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Al Iaquinta (Wantagh, N.Y.) defeated Jon Tuck by unanimous decision to become one of 16 contestants with a chance to win six-figure contract with the UFC. Iaquinta (6-1-1), a lightweight prodigy of Matt Serra and Ray Longo, will live in The Ultimate Fighter Live House for the next 12 weeks.
"I worked really hard to get here and I’m happy and relieved to get the victory," Iaquinta said in a statement released by the UFC.
In its first season on FX, The Ultimate Fighter will air every Friday with previously recorded material from the house and in training that will lead up to a live contest. Iaquinta will be coached by either UFC bantamweight champion Dominik Cruz or No. 1 contender Urijah Faber.
Follow Jon Lane on Twitter: @JonLaneNYC