"May the force be with you" - Fans react as UFC 302 fighter goes through Jedi training

Grant Dawson has gone through fairly unorthodox training in preparation for his UFC 302 bout with Joe Solecki. In a video released by ESPN on May 30, the 30-year-old lightweight was taught the moves of a Jedi by a Star Wars stunt double.

Dawson described himself as a lifelong Star Wars fan who always wanted 'two things' as a kid: to become a UFC fighter and a Jedi. Arda Ocal of ESPN surprised 'KGD' ahead of UFC 302 by having stuntman Tien Huang teach him how to handle a lightsaber.

The video was a collaboration within ESPN to promote both UFC 302 and the upcoming premiere of the upcoming series 'The Acolyte' on Disney Plus.

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Ocal wished Dawson luck against Solecki on June 1, commenting:

"May the force be with you"

Arda Ocal wishes Grant Dawson luck at UFC 302 [via @espnmma on Instagram]

Fans were parted with their opinions on the video, with some finding the act too strange but others enjoying the joint promotion.

Fans commented:

"Gotta fade him now"

"I'm jealous"

"[Grant Dawson's] new nickname is 'The Jedi'"

"He should try to use the force at the start of his fight and see what happens"

View more fan reactions to Grant Dawson's Jedi training below:

Fans reacting to Grant Dawson training as a Jedi [via @espnmma on Instagram]

UFC 302: Grant Dawson vs. Joe Solecki preview

Looking to rebound from his first UFC loss, Grant Dawson will return on the prelims of UFC 302 against fellow grappler Joe Solecki.

In his first main event in October 2023, Dawson suffered a 33-second knockout loss to Bobby Green at the UFC APEX. Before the loss, 'KGD' had risen to no. 10 in the 155-pound rankings with an 8-0-1 record in the UFC.

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Solecki enters the fight off of one of the most viral knockouts of 2023 against Drakkar Klose at UFC Austin. Still 5-2 overall in the promotion, Solecki was slammed unconscious by Klose in the first round while attempting an armbar submission.

Despite last losing in the first round and no longer being in the lightweight rankings, Dawson is the second-biggest betting favorite of the entire fight card behind only Islam Makhachev in the main event.

About the author

Jaren covers MMA and boxing for Sportskeeda. He has a total experience of over a year and also writes for FanSided MMA and BetSided.

Jaren is a Bachelor of Arts in Sports Media with high distinction from Butler University in 2023 and chose a field that interests him the most to begin his professional journey. He has over four years of experience practicing boxing and kickboxing and is also a two-stripe Brazilian jiu-jitsu white belt.

His all-time top-five list of MMA fighters includes Demetrious Johnson, Georges St-Pierre, Jon Jones, Anderson Silva, and Amanda Nunes.

Jaren's first memory of becoming a fan of the sport dates back to the UFC 195 event in January 2016, which was headlined by the Robbie Lawler vs. Carlos Condit title fight. While compiling pieces, he focuses on quality and fact-checking by going through multiple credible sources, such as UFC, Sherdog, and ESPN.

His other interests include training in jiu-jitsu and kickboxing, and watching basketball and American football.

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Edited by Jigyanshushri Mahanta