Strangest Walkout Songs in UFC History: What Were They Thinking?
In combat sports, a fighter’s entrance is one of the most theatrical moments before the actual fight starts. When the lights are off and the audience is chanting, the type of music that a fighter chooses to do his or her entrance can help to determine the mood of the fight, distract the opponent, and spur the fans. Some choose to listen to really heavy tracks that describe the severity of the sport, such as metal, rap, and the like. Others take a different path, selecting songs that leave fans scratching their heads, wondering: Some of the questions that people tend to ask include; Many UFC fighters have had their walkout music as strange as it can get, ranging from pop songs to children’s songs. Check out 5 of the strangest, most unexpected, and flat-out bizarre walkout songs in UFC history. Tom Lawlor, “Who Let the Dogs Out” by Baha Men Tom Lawlor, the fighter who is famous for his eccentric behavior and loud mouth, is not new to such walkouts. Perhaps one of his most memorable entrances was selecting the “Who Let the Dogs Out” song, which is an extremely catchy, although somewhat notoriously grating, tune from the year 2000. The song was the hit song by the Baha Men, and it was a very odd choice for the MMA, which was a highly competitive sport. This was amusing, fun music that sounded like it belonged on a beach rather than in a cage where two fighters would go head to head. However, Lawlor, being the showman that he is, decided to use the song as a part of his persona and to bring some humor before his bouts. Although it did not make him scary to his rivals, it made him the favorite of the audience for his readiness to embody the absurdity of life. Cro cop Mirko Filipović, Wild Boys by Duran Duran Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipović is probably one of the most popular and dangerous strikers in the history of mixed martial arts. Therefore, when he appeared to the ring with the entrance music of ‘Wild Boys’ by Duran Duran, fans were left wondering what was going on. It was a strange contrast to have the cold-blooded knockout artist in Cro Cop and have a happy-go-lucky synth-pop song playing in the background. “Wild Boys” may have been the song of freedom for post-adolescent delinquents in the 1980s, but it was not a song that was on the mind of a fighter who systematically took his opponents apart. However, the fact that Cro Cop decided to go with the number 9 made it mysterious and somewhat unexpected, which was part of his character. Clay Guida, “Jump Around” by House of Pain Clay Guida, known for his endless cardio, unrelenting pace, and wild hair, perfectly matched his walkout song: One of the best songs that relates to this book is “Jump Around” by House of Pain. However, while the song is upbeat and the song has a party-like feel, which is quite similar to Guida’s fighting style, it is quite unusual for an MMA walkout. “Jump Around” is just an obvious song to play at a house party or even a college football game, not a cage fight. This, with Guida’s infectious energy, made the walk out more of a party than a warm-up to a fight. Still, the odd couple suited Guida, as the latter was unpredictable and fans who saw him fight knew they were in for an entertaining bout. Diego Sanchez, “You’re the Best,” by Joe Esposito in the film The Karate Kid. Diego Sanchez is one of the UFC’s characters, and the choice of his walkout songs has been a testimony to that for some time. This was perhaps one of the strangest yet quite memorable decisions: “You’re the Best” by Joe Esposito, the karate movie anthem from The Karate Kid. The song is a classic and is easily identified with cheesy 1980s training montages rather than today’s cage fighting. Still, Sanchez’s strongest qualities are determination and courage, which is why this song, although quite atypical, was entirely appropriate. Looking at Sanchez entering the Octagon, it was impossible not to cheer for him despite the fact that he uses music from the early 2000s. Ronda Rousey, “Bad Reputation” by Joan Jett Joan Jet’s “Bad Reputation” is a classic rock anthem, and Ronda Rousey’s entrance song is quite fitting given the nature of the song’s lyrics but has a bit of an odd vibe to it. The song with its rebellious lyrics and punk rock feel was perfect for Rousey, who was seen as a fighter who was going to change the face of women’s MMA. But the lyrics of “Bad Reputation” also had a rather peculiar undertone for someone like Rousey, who at the time was at the pinnacle of her career and was regarded as a national pride in the sport. Rousey was adored by the fans, sponsors, and media—quite the opposite of having a ‘bad reputation.’ The irony of the song choice only grew as Rousey’s career progressed, but for her, the song represented her rejection of the constraints and repression of women in combat sports. Andrei Arlovski, “Pitbull” by Ne-Yo feat. Nayer and Afrojack The former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski, who goes by the nickname “The Pitbull,” took the nickname quite literally in choosing his entrance music. In several of his fights, Arlovski came out to the Octagon to “Pitbull” by Ne-Yo, Nayer & Afrojack, a song more appropriate for a South Beach club than for a heavyweight battle. The song was fast-paced and had Latin influences, which was an odd choice for a fighter who was notorious for his vicious knockouts and pressure fighting style. However, Arlovski, who is always known to be jovial, embraced the pop anthem much to the dismay of people who expected him to be more aggressive or patriotic. Albeit it may not have been an intimidating statement, it generated a lot of discussion