UFC 223's Al Iaquinta indifferent to being bad guy against Paul Felder

Looking at the UFC 223 fight between UFC lightweights Paul Felder and Al Iaquinta, you can guess who the promotion would rather celebrate with a win.

Even though favoritism officially is a no-no with the industry-leader, MMA is most certainly a business in which good relationships help your career. Felder (15-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) is a commentator with UFC broadcast partner FOX, a gig that’s pretty hard to get when you’re on the outs with the bosses – or where Iaquinta seems to be the majority of the time.

Iaquinta (13-3-1 MMA, 8-2 UFC) has raged against the promotion on multiple occasions, going so far as to curse out UFC President Dana White. So loudly has Iaquinta complained, executives have felt compelled to counter him in the press. The company went so far as to give him a raise to smooth things over when it initially tried to book him against Felder at UFC 218 and then rebooked him for UFC 223.

In a business in which personality can quickly get you far or cut short your octagon career, Iaquinta has chosen to stand by his personal principles, no matter the cost. Yet it doesn’t bother him to be cast in the role of heel opposite his golden boy opponent.

That battle, he’s already fought.

“He’s like the UFC’s guy,” Iaquinta, who will face Felder in the pay-per-view opener of the April 7 event at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., today told MMAjunkie Radio on Monday. “Obviously, they want him doing good because he’s doing commentary for them, and I’ve been pretty outspoken about them. But I don’t know if I like (playing the spoiler). I guess I like it. I’m indifferent to it. It’s the first time I’ve been in that situation.”

Although it might sound weird coming from Iaquinta, he considers himself a company guy. He’s just not one to stay silent when he thinks he’s being taken advantage of, which is how he came to be known as the UFC’s problem child.

“When people treat me the right way, I treat them the right way,” Iaquinta said. “One hand washes the other. But the UFC’s done things that I don’t think they’ll ever be able to repay me or give time back. It is what it is. I don’t like it. I don’t dislike it – it’s just the way it is. I’m a fighter, so I’m going to fight.”

And so, Felder isn’t a symbol that Iaquinta would like to take down. Rather, he’s another test of skill in a division that’s full of them. Now back to full training after a knee injury that kept him away from the cage for two years, Iaquinta said he’s working at a higher level than prior to his injury. No longer is he avoiding elements that might aggravate his injury.

Ask Iaquinta how better training might help against “The Irish Dragon,” who’s knocked out three straight opponents, and he feels pretty confident he’ll be able to handle the threat wherever it leads.

“He just looks like he hurts,” Iaquinta said. “Everything is big and strong. He’s kicking with power. He’s throwing punches with power. I think I’ve got a little more finesse.

“I think he’s going to be stronger, but most everyone I fight is stronger than me. I’m going out there and try to make it look easy, but I’m prepared to go through the grind and get it done any way possible.”

Iaquinta might have taken years off his career between injuries and battles outside the cage with his promoter, but there’s no escaping the fact that he’s also won his past five fights. And without any encumbrances to his training, he believes he’s going to demonstrate the gap between him and Felder.

“I just think at his age, there’s not too much you’re going to add,” Iaquinta said. “He is training with a new camp for the last year, but at that point, you can do a few things with the wrestling and jiu-jitsu, but I don’t think he’s that kind of guy.

“He’s a Thai boxer with some taekwondo, karate-esque spinning stuff. He’s tough as nails. He doesn’t like to get it. He doesn’t mind, but he doesn’t like it, because he definitely gets frustrated and annoyed pretty easily in there. That’s something I saw I think I can expose.”

He might not get any extra pats on the back for his work, but Iaquinta has already shown he doesn’t need them. And he’s definitely not looking for them.

For more on UFC 223, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.’

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