Al Iaquinta: I'll be unstoppable when I come back with two healthy knees

Al Iaquinta ended 2015 riding a four-fight winning streak. With things fully clicking in his UFC career, the lightweight had to put things on hold to repair damage to the articular cartilage in his knee.

It isn’t the first time Iaquinta (12-3-1 MMA, 7-2 UFC) has had knee surgery. After a runner-up finish on “The Ultimate Fighter 15,” he also went under the knife.

The biggest difference between then and now may be Iaquinta’s decision to give up drinking alcohol, something that cost him during his first recovery.

“For me, I’m living, and I’m learning,” he told MMAjunkie Radio. “I did the first knee surgery I had, and, for me, that was like a vacation. I had some money for the first time, I had just come off of ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’ and I was going out at night. I was going out drinking, had the surgery and took a week where I was in bed, recovering. I think a week and a half later I was out watching a fight at one of the bars by me. I had one beer, and that turned into two. Before you knew it, I was 10 to 15 beers deep, and my knee isn’t hurting anymore. I’m supposed to be on crutches, and I’m walking around like a freakin’ (idiot). It couldn’t have done me any favors.”

He didn’t want to make the same mistake this time around.

“So, I think this time I had the surgery, and I’ve got to focus on nothing else,” he said. “I was young back then. It was three or four years ago. I didn’t really see how important the knee really was. If this surgery doesn’t work out, I don’t really have anywhere to go. I’ve got one shot at this thing to make it heal up right and do this the right way. So far, it’s been great. I’ve done everything right.”

While he focuses on recovery, Iaquinta has one eye on the future. With his current winning streak, which has landed him in the No. 15 spot in the MMAjunkie/USA TODAY Sports MMA lightweight rankings, he believes bigger and better things are to come in his return.

Adding to his momentum is a memorable recent appearance in the octagon. After a controversial split-decision victory over Jorge Masvidal at UFC Fight Night 63, Iaquinta lashed out at fans who booed him during his post-fight interview.

Iaquinta is taking an all-press-is-good-press approach to the situation.

“I kind of ended with a bang there, with that interview that everyone either loved me or hated me after,” Iaquinta said. “I think that kind of got people with me or against me, and I think I’m going to pick up right where I left off. I’m going to come back and should be looking for a top-10 guy.

“I’m going to come back with two knees, and no one is going to be able to stop me. I really believe that.”

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MMAjunkie Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show, available on SiriusXM Ch. 93, is hosted by “Gorgeous” George Garcia and producer Brian “Goze” Garcia. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.