UFC 206's Emil Meek is fighting 'the best unranked welterweight in the world'

TORONTO – As a UFC newcomer who’s still relatively unknown to most fans, Emil Meek was tucked away in a corner during Thursday’s UFC 206 media day.

As reporters crowded around bigger names such as Max Holloway, Anthony Pettis, Donald Cerrone and Matt Brown to shoot interviews, Meek sat alone in a chair, chatting with coaches and teammates while waiting for the occasional reporter to stop by for a quick chat.

In a sport all about self-promotion, Meek then took matters into his own hands. He stopped waiting for reporters to come to him; he lured them in. Squatting on a chair and essentially flagging down reporters, he soon had a captive audience.

Emil Meek

“I feel the love,” he told MMAjunkie with a big smile. “It’s just that not everybody knows who I am, so it’s my job to haul you guys in here to make you interview me.”

Meek (8-2-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) kicks off Saturday’s UFC 206 pay-per-view main card at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre in a welterweight bout against Jordan Mein (29-10 MMA, 3-2 UFC). The 28-year-old Norwegian fighter was actually slated to Jessin Ayari at UFC Fight Night 93 in September, but he was pulled from the card in July after he disclosed a medical treatment he received prior to signing with the promotion. It was deemed to be potentially out of compliance with the UFC’s anti-doping policy. He wasn’t subject to a punishment – and the specific treatment was not revealed – but he did have to wait through his four-month testing period with USADA.

With that period now over, Meek is finally ready for his UFC debut – and he’s ready to make sure he gets some attention ahead of it, even if it means literally dragging an interviewer to his corner of the media room.

Come Saturday, though, Meek, who knocked out Rousimar Palhares in 45 seconds at Venator FC 3 in May, thinks the attention will be deserved based on his work in the cage. Plus, he said, he’s facing a legitimately accomplished opponent in Mein, a 27-year-old 39-fight vet who’s returning from a short-lived retirement.

“He’s always been flying under the radar,” Meek said. “He doesn’t even have any social media. You see, his (media day) poster is the one with no (Twitter and Instagram handles) on it.

“But, of course, I’ve watched probably all of his fights. And I’ve very aware of how good he is. I’d say he’s the best unranked welterweight in the world right now.”

Check out the full chat now.

For more on UFC 206, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.