UFC 121 walk-in music: Tales of triumph, not only for victorious Cain Velasquez

By Allison Duck

Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010 | 12:15 p.m.

When it comes to finding an appropriate walk-in song, you can’t do much better than a well-known tune that truly represents your back-story and gets the crowd on your side. Court McGee, winner of season 11 of The Ultimate Fighter reality show, struck this balance as he confidently walked out of the tunnel to Everlast’s “What It’s Like.”

The middleweight fighter battled a heroin addiction and nearly died after a 2005 overdose. As Everlast’s gritty vocals recount the tale of an addict in a similar situation, the singer circles back to the chorus of, “God forbid you ever had to wake up to hear the news/ 'Cause then you really might know what it's like to have to lose.” McGee really did know what it was like but also got another taste of what it was like to win in the UFC with his victory over Ryan Jensen via triangle choke.

In a similar triumph over adversity, Chris Camozzi, also an alum of TUF season 11, had some demons of his own to overcome following several injuries.

Camozzi acknowledged his past challenges by walking in to Tech N9NE and Three 6 Mafia’s “Demons.” The call-and-response style rap naturally engaged the crowd as one voice asked, “There’s a demon inside me, can I kill it?” and a chorus responded, “Hell naw.” The answer should have been affirmative as Camozzi gained a split decision over previously undefeated Dong Yi Yang.

Another split decision winner, Sam Stout, chose a fitting rap as well. The haunting Halloween-style piano intro to Eminem’s “Go to Sleep” was apt for the season and led into a funereal sounding rap that only had one mission: instill fear.

The expletive-laden track got Stout’s point across that he wanted his opponent to, “Go to sleep, b****.” Though he didn’t KO his opponent to really put him to sleep, Stout put some critics’ doubts to sleep with a strong third round performance in his split decision victory over Paul Taylor.

The iconic guitar riffs at the start of Gabriel Gonzaga’s walk in song, Danzing’s “Mother,” set the tone for his showdown with Brendan Schaub. Glenn Danzig’s powerful vocals declared, “But if you want to find hell with me/I can show you what it’s like/’Til you’re bleeding.” Unfortunately for Gonzaga, he was the one bleeding as Schaub likely made him think about actually crying for his mother following the unanimous decision loss.

Schaub showed he was ready to dance, “Square Dance” that is, as he trotted down the tunnel to Eminem’s rap. The distortions on the rapper’s vocals almost have a humorous effect as he spits, “Let's all get on down,/Let's do-si-do now,/We're gonna have a good ol' time.” The taunting call to arms demonstrated Schaub’s confidence, which shone through in the three-round battle that showcased his improved striking abilities.

While everyone was eager to see what Strikeforce champ Jake Shields could do in his UFC debut against Martin Kampmann, the split decision victory for Shields was a letdown. His walk-in music, however, was not. Entering the octagon for the first time to Rage Against the Machine’s “Renegades of Funk,” Shields wooed the crowd with the popular rap-metal song.

With a name like Rage Against the Machine, it is a wonder more MMA fighters don’t choose songs from this band, known for its pump-you-up anthems. The opening line of this tune, “No matter how hard you try, you can’t stop us now,” pretty much says it all. The declaration seemed a fitting entrance statement for the newcomer Shields.

Kampmann countered with Three 6 Mafia’s appropriately themed song “It’s a Fight.” Though not the first time it has been heard in the octagon, this song really set the mood. In retrospect, the lyrics, “He started seeing things, now I got ‘em heads and knees/On the floor crawl up to the corner crying” rang true as Kampmann showed he could go toe-to-toe with Shields in a fight many thought could have gone his way.

As student defeated teacher in the Hamill-Ortiz matchup, Hamill also won on the music front, trumping Ortiz’s “Mosh” by Eminem with his choice of Queen’s iconic “I Want it All.”

Following up on his June victory over Keith Jardine, Hamill continued his ascent with a victory over his TUF season three coach, Ortiz. Proving he’s not one to settle, Hamill embodied Queen’s chants of, “I’m a man with a one track mind/So much to do in one lifetime” with the decisive bloodying of his mentor.

In the dramatic conclusion to a stacked fight card, Cain Velazquez was the incarnation of a fan’s sign proclaiming, “Yes we CAIN!” He came in Vincente Fernandez's "Los Mandados," a song that paired nicely with his large chest tattoo reading “Brown Pride.” The lyrics of the song describe the the efforts of a man who is repeatedly deported as he tries many times to cross the border from Mexico into the U.S. With this victory, Velasquez has clearly crossed the figurative border for Mexican and Mexican American athletes in the world of MMA.

Though rumors were circulating that his opponent Brock Lesnar might switch his walk in song to "La Pluie D'or" by French gothic rockers Eros Necropsique, Lesnar stuck with his traditional “Enter Sandman” by Metallica.

In a stunning first round victory, Velasquez may not have put the Sandman to sleep, but he definitely told him it was time for bed.