Al Iaquinta is back in action this weekend at UFC Fight Night Ottawa, facing Donald Cerrone in a lightweight division main event bout.
The New York native and the UFC have had their issues in the past, but Iaquinta is happy with the current relationship he has with the promotion.
?I think we have a good working relationship,? Iaquinta said at the UFC Fight Night Ottawa media day (via Mike Bohn of MMA Junkie). ?I have a good rapport with (chief legal officer) Hunter Campbell, with (matchmaker) Sean Shelby. I met with them a couple times, and really they understand me a lot better. I understand what they?re looking for a lot more. There?s still stuff we hash out when we need to, but it?s a good working relationship, and I?m in a way better place, and I think we both are.?
Iaquinta admitted in the past that he was ready to walk away from the UFC to focus on an ever growing real estate career.
One thing Iaquinta believes is that some past experiences have taught him a lot regarding the present and the future.
?I?ve learned a lot over the last couple years through the fight game and just life in general,? Iaquinta said. ?It?s unfortunate a lot of the things that have happened, but I think it made me a lot better person. I?m so much more well rounded. I was just a fighter lost. If I was later in my life, and I kept on that path and fighting didn?t work out, I probably would?ve been real lost. To have it happen at that time it allowed me to take a step back, to figure out some other opportunities to make money and come back to fighting when the time was right.?
UFC Fight Night Ottawa takes place on Saturday, May 4 from the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada with Al Iaquinta and Donald Cerrone headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, which streams live on ESPN+.