Nike Training
Nike picked up their first MMA fighter - Light Heavyweight Champion, Jon Jones.
He doesn’t wear shoes in the ring, but he does when he trains. Jon just happens to have two Super Bowl Champion brothers. I created a lot of content for social, digital video and my very first Nike shirt that Jon wore when he won the title.
Albuquerque to Beaverton
This production took us form Nike HQ to the heart of MMA training. Jon even went with me to visit my childhood home in Albuquerque. Which just happens to back up the the car wash Walter White owned in Breaking Bad.
What I loved most about this job was catching an athlete with so much enthusiasm for the brand. I’ve worked with dozens of world-famous athletes and there’s always an element of detachment from the gig. Not with Jon. He was vibrating, down for everything, and a delightful professional. When we had wrapped shooting at Jackson Wink Gym in Albuquerque he ran towards me in the parking lot like we has going to tackle me. He said, “Zach, why didn’t you flinch?” “Because I knew you wouldn’t hurt me, Jon.” He smiled and hugged me and said “You’re right. I love you.” He sprinted to the car and jumped in, ready to head to the next location.