Unlike pro wrestling, the walkout in the UFC is far less focused upon. The legendary entrances of those like Triple H, John Cena and The Undertaker are something that makes the WWE what it is. There are some great examples of brilliant walkouts in the UFC, however, and we take a look at the top five in modern UFC history as well as give some honourable mentions.
Top 5 Walkouts in Modern UFC History
5. Darren Till – UFC Liverpool
Darren Till‘s walkout in UFC Liverpool was everything we wanted it to be. Having previously walked out to ‘In the air tonight’, Till, the man who bought the UFC to Liverpool, chose the perfect song to be his soundtrack when he made the walk. ‘Sweet Caroline’ not only got the fans pumped up, it got Till going and was the perfect walkout song for The Gorilla to choose when he made the walk.
The song is synonymous with British combat sports. It’s always played at big boxing events because it gets the crowd pumped and it did just that in Liverpool on that night. Topping it off, Till went on to win his fight against Stephen Thompson.
4. Jon Jones – UFC 197
Again, like Till’s walkout song, Jon Jones picked the perfect song to walk out to at UFC 197. For context, Jones’ last bout prior to this one was at UFC 182 where he got one over on his bitter rival, Daniel Cormier. Jon Jones did what Jon Jones does after this fight and tested positive for cocaine a month later. He was then connected with a hit-and-run incident involving a pregnant woman in April of 2015 and was consequently stripped of his 205lbs belt.
Taking on Ovince St Preux, Jones walked out to ‘Comin’ home’ by Diddy-Dirty Money. After a total of 476 days out of action, Jones was finally ‘home’ and continued his winning run with a decision victory.
3. Brian Ortega – UFC 266
The image of Brian Ortega and his team all wearing masks from the franchise ‘The Purge’ had fans going wild. Taking on Alexander Volkanovski, there was needle between the two men and the masks worn by Ortega and team showed that he meant business. The walkout song was the theme song from The Purge and it surprised a lot of people.
The LED masks were certainly intimidating, especially because it was so unexpected. Was Ortega coming to purge the title and steal it from Volkanovski? If he was, it didn’t go to plan. Volkanovski beat up Ortega in a fight of the night, however, the contest wasn’t particularly close.
2. Conor McGregor – UFC 189
Fans were left slightly disappointed when Jose Aldo had to withdraw from the UFC 189 main event against Conor McGregor. Aldo was replaced with Chad Mendes, however, and the fight itself had fans compelled. It marked the first real-time that McGregor would face off against a legitimate wrestler and it posed plenty of questions.
Taking place during international fight week in 2015, fans were already in awe of what they were watching. After plenty of entertaining fights, the co-main event is largely seen as one of the greatest ever MMA fights, McGregor and Mendes were set to make the walk.
The Notorious walked out to his usual song ‘The Foggy Dew’ but this time there was a change. His famous backing track was sung live by Sinead O’Connor. The walkout had everything, McGregor staring directly down the camera, draped in the tricolour of his beloved Ireland and McGregor turning round to point at O’Connor, who replied with a thumbs up.
The walkout topped off a brilliant night for the Irishman and the Irish people.
1. Israel Adesanya – UFC 243
Isreal Adesanya is changing the game when it comes to UFC walkouts. He’s a showman in the octagon itself and certainly a showman on his way to it too. Taking on Robert Whittaker in Whittaker’s native Australia, the two sold out the Marvel Stadium with a record 57,127 fans. In what was an even fight heading into it, Adesnaya took the time out of his training camp to choreograph a dance routine ahead of making the walk.
It was like nothing we’d ever seen before and it was ultimate Adesanya and it will go down in history as one the greatest walkout in UFC history.
Honourable Mentions
- Isreal Adesanya’s Undertaker walkout at UFC 276
- Darren Till’s no-music walkout at UFC Vegas 36
- Nate Diaz walks out to DMX shortly after the rapper’s death at UFC 263
- Colby Covington walking out to ‘You Suck’
