UFC 243 Embedded, part 6 - ‘I get offered a fight, and I say yes’
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Check out the sisth episode of Embedded for UFC 243.
UFC 243 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 sixth and final episode for this weekend’s big stadium show in Melbourne, and it serves as a brief introduction to the fighters at the top of the card.
Things start off at Al Iaquinta’s apartment, where he’s weirded out by being filmed getting dressed for Media Day. He’s learned to enjoy dealing with the media and dressing up a bit. Robert Whittaker gets on the bus, where Tai Tuivasa is complaining about all his friends telling him that they bet on him. Whittaker’s wife gets on the bus and gives him his belt.
Ultimate Media Day. Israel Adesanya says he’s two years ahead of schedule getting to the top of the sport. Tuivasa says he’s never done strength and conditioning for a fight before until now. Iaquinta and Hooker are respectful. Whittaker says if Kelvin Gastelum can do what he did to Adesanya, he can at least do that. He doesn’t care about Adesanya’s trash talk. Adesanya claps back. He wants to recreate what Holly Holm did (against Ronda Rousey) in 2015.
They skip the early weigh-ins completely and go to the ceremonial ones. Tuivasa gets a big reception. Hooker is fired up. Iaquinta is basically all business. Adesanya’s family is in the crowd and he greets them from the scale. Whittaker gets a big crowd reaction as well. Adesanya gets in close for the face-off.
And that’s it! UFC 243 goes down in a few short hours in Marvel Stadium in Melbourne.