The Soundtrack to UFC 173: Barao vs. Dillashaw - The walkout songs
UFC 173 ended up as one of the best and most shocking events of 2014 so far thanks to T.J. Dillashaw's one-sided beat down of Renan Barao to win the bantamweight title while stopping the Brazilian's 30-plus fight win streak.
Dillashaw didn't stop from the opening bell to the final referee's stoppage, and it stands to reason that he picked a walkout song that seemed to embody his entire performance. Dillashaw used The Red Hot Chili Peppers' track 'Can't Stop' and it seemed like a good omen for what was about to happen inside the Octagon.
It's well known that the Chili Peppers are big UFC fans, and bass player Flea from the band even tweeted about Dillashaw's walkout while watching the event.
Key fight lyric: "Can't stop addicted to the shindig. Chop top, he says I'm gonna win big"
In the co-main event, Daniel Cormier went with his home state favorite Lil' Wayne with his track "Right Above It". Both fighter and rapper hail from Louisiana, which also accounts for Cormier's new nickname. In case you missed it he is now called 'The Louisianimal".
Cormier got a tweet in congratulations from Lil' Wayne the last time he fought, so he stuck with what got him to the race and continued to use the same track for his next walkout as well. The theme seems to be working as Cormier stayed undefeated with a dominant third round submission victory over Dan Henderson.
Key fight lyric: "I ain't a killer but don't push me"
Dan Henderson may have lost the fight against Cormier, but he continued to stay consistent with his walkout track music using Toby Keith's "Made in America" once again. Say what you will about Keith's political leanings, the guy wrote a track that seemed destined for Henderson to use on his way to the cage. Country fan or not, there's no denying that Henderson has one of the best walkouts in the sport currently. He
The track first released in 2011 reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs list while charting as high as No. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was certified gold by the RIAA, which means it sold at least 500,000 copies in the U.S.
Key fight lyric: "He's got the red, white and blue flying high on the farm. Semper Fi tattooed on his left arm. Spend a little more in the store for a tag in the back that says USA"
For several years there's been a running joke for those that pay attention to walkout songs that Detroit rapper Eminem gets played an awful lot by UFC fighters, but even more interesting was the fact that almost everyone that used one of his songs ended up losing inside the Octagon. It's known in the UFC world as the 'Eminem curse' but Robbie Lawler is single handedly trying to break that myth with his continued use of the song 'Beautiful'.
Now he did use the track before his loss to Johny Hendricks as well, but the song has become Lawler's signature tune and it marched him to victory against Jake Ellenberger on Saturday night.
The video for the track is Eminem's ode to his hometown of Detroit, which was once a thriving Metropolis of commerce and manufacturing but over the last few years has been reduced to smoldering rubble in the face of economic disaster.
Key fight lyric: "I took my bruises, took my lumps, fell down and I got right back up"
In the honorable mentions category for best walkouts for UFC 173 both Jake Ellenberger and Chris Holdsworth get bonus points for using some classic 1990's tracks to step to the cage on Saturday night.
Ellenberger used the Coolio track 'Gangsta's Paradise', which was first featured in the film 'Dangerous Minds' starring Michele Pfeiffer. The actress also appeared in the music video for the track (back when real music videos still existed). The song sampled the Stevie Wonder song 'Pasttime Paradise" and if you've never heard that tune check it out because the Coolio song is almost an exact carbon copy.
Also kudos to Holdsworth for using "This is How We Do It" by Montell Jordan. It doesn't matter that this song has no real 'fight lyrics', who doesn't start singing along whenever this track plays? For those curious wondering whatever happened to Montell Jordan -- he left the music industry for good in 2010 to become a full time minister in Georgia.
Full walkout song list for UFC 173: Barao vs. Dillashaw
Renan Barao to "Sou Ciumento Mesmo" by Wesley Safadao
TJ Dillashaw to Can't Stop by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Daniel Cormier to "Right Above it" by Lil Wayne
Dan Henderson to "Made in America" by Toby Keith
Robbie Lawler to "Beautiful" by Eminem
Jake Ellenberger out to "Gangstas Paradise" by Coolio
Takeya Mizugaki to "Numb" by Linkin Park
Francisco Rivera out to "Soul to Squeeze" by Red Hot Chili Peppers
James Krause out to "Double Bubble Trouble" by MIA
Jamie Varner out to "Sail" by AWOLNATION
Michael Chiesa to "Stranglehold" by Ted Nugent
Chris Holdsworth to "This Is How We Do It" by Montell Jordan
Chico Camus out to "No More Pain" by Tupac
Mitch Clarke out to "Mississippi Queen" by Mountain
Al Iaquinta to "New York" by Ja Rule
Vinc Pichel out to "Highway to Hell" by AC/DC
Anthony Njokuani to "Ali Bomaye" by The Game, Rick Ross & 2 Chainz
Sam Sicilia to "Sleep Now in the Fire" by Rage Against the Machine
Jingliang Li out to "Tuva Groove" by Ondar
David Michaud out to "Timber" by Pitbull and Ke$ha
