10 most memorable walkouts in UFC history
The UFC is not just a competition between two elite-level mixed martial artists come to paint the canvas with a tapestry of violence and skill. It is also a show featuring big personalities and elements of sports entertainment. Fighters, as individuals, like to express themselves and win fans over.
Some fighters do so with their performances inside the octagon, scoring knockouts or thrilling submissions to leave viewers in awe. Others engage in trash talk to develop cult-like online followings of fans eager to watch feuds unfold. Some, though, capture attention with their walkouts.
Throughout the promotion's history, there have been fighters who have made shows of their walkouts, complete with dance routines to homages to the professional wrestling world. Some, though, have been bizarre and unplanned, but no less memorable, even if for the wrong reasons.
#10 Arman Tsarukyan, UFC 300 walkout
At UFC 300, Arman Tsarukyan had the biggest fight of his career thus, taking on ex-lightweight champion Charles Oliveira in a potential title eliminator. However, during the walkout, he got into an altercation with a fan.
Check out Arman Tsarukyan punching a fan during his walkout:
After being accosted by said fan, Tsarukyan struck him, for which he has been fined and banned for 9 months. It marked one of the most talked about moments from the card, even more so than Tsarukyan's split-decision win over Oliveira.
#9 Mike Perry, UFC 255 walkout
In his penultimate promotional fight, Mike Perry faced MMA veteran Tim Means. As he made his way to the cage, 'Platinum' was under the belief that he would walk out to a different strong, which explains his confusion over hearing 'Halo' by Beyoncé blaring from the speakers.
Check out Mike Perry walking out to 'Halo':
After outwardly expressing his confusion, Perry ran with it and began dancing and singing to the song in one of the more amusing walkouts in the promotion's history.
#8 Darren Till, UFC Liverpool walkout
There's nothing quite like a hometown welcome, and that's exactly what Darren Till got at UFC Fight Night 130, which was held in Liverpool, England. 'The Gorilla' emerged from the tunnel to a roar of applause, ready to face Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson in a title eliminator.
Check out Darren Till's legendary Liverpool walkout:
Till had the fans eating out of the palm of his hand, singing along to 'Sweet Caroline' by Neil Diamond, filling the air with their deafening chorus. It was a star-making moment for the then unbeaten Scouser.
#7 Israel Adesanya, UFC 243 walkout
Israel Adesanya is more than just an all-time great middleweight, he's an entertainer. But before capturing undisputed gold, he punctuated his arrival as a star and soon-to-be champion with a dance routine.
Check out Israel Adesanya's walkout:
Flanked by backup dancers, 'The Last Stylebender' authored an acrobatic dance performance in Melbourne, Australia, before knocking Robert Whittaker out cold to capture the middleweight title.
#6 Alexander Volkanovski, UFC 284 walkout
UFC 284 marked the first time that Alexander Volkanovski fought on home soil since becoming a champion and star. Tasked with conquering lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev, he was fueled by his Australian countrymen.
Check out Alexander Volkanovski's Australian walkout:
He was given a hero's welcome, with the fans singing along to the patriotic Australian pub rock song, 'Down Under' by Men At Work. Claps, cheers, and songs trailed the then featherweight champion's every step, and it was an emotional homecoming.
#5 Michael Page, UFC 299 walkout
There are few showmen in the UFC quite like Michael 'Venom' Page. He has made a career out of being the most entertaining man in the cage wherever he goes. Naturally, his promotional debut came with quite the walkout.
Check out Michael Page's Undertaker walkout:
In an homage to legendary WWE Superstar, the Undertaker, 'MVP' walked out to the latter's theme song, gong, purple lighting and all. Draped in a black, hooded cloak, he was accompanied by the cold mist of dry ice, before the song changed to an amapiano remix that he danced to on his way to the octagon.
#4 Conor McGregor, UFC 229 walkout
Ahead of a historical grudge match with Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor walked out in iconic fashion. Irish folk music echoed from the speakers as mist from dry ice rolled into the octagon, the fog blooming with the emerald green of the Irish flag.
Check out Conor McGregor's walkout against Khabib Nurmagomedov:
Fans roared in anticipation, having not seen him fight in two years. With the Irish flag covering his shoulders, he emerged with the rhyhmic bassline of 'Hypnotize' by the Notorious B.I.G., declaring the arena as 'home, sweet home.'
#3 Israel Adesanya, UFC 276
No one understands the art of setting the tone for one's arrival like Israel Adesanya. When he entered the arena to face Jared Cannonier, he did so to the Undertaker's theme song. Wearing an old Western hat like the pro-wrestling icon, Adesanya walked out holding an urn, similar to the one the Undertaker used.
Check out Israel Adesanya's Undertaker walkout:
Bathed in purple light, a smoke machine obscured him in a thick fog, as he paid homage to 'The Deadman,' all in the presence of pro-wrestling royalty, Vince McMahon, Triple H, and Stephanie McMahon, who all sat cage-side.
#2 Kimo Leopoldo, UFC 3 walkout
MMA was a wilder sport back in its early days, and at UFC 3, the oft-forgotten Kimo Leopoldo made his promotional debut against the legendary Royce Gracie. His performance was nothing, a one-sided submission loss.
Check out Kimo Leopoldo's infamous cross walkout:
His walkout, however, was as bizarre as it gets. Leopoldo, a devout Christian, entered the arena carrying a large cross on his back, much to the amusement of the commentators.
#1 Ronda Rousey, UFC 157 walkout
There was no grand spectacle or flashy theme to Ronda Rousey's walkout on her promotional debut. Instead, it was the occasion that made it the most memorable, as she walked toward the octagon as the promotion's first-ever women's champion.
Check out Ronda Rousey's promotional debut walkout:
She was to face Liz Carmouche in the first female fight in the promotion's history, which was considered an impossibility. But Rousey made it all possible, and her walkout marked a turning point in MMA history, birthing a new era for women.