Athletes
UFC Walkouts We Love
Relive Some Of The Most Memorable Walkouts In UFC History On UFC Fight Pass
Over the years, UFC has been home to many walkouts that have left fans captivated, entertained and sometimes even intimidated.
But what makes a great walkout? The song choice, creativity and magnitude of the fight all play a role in this unranked, unordered list that features some of the most unforgettable walks to the Octagon.
GET YOUR TICKETS: UFC 316 | UFC Atlanta | UFC Baku | UFC 317 | UFC Nashville
Israel Adesanya
UFC 243: Whittaker vs Adesanya – October 5, 2019
This wouldn’t be the first time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya caught everyone’s attention with a unique walkout, but it was one of the most entertaining and thought out that UFC fans have ever seen.
After earning the interim middleweight title against Kelvin Gastelum, Adesanya had a chance to unify the belt against then-champion Robert Whittaker, in his adopted home country of Australia. But as Adesanya made his walk to the Octagon, it seemed like he owned the place.
Received with a mix of boos and cheers, Adesanya huddled up with three dancers before they broke out into a choreographed hip-hop performance right outside the tunnel. The confidence to put on a show before the fight even starts, then to win in the fashion that he did, makes Adesanya’s UFC 243 walkout one to remember.
Conor McGregor and Chad Mendes
UFC 189: Mendes vs McGregor – July 11, 2015
One of the biggest fights in UFC featherweight history up until that point, UFC 189’s main event between Chad Mendes and Conor McGregor for the interim 145-pound title had a certain aura around the event.
As McGregor, the biggest name in all of combat sports, was making his first walk to the Octagon in search of UFC gold, he came out to a rendition of “The Foggy Dew,” his trademark walkout song, yet this time it was performed live in venue by none other than Sinéad O’Connor herself.
The song, despite not being the usual upbeat tune, was featured in one of the most captivating walkouts in UFC history, drawing in spectators and making the event seem more than just a fight, but a spectacle.
FOLLOW @UFCNEWS: On Facebook | On Instagram | On X | On Threads
Entering the Octagon second, Mendes also walked out to a live performance from Aaron Lewis, which deserves just as much acclaim as O’Connor’s. Despite falling in the shadow of McGregor’s giant fanbase, the rendition of “Country Boy” was well-performed and gave Mendes’ fans the same captivating feeling as “The Foggy Dew” for McGregor’s.
Brian Ortega
UFC 266: Volkanovski vs Ortega – September 25, 2021
Brian Ortega’s walkout at UFC 266 may have been one of the most intimidating in UFC history. As T-Mobile Arena was only being illuminated by dark red lighting, the sound of the annual purge announcement from the movie “The Purge” echoed around the arena.
As the horn, that in the film marked the start of the purge, blared, Ortega and his corner walked to the Octagon in masks worn in the films. Creating an unsettling, but mesmerizing, atmosphere, Ortega did well to sway neutral fans in his favor before the toughest fight of his UFC career against Alexander Volkanovski.
Darren Till
UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs Till - May 27, 2018
While the previous walkouts did a great job putting emphasis on the fighters and building their hype as they made their walk to the Octagon, Darren Till’s walkout to “Sweet Caroline” in his hometown of Liverpool got the crowd involved.
The 8,500+ fans in attendance at M&S Bank Arena sang together in unison, supporting their hometown fighter as he made the walk ahead of his main event bout against Stephen Thompson. Unaware by the amount of support he would be getting, the feeling Till must’ve had in those three minutes is unimaginable.
Colby Covington
UFC 272: Covington vs Masvidal – March 5, 2022
Although Colby Covington has walked out to Kurt Angle’s historic WWE music numerous times, this fight suited its word choice too well. Covington vs Jorge Masvidal has become one of UFC’s biggest rivalries, earning the pair one of the few non-title fight pay-per-view main events in UFC history.
One of the most entertaining personalities, Covington has come into his villain role in recent years, and the getting the “You Suck” chants from the crowd fits perfectly for that character. Whether you’re chanting at Covington or Masvidal, it gets the crowd involved and brings a smile to Covington’s face, contributing to his confident, but dominant, performances inside the Octagon.
Sean O'Malley
UFC 292: Sterling vs O'Malley - August 19, 2023
At UFC 292, Sean O'Malley stepped into the brightest spotlight of his mixed martial arts career, facing then-bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling in New Jersey. Known for rising to the occasion and consistently silencing his critics, O'Malley lived up to the hype once again, making his walkout song, "Superstar" by Lupe Fiasco, a perfect anthem for his first shot at UFC gold.
Order UFC 316: Dvalishvili vs O'Malley 2
The song opens with the lyrics, “If you are who you say you are, a superstar, then have no fear," a message that perfectly captured O'Malley’s mindset. He has always seen himself as a superstar, and that night, he proved it. With a second-round finish of the reigning champion, O'Malley claimed the title in emphatic fashion. Looking back, the walkout and the performance that followed have cemented this moment as one of the most iconic in UFC history.
Tags