Tag Archives: Reebok

Raging Al Iaquinta Interview By Ariel Helwani is Must See TV

By: Rich Bergeron

UFC Lightweight Contender “Raging” Al Iaquinta (13-3) is certainly solidifying his nickname these days. From his dismantling of UFC Legend Diego Sanchez last Saturday night to his public disagreements with the most popular MMA league on the planet, Iaquinta is putting it all on the line lately.

 

Despite the fact that Iaquinta is on a five-fight win streak in the Octagon and has two more fights left on his UFC contract, he told Ariel Helwani in the above interview that it is “probable” he will not be fighting again in the near future.

 

Iaquinta’s self-imposed hiatus from the UFC has nothing to do with a lack of love for the sport, though. He’s just fed up with the politics and sick of being singled out for speaking his mind about fighter pay and other issues. He covers everything from weight cutting to the Reebok deal and unionization of fighters in the interview with Helwani. He also insists he would enjoy being fully involved in efforts to fix all these issues.

 

Perhaps the most outrageous and entertaining aspect of the interview is how Al rips UFC President Dana White. Using just as many expletives as “The Baldfather” himself likes to employ when he’s angry, Iaquinta gets most animated about White calling the plane ride home the best part of UFC Brooklyn. Iaquinta goes on to point out that White never had an injury in the sport of MMA and should keep his mouth shut about certain aspects of fighting that he has no clue about.

 

That part of Iaquinta’s argument sounds almost identical to the sentiment we shared here on Fight News Unlimited over a year ago with our “Open FU” to White. Back then we were criticizing the UFC President for his treatment of Holly Holm and her management team.

 

Listening to the Helwani interview is all the more entertaining and interesting if you can imagine a fighters’ association with Iaquinta as the president. It would be the best development possible to pay White back for all his own brash, in your face, tell-it-like-it-is ranting over the years. It would be fighting fire with fire, and listening to both of these characters argue with each other would be astronomically better than any of the debates that made up the chaotic 2016 Presidential Election in the United States.

 

It is highly unlikely that Iaquinta would be able to take on such a prominent role in such an association before his UFC contract officially runs out, though. Still, it is one of the most opportune times in the history of the sport of MMA for fighters to learn how to band together and exercise their solidarity to generate serious change. From the Reebok deal’s flaws to the new UFC owners taking a more insensitive corporate approach to management to the McGregor vs. Mayweather fight purse talks, there are a lot of motivating factors in place right now to force a major development on the union/association front.

 

And “Uncle Dana” can “go F$%k himself” (as Al Iaquinta might say) if he thinks he can stop that train from rumbling down the tracks. More fighters need to learn from Iaquinta and follow in his f-bombing footsteps if anything is really going to get better in the near future. Whether it involves foul language or not, though, the argument for change needs to generate more commentary from the fighters who are directly experiencing the difficulties of getting by on a typical MMA fighter’s salary.  The days of keeping your mouth shut and staying in line to make sure you get the best fights and the best opportunities for extra income are coming to an end. It’s truly time for more shortchanged fighters to knock the silver spoon out of Dana White’s mouth and get to work on improving the status quo by any means necessary.

Scott Burrell to take on Joseph Perez this Saturday at the Mohegan Sun

Uncasville, CT (July 20, 201) –This Saturday night at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, Scott Burrell will battle Joseph Perez in a junior welterweight bout scheduled for six rounds.

The card is promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing

Burrell of Brooklyn, New York will head into the ring with a record of 11-2 with eight knockouts.

Burrell has won four straight bouts which include three early wins.

In Perez, Burrell is fighting an opponent who has won two in a row and unbeaten in his last four.

This will be a good test for Burrell as Perez has a win over previously undefeated Augustine Mauraes.

“Coming off a win back in June, Scott is back in the ring Saturday to face off against Perez,”said Burrell’s manager TJ Marsé

Along with trainer Don Saxby he will have his twin brother Dean in his corner.

According to manager TJ Marsé “both Dean and Scott will be back in the ring the end of August and will be fighting each month through December to finish of 2016 with a bang! We are making some strategic moves with brands/sponsors that will come to life early in 2017 all in order to help the Burrell Brothers brand”

The Burrell Twins are sponsored by Reebok.

‘STITCH’ DURAN SIGNS CONTRACT WITH REEBOK

April Fools..Stich is not getting a Reebok shoe… He’s the New Undisputed Bellator Hand-Wrapping Champion.

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Above: Stitch wraps the hands of “King Mo” Lawal at “Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1” (Credit: Bellator/Esther Lin)

 

SANTA MONICA (March 31, 2016) – When watching any combat sports event, it’s odd not to see Jacob “Stitch” Duran as the professional cutman on duty. Today, Bellator MMA is pleased to secure his services as its lead cutman for the foreseeable future, after “Stitch” signed a multi-year contract with the Scott Coker-led promotion.

 

Starting with “Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson” on April 22 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in CT, the most famous cutman in the world will do everything in his power to get Bellator fighters prepped for entering the cage and helping them continue on once the bell rings, giving them “one more round.”

 

Stitch joins a great team of cutmen including Matt Marsden, Dean Lassiter and Paul Quiredos.

 

“Working with my old friend, Scott Coker and Bellator is a true honor,” said Duran. “I can’t wait to get started working for a great organization that respects their employees and truly makes their fighters the top priority!”

 

While working for Bellator, “Stitch” will not be prevented from seeking sponsors to wear and will also continue to work boxing events, with high profile clients the likes of Andre Ward, Vitali Klitschko and Wladimir Klitschko.