Al Iaquinta
Active 2012–present · rated in 3 editions · peak overall 82.0
Scouting report
Stepping up on short notice to battle Khabib Nurmagomedov across five rounds for the undisputed title at UFC 223 solidified Al "Raging Al" Iaquinta's reputation. Born in Valley Stream, New York, and training under Ray Longo, Iaquinta relies on fundamental boxing and takedown defense, reflected in his 86 Boxing, 84 Wrestling, and 82 Overall score.
Peak ratings
By edition
Iaquinta won four straight between September 2014 and April 2015, stopping Rodrigo Damm, Ross Pearson in Sydney, and Joe Lauzon in Las Vegas before taking a split-decision victory over Jorge Masvidal in Fairfax, Virginia. His right hand, Serra-Longo boxing fundamentals, and defensive wrestling are reflected in an 84 Boxing and 84 Durability.
After two years away from the cage, Iaquinta returned in April 2017 at UFC Fight Night 108 in Nashville, knocking out veteran Diego Sanchez in round one. His boxing power, takedown defense, and forward pressure maintain his ratings of 84 Boxing and 82 Wrestling.
Iaquinta lost a five-round decision to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 223 in Brooklyn, before putting on a boxing clinic to defeat Kevin Lee in their December 2018 Milwaukee rematch and dropping decisions to Donald Cerrone and Dan Hooker. His durability, boxing combinations, and fight smarts anchor his 86 Boxing and 82 Fight IQ.
Al Iaquinta, Long Island boxing with a chip on his shoulder
Al Iaquinta trains at Serra-Longo in New York under Ray Longo, and he was a finalist on The Ultimate Fighter 15. His biggest night came in 2018, when he took the 2018 title fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov on short notice and lasted five rounds, though he lost the decision. Iaquinta fights with a tight boxing frame, keeps his hands up, and defends takedowns better than most strikers do. He is a steady, hard-nosed pick.
The Iaquinta rating breakdown
Boxing. One of his three top numbers. Clean, compact punching with good timing on counters.
Kickboxing. Some kicks, but the lower body work is not what he is known for.
Wrestling. Better than most boxers. His takedown defense is a big reason the Nurmagomedov fight went five rounds.
BJJ. Average by the standards of the division. He would rather get up than roll for a submission.
Strength. Solid lightweight strength. Useful in clinches and when defending.
Durability. Tied for his best rating. He was in a five-round fight against one of the best grapplers ever and stayed upright for most of it.
Cardio. Also at 86. He can keep his output steady across a long fight.
Fight IQ. Practical and fight-ready. He picks spots and does not waste energy.
A three-way tie at the top: Boxing, Durability and Cardio
Iaquinta's best marks are all 86, so there is no single standout. The combination is the point. He hits accurately, takes a fair amount back, and does not tire, which is a good basis for a five-round matchup. He rarely gets outworked, even when he loses the fight.
Kickboxing and BJJ tie for the bottom
Both sit at 76. A kickboxer who uses leg kicks to slow down his boxing can pick him apart, and a submission specialist can find a path if a scramble breaks out. He does not lose those exchanges badly, but neither is a way for him to win.
Keep exploring
Closest lightweight profiles to Al Iaquinta, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Bobby Greenbest boxing 88 · weakest kickboxing 76
- Gray Maynardbest wrestling 90 · weakest kickboxing 72
- Francisco Trinaldobest boxing 84 · weakest fight iq 80
- Gilbert Melendezbest cardio 90 · weakest strength 80
- Lightweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Grappling vs striking in the draft: a guide that fits Al Iaquinta's strongest attribute, Boxing.
Draft Al Iaquinta into your build
Al Iaquinta enters the pool on any spin landing on lightweight between 2014 and 2019. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Al Iaquinta is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Al Iaquinta's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.