UFC 254 ‘Embedded’ (Ep. 5): ‘Weight cuts break anybody’

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The latest UFC Embedded episode for UFC 254 is out, and it tracks all the headliners across the Fight Island hotel in Abu Dhabi as they prepare for weigh-ins.

The UFC has just released the 5th episode of its UFC 254 Embedded series, taking fans behind the scenes on ‘Fight Island’ as Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje prepare to go to war to unify the lightweight title.

This episode starts with Khabib hard at work on the treadmill as he cuts down to the 155 pound weight limit for his bout. A space heater sits next to the bike as Khabib literally pours water out all over the gym. Teammates towel him and the equipment off. Then it’s off to the sauna, then onto the treadmill.

“It’s Thursday, it’s the last day of training and the weight cut,” Khabib’s manager Rizvan Magomedov says. “So this is the morning training. We’re going to finish this one, do one at night, and then the last one at five, six in the morning before the weigh-ins. We’re here, all the guys are here. We move as a team, to give some positive energy. We’re always like this. It’s not just a team, it’s a family. Family that support each other, family that giving each other good family motivation.”

Khabib’s coach Javier Mendez shows a sign hung on a mall in Dagestan showing it closed for ‘National Khabib Day.’

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As for Robert Whittaker, he’s relaxing in his room playing ‘Don’t Starve,’ a survival video game that’s more about not dying for as long as you can rather than winning like traditional games. His opponent Jared Cannonier? Busy sweating it out with his teammates with workouts and a portable sauna unit.

The video also catches Gaethje cutting weight and joking around with his team. They’re heavy on the fart humor, which is the least surprising fact in the world.

“Our last two weight cuts have really been spectacular,” Gaethje’s coach Trevor Wittman says. “So I’m real excited how this really helps him in the fight.”

“Weight cuts break anybody,” he added. “But when it comes down to the mental part of fighting, there’s no one as mentally tought as [Justin].”