Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Check out the first episode of Embedded for UFC 249.
UFC 249 is almost here (finally), 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 first episode for this weekend’s big show in Jacksonville, and it serves as a brief introduction to the fighters at the top of the card.
We start off on the eerily empty Las Vegas strip. The UFC crew (with masks and gloves on) are loading up the gear to take to Jacksonville for the show. We’re seeing a bunch of UFC employees that don’t normally get TV time, explaining how things are very different in terms of the setup in COVID times. Basically they’re bringing a LOT more gear so the athletes don’t have to share space and equipment.
Over at Xtreme Couture, Francis Ngannou is getting a workout in and he talks up his fight with Jairzinho Rozenstruik. His coach talks about adjusting to COVID times, basically just using himself and Blagoy Ivanov as a sparring partner for Francis. Dewey Cooper is there too. Ngannou does the ghetto version of an ice bath, in a cold tub outside. He is not a fan.
Back at the (completely empty) UFC headquarters now. Dana White is watching a promo that he got Dallas Cowboys legend Michael Irvin to do about the main event of UFC 249. Dana says that you can’t always say the top fight is guaranteed to be good, but for this one, he can. Now he’s talking to Jim Norton doing the UFC Unfiltered podcast. Dana says there were a ton of places they could go, but Florida just worked out the best.
“We’re back.”
We head on over to Justin Gaethje’s place in Colorado. He’s never taken a short notice fight before, so this is new territory to him. He’s being strict with his diet and working out a ton. He says his training hasn’t changed much in COVID times, since he already worked out at a private gym with few training partners. He’s complimentary towards opponent Tony Ferguson.
Ferguson arrives in Jacksonville, and says the airports were a ghost town. He’s ready to roll.
And that’s it! UFC 249 goes down this Saturday in an empty arena in Florida.