A key lightweight rematch featuring Kevin Lee taking on Al Iaquinta headlined tonight’s UFC on FOX 31 fight card in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Lee and Iaquinta first met at UFC 169 in February of 2014, with “Raging Al” emerging victortious by way of unanimous decision.
Kevin Lee (17-4 MMA) was last seen in action at April’s UFC event in Atlantic City, where he scored a fifth-round TKO victory over Edson Barboza.
“The Motown Phenom” has won six of his past seven UFC appearances overall, scoring five stoppage victories in that span.
Meanwhile, Al Iaquinta is coming off a unanimous decision loss to current lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in his most recent fight at UFC 223.
The setback snapped a five-fight winning streak for the Long Island native.
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Round one of the UFC on FOX 31 main event begins and Al Iaquinta takes the center of the octagon. He throws a jab and Lee responds with a front kick tot he body. Iaquinta looks to grab a leg. Lee avoids and fires off a left hand. Iaquinta moves forward and shoots for a takedown. Lee avoids but eats a spinning elbow followed by a right hand. Kevin Lee appears to be ok and continues to press forward with his jab. Iaquinta leaps into the pocket with a combination. Lee responds with a jab. He follows that up with a low kick that connects. Kevin Lee with a nice kick to the body followed by an inside low kick. Iaquinta circles and then throws a jab to the body. “The Motown Phenom” with a kick to the body. Al Iaquinta fakes a shot and then throws a left hand over the top. Lee circles along the cage and then leaps in with a kick to the body that lands flush. Iaquinta comes forward and lands a left hand. That caught the attention of Kevin Lee. Iaquinta with a hard low kick now. Kevin Lee lands a nice counter right hand. Al Iaquinta replies with one of his own. Under one minute remains in round one. Iaquinta with a nice jab. Lee returns fire with a low kick. Al is applying the pressure now. He looks for an uppercut. Lee responds with a combination. Al Iaquinta with a left hook and the horn sounds to end round one.
Round two begins and Kevin Lee fires off left jab. Iaquinta comes forward but eats a kick to the body. Lee with a nice jab and then a right hand over the top. Iaquinta comes forward but Lee tags him with a left hook. Lee shoots in for a takedown and eventually gets it. He immediately moves to half guard and begins working some hard shots. Iaquinta attempts to scramble but gives up his back. Kevin Lee locks in a body triangle and begins softening Al up with punches and elbows. He will undoubtedly look to setup a rear-naked choke here. Over two minutes remain in the second round. Iaquinta scrambles and is able to get back up to his feet. He charges after Lee and lands a right hand. He follows that up with a jab and a hook to the body of Kevin Lee. “Raging Al” is turning it on here. Lee responds with a low kick. Al just misses with a right hand but connects with a follow up body shot. Iaquinta is snapping his jab in the face of Lee now. Kevin circles and then lands a kick to the body. Iaquinta connects with a hard inside low kick. Lee attempts to respond but Al catches the kick and lands a counter punch. Iaquinta comes forward with a combination. He lands a right hand. The horn sounds to end round two.
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Round three begins and Al Iaquinta leaps in with a left hook. Lee avoids and fires off a low kick. Iaquinta is pressing the action early here. He lands a low kick. Lee responds with a shot to the body. Iaquinta with a big right hand. He seems to have Lee’s timing down now. Al with a nice left and then a right hand over the top. Lee fires back with a kick to the body. “The Motown Phenom” with a jab and then a kick to the body. Iaquinta returns fire with a right hand. He lands another and Lee is beginning to wear the damage now. Iaquinta with another nice hook. He circles and then shoots in for a takedown. It is not there. Kevin Lee circles and then lands a takedown. Iaquinta looks to scramble back to his feet. He does, but Lee is all over him. Two minutes remain as Lee looks to drag Al back to the floor. He picks Iaquinta up and slams him to the floor. Lee immediately locks in both hooks and then secures a body triangle. He lands a couple of punches and the goes for a rear-naked choke. Al Iaquinta defends the submission but Lee is still on his back. Kevin with a punch. Al looks to scramble but he can’t shake Kevin off him. The horn sounds to end round three.
Round four begins and Kevin Lee takes the center of the cage and snaps off a jab. He goes upstairs with a kick but Al is wise to it. Both men with jabs from the pocket. Iaquinta with a right hand over the top. That appears to stun Kevin Lee. “The Motown Phenom” is backing up now. Al seems to sense it and walks forward with a left hand. Lee might be rocked here. Iaquinta connects with an uppercut. Lee continues to circles but Al connects with a jab and then a big head kick. Kevin Lee responds with a kick ot the body. He seems to be ok but continues to circle away from Iaquinta. Both men connect with low kicks. Iaquinta just misses with a right hand. Lee lands a jab. Iaquinta rips to the body of Lee with a hook. He lands a right hand that appears with hurt Lee. Kevin is once again on the move. He stops in the center of the octagon and fires off a jab. Iaquinta misses with a combination. Kevin Lee lands a kick to the body. He lands another. Just over one minute remains in round four. Iaquinta leaps in with a left hook. Lee responds with a jab. He circles off the fence but Al catches him with an inside low kick. Lee with a left jab, Al counters nicely with a right hand over the top. Matt Serra is screaming in the corner as per usual. Lee with a left jab. The horn sounds to end round four.
Round five begins and Matt Serra wants “five minutes of hell” from Al Iaquinta. Lee comes forward and lands a low kick. Both men paw with their respective jabs. Iaquinta comes over the top with a right hand. Lee replies with a straight right. Kevin shoots in for a takedown but Al is defending well. After a scramble we are back on the feet with Iaquinta pressed against the cage. Lee is looking to wrap him up and slam him down to the canvas. He moves to the back of Al Iaquinta and locks in one hook. Iaquinta breaks free and lands a jab. Lee fires back with a combination but it is Al Iaquinta who is moving forward. He lands a right hand and then a left jab. Kevin Lee with a big high kick that appears to connect. Somehow Al ate that shot and fired back with a combination. “Raging Al” moves forward but eats a jab. He ducks a punch and lands a left hook that rocks Lee. Kevin circles off the fence. He lands a low kick but appears to still be stunned. Iaquinta is coming forward and lands a right hook followed by a jab. Kevin Lee remains in the pocket but he is getting the worst of these exchanges. Al Iaquinta with a flurry. He stuns Lee again. Kevin is on the retreat. Al chases after him and lands a right hand. Another right and Lee remains standing. The horn sounds to end round five. What a fight!
Lee vs Iaquinta 2, our crew breaks down this main event! pic.twitter.com/hMa2RzzKZn
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Official UFC on FOX 31 Result: Al Iaquinta def. Kevin Lee via unanimous decision (48-47 x2, 49-46)