Darrell Montague
“Wake Me Up” by Avicii
It’s your average Swedish, dance, electronic, folk, pop song about an underdog taking their first step on a life path filled with uncertainty. And, what is more uncertain than tangling with the #2 ranked flyweight in one’s Octagon debut? For Darrell “The Mongoose” Montague, besting John Dodson in his first UFC bout would be a dream come true. At the same time, fighting the hardest hitter in your division on pay-per-view may be the nightmare Montague screams to be woken up from.
John Dodson
“I’ve Got the Magic in Me” by B.o.B.
Pretty easy, John Dodson’s nickname is “The Magician”. Am I right? Dodson’s “magic” is knockout power as The Ultimate Fighter 14 winner has scored two brutal, especially for a 125-er, TKO victories inside the Octagon. Not to mention, Dodson nearly KOed UFC flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson a couple times in their title bout in January, which was a level of raw damage Joseph Benavidez, Ian McCall, nor Dominick Cruz were able to inflict upon Johnson. Plus, if you’ve got a pushy girlfriend/wife or simply a crush on Anna Kendrick then you’ve seen “Pitch Perfect”, and you know that when the nerdy kid at the end starts this jam up - goosebumps. Am I right?!
Shawn Jordan
“Harder, Better, Faster” by Daft Punk
After the disappointing snooze-a-thon against Cheick Kongo at UFC 149, “The Savage” has looked every bit his moniker in back-to-back TKO stoppages including the Knockout of the Night over Pat Barry in June. Usually, the former fullback for the Louisiana State University Tigers walks to the cage to Johnny Cash’s cover of “Hurt”, but the new member of American Top Team needs something with a little more voltage to signal he’s upgraded his harm output. And, if a heavyweight like Jordan can do a backflip, the big dude can probably dance.
Gabriel Gonzaga
“Run to the Hills” by Iron Maiden
Think about this, Iron Maiden were forged in England and rocked Rio; meanwhile, Gabriel Gonzaga was birthed in Rio and trains in (New) England. Coincidence?! The owner of an incredible 10 finishes in the UFC, “Napao” has sent many running to the hills following horrific highlight reel knockouts of Dave Herman and Mirko Cro Cop.
Diego Sanchez
“Yeah” by LCD Soundsystem
If you’re familiar with Diego Sanchez’s “yes” mantra/yelling than it’s either this or Usher’s “Yeah”. Also, LCD Soundsystem has a positive but weird edge that sort of matches the 24-5 Sanchez’s. Anytime, the 5x Fight of the Night awarded “The Dream” enter the cage its got the potential to be a battle for the ages and fight fans stand-up, raise their fist (or gold crucifix) in the air, and shout “yes!”.
Gilbert Melendez
“Mama Said Knock You Out” by LL Cool J
Don’t call it a comeback! Seriously, don’t. The former 2x Strikeforce lightweight champion was on a 7 fight win streak including 4 consecutive title defenses before his controversial split-decision loss to Benson Henderson for the UFC lightweight strap. “El Nino” is an old school asskicker who comes forward, often, and batters his opponents with punches in bunches. And, Melendez’s matching track suits and baseball cap reeks of LL’s early Bboy style.
Roy Nelson
“Here I Go Again” by Whitesnake
From his point of view, it's Roy Nelson's One Warrior Nation and we're just living it. Trade the neon face paint and arm-tassels for a dirty Santa beard and a magnificent mullet. For “Big Country”, it’s an us vs. them mentality that has helped facilitate his 19-8 career. The “us” is Nelson, his dynamite laced fists that have earned him 4 Knockout of the Night bonuses, his BJJ blackbelt, and his steadfast wife, Jessy, who must have the patience of a saint to share a house let alone a bed with that mullet and/or beard.
Daniel Cormier
“Enjoy the Silence” by Depeche Mode
“Words are very unnecessary. They can only do harm.” In this example, Nelson’s trash talk will only bring the undefeated juggernaut Daniel Cormier’s wrath ten fold to the Octagon. It may not seem like a tough tune, but that really doesn’t matter with this 2x US Olympic freestyle wrestler turned punching machine. The former Strikeforce heavyweight Grand Prix winner could walk to the cage to a choir of children singing “Happy Birthday” and still beat a hole into your head the size of Texas with that vacant Fedor Emelianenko-like stare.
Junior dos Santos
"Princes of the Universe" by Queen
It was a real missed opportunity by the UFC not using this jam in every advertisement for this trilogy ending, heavyweight championship headliner. It’s Freddie Mercury hollering about having no rival, having no equal, fighting for survival, having the power to rule the world, and being princes of the universe, which is how we all view heavyweight champions. And, there are some sick guitar solos. On top of that, this is the theme song for the “Highlander” series, which beckons “there can only be one”. Specifically for Junior dos Santos, “Highlander” is about winning by beheading and dos Santos has the equivalent of 6 of those via his fists in the UFC and one spinning heel kick to Mark Hunt’s dome at UFC 160.
Cain Velasquez
“All I Need” by Method Man
All the UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez needs is to stay the UFC heavyweight champion. It was in 1994, a full year before Mary J. Blige got involved, that the M-E-T-H-O-D Man gave unto us, arguably, the toughest and thuggest love song ever recorded. Instead of an East Coast gangster waxing on about his boo with the good “power-U”, the 12-1 Velasquez freight-train is talking about his gold belt, which is all anyone needs to signify themselves as the baddest dude on the planet. Either that or “Adam Raised a Cain” because it’s about as badass as Bruce Springsteen gets.
