Iaquinta: F@$% the UFC for not giving me a bonus, and for more

UFC lightweight Al Iaquinta appeared recently on Ariel Helwani and expressed his displeasure with his employers in the frankest language. The fighter had negotiated a four-fight contract, but after one fight injured his knee. That made him reflect unfavorably on the deal, but the UFC would not relent. After a break of two years, Iaquinta returned on Saturday night and knocked out Diego Sanchez in dramatic fashion.

He had hoped to get a $50,000 performance bonus, which, on top of his current contract, which is in the mid 50s to show and a like amount to win, would have put him up well over $100,000 for the night. Unfortunately, he is ineligible for a performance bonus for the final three fights on his contract, as he skipped the yearly fighters’ summit in favor of training for a fight that was five weeks out, and making money as a personal trainer. Iaquinta had cited illness for his absence, but his social network showed him at the beach. Coupled with wrecking a hotel room after his fight with Joe Lauzon, and cursing on live television after his fight with Jorge Masvidal, the UFC removed the possibility of a performance bonus for the remainder of his contract.

I don’t know whether they didn’t give it to me because I didn’t deserve it or whether they didn’t give it to me to kind of shaft me,” said Iaquinta as transcribed by Adam Guillen Jr. for MMA Mania. “They said in the past I wasn’t eligible to win bonuses, and maybe they are just sticking it to me. The whole bonus thing is just retarded to me; excuse me, the whole bonus thing is just ridiculous. The fact that they are giving $50,000 bonuses is their little way to control everybody. I don’t know, I don’t like it, the way the whole thing happened.

For a guy that puts it out there like me, they should, I don’t know. I’ve never had a boring fight, I come to fight every time, I put on a show. Five fights in a row, four knockouts in the last five, and no bonus money, no s***, nothing. They suck. Whatever.”

Joe Lauzon, the bonus king, I knocked out the bonus king to get a bonus and nothing. Diego Sanchez, the guy is a legend that’s been around forever and how many bonuses has he won? I beat him and no bonus. F*** them.

I’m a professional freaking athlete, I was just on TV, FOX Sports 1, co-main event and $50,000 is what I walk away with? Are you kidding me? NFL players are making real money I should be buying houses on water, nice shit. This is f***ing ridiculous.”

And these guys are making all this money doing nothing. They are sitting there watching me fight. I’m the man, you are not. Dana White, he’s done a lot for this sport, but he doesn’t have one injury from this sport. For him to say the best part of UFC Brooklyn was the flight home, you are on a private jet, bro. Shut the f*** up.”

For most people, that’d be the highlight of their life. You were on a private jet, of course it’s the highlight of your night. There are guys in the cage getting hurt; Jim Miller, he got his fucking legs hurt, yeah he owes him an apology to all those motherf***ers. That is bulls***. Shut your f***ing mouth.

Iaquinta has said he is uncertain if he will fight again, or instead focus on his career in real estate.