UFC champs are Long Island’s newest real estate photos — and they’re fighting their way to the top

Less braking stomping, more braking traction.

For Al Iaquinta, dedicating his life to the brutal commitment of being a UFC contender gave the Long Island-based fighter an x-factor for success.

So when the 37-year-old found himself seriously slowed by a fight injury in 2017, he decided to pursue another challenge — a career in real estate.

The self-confessed HGTV darling — who admits his home-buying process is more interesting than most — has already sold 80 properties and he’s just getting warmed up.

“I have such an advantage over every agent just because I’ve been through the fights and I have something that they don’t have. The goal now is to become a real estate champion,” Iaquinta told The Post.

And recently, the former pro has found a counterpart in another contender: two-time bantamweight champion — and licensed realtor — Aljamain “Aljo” Sterling of Massapequa.

The pair are just two of the UFC fighters creating a succession plan for when their big bruising days are over — selling out high-end homes.

In Nevada, bone-crushing Joseph Benavidez is killing it in the property game — as is Jessica Penne in Southern California.

“Real estate is good to have in the back pocket, especially for us,” Sterling said. “We get huge amounts of money at the same time.”

The two best friends are currently teaming up to create a luxurious $1.3 million listing in the beautiful Massapequa neighborhood of Harbor Green.

And despite the shaky for-sale signs of a smiling Iaquinta holding up his fist, he says most people who show up at his open houses aren’t there for a handshake, if they even know the pair from their other lives – they are almost there to buy a house.

The tale of the tape

With the fame from his time in the Octagon only getting him so far, Iaquinta confessed that finally retiring from fighting in 2021 and opening his Wantagh office last year “scared the crap out of me.”

“Putting my name on a building, there was a fear of losing there, similar to that of fighting,” he said, adding that the commitment and intensity required for the gig is almost the same as when he was a professional athlete. .

“The only thing that’s different now is that coaching is not part of my job,” he joked.

Since going all in, the business has been a hit – enough to bring in his new partner Sterling, who turned 35 on July 31.

The sharply dressed man appeared at an outdoor venue in July, still sore from a training session earlier in the week. He’s glad, he said, for the added challenge.

“I think the biggest solution in life is to always have some kind of goal for yourself — and not just one,” a motivated Sterling told The Post.

Along with getting into real estate — he’s personally sold two homes and is looking forward to closing the deal on the Harbor Green property — Sterling is also releasing his own line of spirits, Funk Harbor Rum, on Aug. 1. The name is derived from his UFC nickname, “Master of Funk.”

Sterling grew up in a large family in Uniondale, a rougher part of Long Island, and used fighting as a way to avoid pressure to join gangs — as one of his brothers did.

With a handful of UFC fights under his belt since 2014, Sterling received his realtor’s license around 2017 — along with a degree in physical education to teach.

“Fighting wasn’t the main goal for me coming out of college … I had to keep my options open,” Sterling added. “You start off on a good foot and then you lose two fights and you’re thinking you might need to dust off your resume.”

Now with a 24-4 record, he’s balancing the pace by moving further into the business world and lining up for a day when it’s time to hang up the gloves.

“It wasn’t the easiest thing, but it can be done,” he said. “You need a good team around you.”

And what better teammate than someone you’ve literally fought and bled for?

“We’ve been through it all together, we’ve traveled the world together, we’ve trained together, we’ve fought together,” Iaquinta said, noting how much fun they had on the project, especially making the promo videos. – sticks.

“I know I can count on Aljo and vice versa.”