Iaquinta Criticizes UFC for Glorifying Weed
Smokers Over Disciplined Fighters like Merab
Dvalishviliđ˛“UFC promotes the guy that smokes weed, and all these little kids
are smoking weed and have pink hair. If UFC wanted, they could
change the world.They could go, ‘Look at⌠pic.twitter.com/6jRrdsbxPk
â Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA)
June 10, 2025
Al
Iaquinta believes the
UFC can change society by promoting a disciplined fighter like
Merab
Dvalishvili.
Dvalishvili dethroned Sean
O’Malley, who has been marketed to be one of biggest stars of
the sport, at UFC 306 last year. âThe Machineâ submitted OâMalley
in their rematch at UFC 316
last weekend.
It is no secret that UFC puts its promotional muscle behind
fighters who it believes can be big draws. However, Iaquinta
believes it would serve society better for the UFC to hype up a
fighter like Dvalishvili, who is an epitome of discipline. While
Iaquinta didnât name OâMalley, he isnât impressed with kids being
influenced by a fighter âhaving pink hairâ who âsmokes weed.â
âSports change society,â Iaquinta said on Aljamain
Sterlingâs YouTube channel. âUFC promotes the guy that smokes
weed, and all these little kids are smoking weed and have pink
hair. If UFC wanted, they could change the freaking world. They
could go, ‘Look at Merab, this guy came from the Republic of
Georgia, he doesnât drink, he doesnât smoke, he works hard.’ How
many kids in the audience have pink hair?… You could change the
world for a better place if you fâ-ing get behind this dude.â
OâMalley was a massive advocate of marijuana legaliaation. While
his stance on the drug might still stand, âSugaâ quit smoking ahead
of his UFC 316 rematch against Dvalishvili.
Meanwhile, Iaquinta reached his career peak in a bid for the vacant
lightweight title against Khabib
Nurmagomedov in 2018, which he lost. âRagingâ rebounded with a
win over Kevin Lee but
dropped three in a row right after. Iaquinta announced his
retirement in 2021 following a knockout loss against Bobby
Green.