Al Iaquinta (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

Al Iaquinta has been openly critical of the UFC’s compensation model in the past, and now the heavy-handed lightweight’s joined Leslie Smith’s led effort to unionize MMA fighters.

Smith is currently the interim president for Project Spearhead, which is setting out to form a union for UFC and Bellator fighters. Recently Iaquinta joined the group as the interim secretary and treasurer, and while discussing his decision to do so with Bloody Elbow, he said this:

“I felt it’s a good time for this. It’s something that needs to happen. It’s happened in every other sport, and it’s something that needs to be done in the UFC. … I’m helping the cause and trying to bring all the fighters together to get done what should have been done a long time ago.

“…I think this is something that I’ll enjoy doing. Leslie Smith is really going above and beyond to make this happen. I filled out my card, and I’m asking other fights to fill out theirs. She’s doing this for all the fighters, I’m doing it for all the fighters, Kajan Johnson is doing it for all the fighters…”

Iaquinta is currently booked to fight Paul Felder at UFC 223, April 7th.