(wind whooshes)
(athletes chattering)
- I'm at the UFC Hall of Fame induction.
A lot of emotions, last fight, a crazy career.
I'm just trying to embrace it all
and everyone's taking a look at my career with appreciation,
so that's what I'm trying to do too.
Is Jens back here somewhere, or is he still on the carpet?
What's up, man?
- ****, there he is.
- Look at this guy. (hand smacks)
Good to see ya, man. Good to see ya.
(Jens' hand smacks)
- I'm gonna be live at the venue so-
- Oh nice. - I'm gonna doing
the watch song, I won't be at the venue,
I'll be at the apex.
- Yep. - Commentating the fight,
Basharat's my guest, so. - Oh, sweet.
- But just in spirit- - Yeah.
- I'm with you. - No, I got it.
- [Photographer] Ready? Okay.
- [Robbie] Been doing this a long time.
It's just an honor to be a part of this.
- Nearly eight years ago to the day,
at UFC 189,
what took place was nothing short of heroic.
A fight in which each man pushed the other to the brink,
while seemingly transcending
every known threshold of mortal men.
Here he is, folks.
The legend, ruthless, Lawler!
(crowd cheers)
- That night I was fighting for something.
I was actually fighting for respect.
That's why I was like,
because I was fighting for respect,
and finally I realized that I freaking earned it
and I wanna thank the fans and the UFC and everyone.
(crowd cheers) It's awesome. Thank you.
This is huge, 'cause just like I said, I was fighting
for respect and that's kinda like this is respect,
which is what I was fighting for that night
and I really appreciate this (laughs).
(wind whooshes)
- It's easy.
I've been doing this stuff since I was a little kid,
so it's no problem at all.
You just do it.
- It's all right. - People complaining,
"Oh, my gosh, I'm hurting." Grow up.
It's real life. This ain't no game.
(fist smacks) - This guy's been doing it
since he was probably just outta diapers.
Cutting weight, being disciplined, is a lifestyle.
He's an overachiever and this is a lifetime of work.
Getting better and improving even
a day or two before a fight,
his mind is always on and top of the food chain.
(bodies thump) He's rising fast
and figuring things out very quickly.
I predict he'll be champion.
- Uh-oh. (Bo laughs)
****.
I **** do not wanna be in here. Get me out.
(spectator laughs) - I have such a great team.
Everybody's so supportive.
They're in there with me, workouts, sauna sessions,
everything, and coaches sacrificing a lot,
time away from their families to be here with me,
and I'm gonna make 'em proud tomorrow.
I'm gonna dominate this guy.
All respect to him and yeah, let's get it.
He won a war, but I think we're gonna get
more of a massacre out there.
Be ready.
- Ready to rock. And still ****!
- Brandon's relaxed all day today.
Weight's been real good.
He's the ultimate professional.
The whole coaching staff, we all sacrifice things,
and we do it because we love Brandon.
We see what he puts into it.
We know what he's about.
So just typical weight cut, just a light jog,
20, 30 minutes, get that sweat going,
and then two, three, four sauna goes, in and out, relaxing.
We have the team around us to keep the mood light.
- My homie put me on UFC so he was a big fan of Moreno,
and he's one of the first fights I actually one.
- My energy of my heart, all my soul is very high.
I gonna win. I gonna win. It's all right.
(wind whooshes)
(athletes chattering)
- Ready to go for the official weigh-in,
and we are so excited.
There's nothing like International Fight Week
our annual summer showcase, and these two title fights
just have it all for me.
Robert Whittaker, Dricus du Plessis,
everybody's already here.
One more sleep. Can't wait.
- [Announcer] We begin with the gentleman
around whom this fight card was built,
the reigning and defending UFC Featherweight Champion
of the World, Alexander, The Great, Volkanovski.
- [Weight Announcer] 144 and a half.
- [Announcer] 144 and a half.
The official wait for Alexander Volkanovski.
All right, next fighter to the scale.
The other man around whom this fight card was built.
He is the UFC's Interim Featherweight Champion,
Yair Rodriguez.
- 145!
- [Announcer] 145, the official weight for Yair Rodriguez.
With that, your UFC 290 main event is official.
All right, next fighter to the scale,
one national pro headliner,
the number two ranked Flyweight contender taking part
in his first UFC leader fight, Alexandre Pantoja.
- 125!
- [Announcer] 125, championship weight
for Alexandre Pantoja.
Our next athlete to the stage,
the other half of the co-main event,
the reigning defending undisputed UFC Flyweight
Champion of the World, The Assassin Baby, Brandon Moreno.
(scale clangs) - 125!
- [Announcer] 125, the official weight for Brandon Moreno.
All right, next fighter to the stage,
the man charged with kicking off
the pay-per-view main card,
undefeated as he makes his second UFC appearance
in the middleweight division, Bo Nickal.
(scale clangs) - 186!
- [Announcer] 186, the official weight for Bo Nickal.
Right, next up we get to the other half
of that pay-per-view main card opener
of the middleweight division,
and set to make his UFC debut, Val Woodburn.
(scale clangs) - 185 and a half!
- [Announcer] 185 and a half for Val Woodburn.
(athletes chattering)
- Yeah!
- Go Woodburn.
- [Val] Yeah, thank you. Thank you.
- [Athlete] Please go home.
- [Spectator] Whoo! Here we go!
(athletes chattering)
(wind whooshes)
(car hums) - Right.
I know. We're back. Ready to do this thing.
I need some more food (laughs).
- Hi.
- [Announcer 2] Championship fight tomorrow night,
and now for the call of the weight, for UFC 290,
here is Joe Rogan!
(crowd cheers)
- What's happening, Vegas?
Welcome to the weigh-ins!
How about a nice round of applause for Dana White.
Without him, none of this would be possible,
and we got a banging card for ya!
Here we go, ladies and gentlemen,
for the Flyweight Championship of the World!
Introducing the challenger, Alexandre Pantoja!
(upbeat instrumental music) (crowd cheers)
Official weight, 125 for the challenger!
(crowd cheers)
And his opponent, the reigning, defending,
undisputed, Flyweight Champion of the World,
Brandon, The Assassin Baby, Moreno!
(crowd cheers)
Official weight, 125 for the champion!
(crowd cheers) (upbeat instrumental music)
- ****, yeah. Good luck tomorrow, boys.
- [Joe] Here we go, for all the marvels
in the Featherweight division,
introducing the challenger,
the Interim Champ, Yair Rodriguez!
(crowd cheers) (upbeat instrumental music)
Official weight 145 for El Pantera!
(crowd cheers) (Yair claps)
And his opponent, the reigning, defending,
undisputed Featherweight Champion
of the World, Alexander Volkanovski!
(crowd cheers) (upbeat instrumental music)
Official weight 144.5 for the champ.
(crowd cheers) (upbeat instrumental music)
(crowd cheers)
- Good luck.
(crowd cheers) (upbeat instrumental music)
- **** Yeah. Good luck tomorrow. Let's go.
(crowd cheers)
- All right, I'm here with the Challenger, Yair Rodriguez,
give us your thoughts
on what's gonna go down tomorrow night.
(crowd cheers)
(Yair speaks in foreign language)
- ****!
(crowd cheers)
- Yair Rodriguez, ladies and gentlemen!
I'm here with the champ.
Now you have an opportunity to defend your
Featherweight title against the Interim Champ.
Give us your thoughts on this fight.
- I gave him the respects.
I've been saying he's dangerous
but all that **** stops tomorrow.
I go out there, I'm going to squash him,
I'm gonna do my thing and still baby.
Let's go!
(crowd cheers)
- The champion, ladies and gentlemen!
(crowd cheers)
(upbeat instrumental music)