Saturday's "UFC Fight Night" in Norfolk, Virginia, saw some intense, testosterone-fueled bouts featuring fighters at the top of their games. But when it was time for the heavyweight fight between Andrei Arlovski and Junior "Baby" Albini, heads were turning over Albini's fashion choices instead of his moves in the cage.
For you see, Albini's shorts seemed to live up to his nickname, as all anyone could see when looking at the white short shorts was a diaper:
Is Junior Baby wearing … a diaper? #UFCNorfolk— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting.com) 1510462128.0
Buscando derribar @junioralbini a @AndreiArlovski #UFCNorfolk #UFCPorFSN https://t.co/O3M1Mr2fou— Fighting Sports Net (@Fighting Sports Net) 1510462648.0
For many, it looked like a giant, aggressive baby lumbering around:
Interesting attire choice for Baby Albini #UFCNorfolk— UFC (@UFC) 1510461966.0
One tough looking baby 👶🏽 #ufcNorfolk— Cub Swanson (@Cub Swanson) 1510462120.0
I guess we know why they call him Junior Baby. 😳 #DiaperShorts #UFCNorfolk— Kenny Florian (@Kenny Florian) 1510462073.0
Junior "Baby" Albini rocking the Reebok diaper tonight. #UFCNorfolk https://t.co/EG3kQFl7es— Josh Sánchez (@Josh Sánchez) 1510462197.0
And, try as they might, they just couldn't focus on the bout at hand:
don't make a joke about the shorts. don't make a joke about the shorts. don't make a joke about the shorts. don't m… https://t.co/1cTD47vO38— Karyn Bryant (@Karyn Bryant) 1510462175.0
Inevitably, the meme comparisons started rolling in:
#UFCNorfolk https://t.co/WUsECKfJ2h— Stephie Haynes (@Stephie Haynes) 1510462222.0
Everyone be like... #UFCNorfolk https://t.co/GJLWaRLD2d— The Spartan (@The Spartan) 1510462916.0
I hope a stiff breeze doesn't hit the octagon during Junior Baby's fight... #UFCNorfolk https://t.co/K02lxckko8— The Spartan (@The Spartan) 1510462400.0
Perhaps Reebok needs to rethink their line of UFC athletic wear:
“The Big Baby Diaper!” Brought to you by Reebok! #UFCNorfolk— Aljamain Sterling (@Aljamain Sterling) 1510462562.0
What is Albini rocking? I'd rather have Dennis Hallman back sportin' his attire than this getup. OK, maybe not. But… https://t.co/2zzc1T5pR7— Gorgeous George (@Gorgeous George) 1510462273.0
Baby Albini still has nothing on Dennis Hallman, though. #UFCNorfolk https://t.co/CRPUrZxmnR— Josh Sánchez (@Josh Sánchez) 1510462645.0
After all, think of all the confused babies and concerned parents out there who were watching:
Babies all across the world are confused af looking at Albini’s fit wear! #UFCNorfolk— Derek Brunson (@Derek Brunson) 1510462375.0
I can't tell if the redness on Albini's thighs are from inside leg kicks or chafing #UFCNorfolk— Zak Ottow (@Zak Ottow) 1510462470.0
In the end, the diaper didn't work in Albini's favor, as Arlovski defeated him after a unanimous decision at the end of round 3.
Andrei Arlovski def. Junior Albini via UD (29-28, 30-27x2) #UFCNorfolk— Bloody Elbow (@Bloody Elbow) 1510463367.0
Arlovski had a total of 106 strikes, 92 of which were considered significant, compared to 74 strikes and 48 significant strikes by Albini.
Perhaps Albini needed a nap at the end, or the judges could see that he was ready to take his bottle. Whatever their reasoning, it meant heartbreak for Albini and his fans.
After the Twitter attention, it'll be interesting to see what Albini chooses to wear the next time he fights. Does he don a pair of extra-long, "definitely not a diaper" shorts, or does he return to his "Baby" roots and rock the fashion choice that made him a social media sensation overnight? Time will tell.
In the meantime, don't ask anyone who was watching UFC on Saturday night to tell you who won, because they won't be able to:
I don't know who won that fight. Don't know. One of them was wearing a diaper. #UFCNorfolk— Bleacher Report MMA (@Bleacher Report MMA) 1510463176.0
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