Kevin Lee vs. Al Iaquinta
Al Iaquinta (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) def Kevin Lee by Unanimous Decision.
We waited for them to run it back and we weren’t disappointed. Kevin Lee and Al Iaquinta put on a show in the UFC Fight Night Milwaukee main event.
Iaquinta struck first, connecting on a nice spinning backfist after transitioning out of a takedown attempt. He also found the mark with a nice kick to the body. Lee responded with his own kick to the body, as well as a couple nice jabs that opened up a little cut under the left eye of Iaquinta. Both fighters landed some good strikes in a very even first round.
Just over a minute into the second round Lee was ale to take Iaquinta to the canvas and quickly take his back. From there he used some elbows and hammer fists in an attempt to soften Iaquinta up but Iaquinta would eventually slip out of Lee’s grasp and get back to his feet. Al’s jab started to really find success toward the end of the round, connecting on punch after punch. His right hand also kept touching Lee over the top of each exchange. If not for the takedown, that was a dominant round for Iaquinta.
Iaquinta continued to win the striking exchanges in the third. He was first in the exchange and then quickly out of the exchange, pressuring and hunting down Lee all across the Octagon. Lee’s kicks remained an important part of the fight, forcing Iaquinta to keep his distance at times. Lee then successful took Iaquinta down and eventually take his back after a second slam. Then the ultimate game of hand fighting began, with Iaquinta feverishly fighting off the rear naked choke attempt from Lee until the round concluded.
Iaquinta connected first in the fourth. Hitting the „Mo Town Phenom“ with a couple big hooks and then a huge head kick. Iaquinta really dominated the stand-up game to this point in the fight. Iaquinta closes the round out with another hook and just really picking Lee apart.
More of the same from Iaquinta to start the final round. Great boxing, a lot of head movement and constant pressure. Lee went for a takedown and the two grappled for a while resulting in neither fighter securing a dominant position. The two broke off the fence and started throwing hands again. Then Iaquinta connected with a big uppercut that appeared to wobble Lee with less than a minute and a half to go. Just relentless attack from Iaquinta, landing everything that he wants to throw. The final 30 seconds were pure bliss for fight fans as Iaquinta crushed Lee and was a showman the entire way. What a performance for Iaquinta.
