
So, Iaquinta, who was supposed to fight Felder at UFC 223 before he stepped in to face Khabib Nurmagomedov is interested in that scrap. He was also expected to take on Felder at UFC 218 but Iaquinta pulled out.
“Paul Felder and I were supposed to fight in the past,” Iaquinta said backstage at Submission Underground 11 to MMA Fighting. “I know he had a rough one this past weekend. But if he does want to come back at some point, I think that’s a good fight.”
Although Al Iaquinta has been calling out Dustin Poirier, he is still interested in fighting Felder and hopes the Irish Dragon walks back on his retirement talk.
“I know he had a rough one this past weekend. But if he does want to come back at some point, I think that’s a good fight,” he said. “I think the fans have wanted to see it for a while. And I’d like to mix it up with him.”
Al Iaquinta is coming off a decision loss to Dan Hooker at UFC 243. Before that, he dropped a decision to Donald Cerrone in the main event of UFC Ottawa. His last win came over Kevin Lee at UFC Milwaukee.
Paul Felder, meanwhile, lost to Hooker last time out. Before that, he had earned decision wins over Edson Barboza and James Vick.
Whether or not Paul Felder will continue fighting is unknown at this time, but an Iaquinta matchup certainly makes sense.
