TUF Live Finale – Michael Chiesa vs. Al Iaquinta preview
MMABay continues to break down the main card fights set for this Friday, June 1st as another season of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ wraps up in Las Vegas, Nevada – this one being the first to ever air live, on FX. Next, it’s the big one, ‘The Ultimate Fighter Live Finale’, as the unbreakable Michael Chiesa takes on the heavy-handed Al Iaquinta. Will ‘Maverick’ deliver the ultimate tribute to his late father, or will Iaquinta break the heart of the fans favourite? Find out after the jump…
Michael Chiesa (7-0, 0-0 UFC)
Washington native, Michael ‘Maverick’ Chiesa, quietly got the job done on episode one when he took the back of Johnavan Vistante and tapped him out quickly in round one to guarantee himself a place in the house. Joy turned to despair though, when the following morning ‘Maverick’ was advised that his ill father had passed away.
The likeable Chiesa showed incredible heart and strength as he left the show to attend the funeral, returning a few days later determined to win the show for his father. Team Faber’s fifth pick, the 6ft 1in grappler first met Jeremy Larsen, wrestling him to a slow decision but winning many fans in the process.
The Fancy Pants Fight Team prospect was then paired with season favourite, Justin Lawrence, and the two engaged in the fight of the season with Chiesa’s heart again driving him through a fight he was always close to losing. But somehow, in round three, Chiesa reversed the youngster on the mat and pounded away for a late stoppage, sending Team Faber haywire in celebration.
The understandably emotional Chiesa again rallied from behind in the semi-finals, turning the tables on James Vick and hammering him with punches from mount to get a second round stoppage that cemented ‘Maverick’s spot in the final. It’s safe to say, the man with the most epic beard in the lightweight division is the fans choice to win the show – Chiesa certainly deserves it.
Al Iaquinta (5-1-1, 0-0 UFC)
Matt Serra and Ray Longo’s star pupil, Al Iaquinta will be in no mood for charity though this weekend. This is the final, and the 25-year old New Yorker isn’t about to lie down and let Chiesa take what some feel he has already earned.
The well-rounded lightweight eked out a close decision over Jon Tuck to qualify for the show, in a fight memorable as much for its exciting exchanges as Tuck’s hideously broken toe. Team Faber’s numero uno, the pretty much silent Iaquinta endured a gruelling three-round war with unbeaten Myles Jury in the first round.
Iaquinta scraped by, taking the split decision, but in the final eight the NYC representative was more decisive, knocking out British prospect Andy Ogle with a nasty standing elbow strike in the first round. Never outspoken, Iaquinta quietly accepted his semi-final slugfest with the 7-0 Vinc Pichel, again proving the tougher brawler as he out-struck and took down his opponent to earn the decision.
While Iaquinta’s dull personality hasn’t won him as many fans as his opponent, his coaches swear that this kid will be a champion someday – it all begins on Friday night as he looks to shatter the dreams of Michael Chiesa.
The Verdict: Wrestler faces striker this weekend and the first thing to note will be Chiesa’s huge size advantage. At 6ft 1in, the lanky ‘Maverick’ is a big lightweight and Iaquinta, a rather small one at 5ft 7in, which could prove a problem for the New Yorker who relies on his striking more than anything. However, Chiesa’s own striking is poor and his defence worse – Iaquinta can probably close the gap, land a few shots, and get out of there before the bigger man can grab a hold of him.
If Chiesa does get the fight to the mat, he’s proven he can handle much bigger guys than Iaquinta and fairly comfortably, as his top-game is strong and his ground and pound harder than it looks. But the long-haired Spartan has little chance of doing much with a Matt Serra guy on the mat, and catching him is a long shot too. Unfortunately, Chiesa’s dream ends at the final stage as Iaquinta does his best hit-and-run job to take another comfortable, but not overly impressive, decision and take the crown. Iaquinta, decision.
By Steve Davies.
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