Justin Gaethje Expected to Face Al Iaquinta in the Main Event at UFC Fight Night in Nebraska
A lightweight main event pitting Justin Gaethje against Al Iaquinta has been scheduled for UFC Fight Night in Lincoln, Nebraska on Aug. 25.
UFC officials confirmed the matchup on Wednesday evening.
Of course it didn’t take long after the fight was announced for Iaquinta to throw cold water on the matchup later saying ‘it’s not happening’ on Twitter.
Not sure what the @ufc is posting this for… @danawhite said this fight is definitely not happening. https://t.co/1lyFGhZcf7
— Al Iaquinta? (@ALIAQUINTA) June 14, 2018
Iaquinta’s denial of the fight was also riddled with references back to an interview from UFC president Dana White saying he was not making the matchup between the New York native and Gaethje.
Either way, UFC officials have announced the matchup as the main event for the upcoming card in Lincoln, Nebraska.
A war is headed to Nebraska.@Justin_Gaethje prepares for another potential FOTY vs @AlIaquinta. #UFCLincoln pic.twitter.com/43Qxsmcdmp
— UFC (@ufc) June 14, 2018
Assuming the matchup moves forward as scheduled, both Gaethje and Iaquinta will look to bounce back from recent losses.
Gaethje has dropped back-to-back fights to Eddie Alvarez and Dustin Poirier while Iaquinta fell in short notice five round main event to new lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov back in April.
