Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
Check out the third episode of Embedded for UFC 254.
UFC 254 is almost here, and as usual, Embedded is here as well. The show that gives you an inside look at the marquee contestants on PPVs has issued the second episode for this weekend’s big show on Fight Island, and it serves as a brief introduction to the fighters at the top of the card.
We start off at, where else? The W Hotel on Fight Island. I don’t know what a Nelk Boy is, but apparently they’re there. Tai Tuivasa is talking to them, and says he’ll get someone out of the crowd to do a shoey with him if he wins. They all do one right there. Gross.
Jared Cannonier does some medicals, and coach Rob Emerson says he’s going to finish Robert Whittaker. Cannonier says he’s on weight already.
Daniel Cormier runs up to Khabib, hugs him, and immediately starts making fun of his big mask. They wrestle a bit and DC says he misses him. Cormier says he’s just golfing now. Khabib tells DC to come by his room later. Khabib says he likes his room because he has everything he needs there.
Khabib does some media. He says opponent Justin Gaethje is great and has given him new motivation. But he feels that he’s going to tire him out and finish him. Specifically, choke him out. He tries his gloves on, and says his wrestling is more about control and pressure.
They’re going into an area where Gaethje is only allowed to take one additional person, but he has 17 with him. He narrows it down to one, then signs posters. That would be his mother Carolina. She talks about him signing his name over and over as a kid. Why? “ADHD,” his mom says. That’s kind of funny. DC says hi to Justin and mom. And Trevor Wittman.
Cannonier says he wants to win the belt and defend it 16 times. He talks about his personalized gloves, and makes the media laugh. Whittaker is a husk that he’s going to break, Cannonier says. Whittaker tells the media that he will lead the dance in the fight. He steals a drink as he leaves. Khabib says hi to Cannonier and Whittaker as he goes by. Everyone comments on Khabib’s mask. Dana White says hi to everyone.
And that’s it! UFC 254 goes down this Saturday in Abu Dhabi.