Drew Dober happens to be training partners with new interim lightweight champ Justin Gaethje. So you can be sure he’s extra motivated heading into UFC Jacksonville, against Alexander Hernandez.
Gaethje, after all, put on a huge performance just days ago at UFC 249. Now, It’s Dober’s turn. He’s got a tough test against Hernandez, mind you. And he’s not sleeping on his opponent, despite Hernandez having been out for a bit.
“None, none whatsoever,” said Dober when asked what effect Hernandez’s layoff might have on the fighter. “I think he’s enthusiastic, I think he’s been training hard. I don’t really think layoffs matter as much now. It’s just a matter of what kind of Hernandez is going to show up in the cage.”
Preparing for this fight, Dober hasn’t had to make too many adjustments from his original opponent, Carlos Diego Ferreira. The Colorado-based fighter is all about negating his opponent’s strengths, and “putting me in my strengths, and allowing me to perform my best,” he said.
Weight cutting is going to plan, but Dober admitted that “trying to cut weight and following a nutrition program while staying in house was super difficult. Watching my girlfriend eat all the snacks…”
For Dober, whose other passion is cooking, it’s doubly difficult. So while he’s avoiding anything that comes out of the oven, he’s got his eye on a lot of things come May 14. “I love culinary, I love cooking, and I love creating cool stuff. But I follow a strict nutrition program, so I have it all delivered and prepared for me. I’m extremely eager to cook myself some meals and have date nights with my girlfriend.”
Which means that the plan Wednesday is to “get in, get my job done, and get out. And celebrate in Denver, Colorado with Justin Gaethje.” In fact, Gaethje even texted Dober at the media day — to inform him some fresh donuts were awaiting him upon arrival.
Watch the full UFC Jacksonville virtual media scrum with Drew Dober above!
