UFC 125 walk-in music: Rap rules again

While some fighters opted for a fresh start in 2011 with new walk-in tunes, there were several familiar songs on the airwaves at MGM Grand Garden Arena for the first UFC event of the year. One thing was sure: Lil Wayne is out of jail and into the iPods of UFC fighters. Two fighters chose Lil Wayne tracks, both of which also were featured at UFC 123.

Middleweight fighter Brad Tavares trotted out to Lil Wayne’s “Right Above It,” as fellow undefeated fighter Phil Davis had done at UFC 123. The rap recounts a music star’s rise to the top, which complements Tavares’ perfect 7-0 record.

Phil Baroni left no question about his confidence level by coming down the tunnel to the iconic pump-you-up song “Bad to the Bone” by George Thorogood. The song is the classic tale of self-assurance, marking the steady rise to prominence from birth with lines like, “The head nurse spoke up, and she said leave this one alone/ She could tell right away, that I was bad to the bone.” Baroni could have used a nurse after Tavares knocked him out only 40 seconds into the first round.

Another track from UFC 123 was rehashed as Dustin Poirier came out to Lil Wayne’s “Drop the World,” the same song chosen by George Sotiropolous in his UFC 123 bout. Like Sotiropolous, Poirier also emerged victorious. The message of the song clearly states the singer knows he’s the cream of the crop. As Poirier made his entrance, Lil Wayne sang, “My head is swollen, my confidence is up/ This stage is my pedestal, I’m unstoppable, incredible.” The lyrics seemed fitting after Poirier pulled off an upset victory over Josh Grispi, who had been scheduled to fight featherweight title-holder Jose Aldo at this UFC. Perhaps Lil Wayne songs really are good luck charms for fighters.

A breath of fresh air in terms of UFC rap walk-in songs, Josh Grispi chose Chiddy Bang’s “Opposite of Adults.” The Philadelphia rap duo lays its tracks over indie rock samples for a more unique sound in the genre. Despite his loss, the lyrics, “I’m at my peak, yes, I won’t leave yet” prove quite apt as he is still an up-and-coming fighter with an impressive record of 14-2. Despite the setback of this loss, this is far from the last we’ll see of Grispi.

Takanori Gomi stuck with his roots and chose to come out to The Mad Capsule Markets track “Scary.” The peppy punk tune from the Japanese electronic music band sounded upbeat while it described the fear present in the world. The song’s main idea relates well to the world of fighting as it states, “You belong/ And terrified/ The scary world come.”

Gomi’s world was a little scarier than usual Saturday night because he faced Clay Guida in The Octagon. With his disheveled mane of long hair and unorthodox animal-like stance and pouncing, scary is just the word to describe Gomi’s opponent, who walked in to Foo Fighters' “My Hero,” as he sang along.

With his positive attitude and likable, good-guy persona, Guida is one of the few fighters who could choose a song that says “There goes my hero” and not come off boastful. Instead, the song portrayed his confidence that encapsulates the idea of the lyrics, “There goes my hero/ Watch him as he goes/ There goes my hero/ He’s ordinary.” While Guida’s prowess in the cage is far from ordinary, his lack of seeking the spotlight and quiet determination have indeed made him a hero to many UFC fans who must have been pleased with his second-round submission of Gomi.

Though he sports a Slipknot tattoo, former WEC standout Brian Stann came out to the Five Finger Death Punch song “Hard to See.” It wasn’t hard to see the skill and intensity Stann showed as he punished opponent Chris Leben with a flurry of punches that gained him a victory midway through the first round. The steely determination, or possibly anger, showing in Stann’s eyes after the fight embodied the lyric about “Projecting all my anger,” as he made Leben his own punching bag.

The title fight featured raps of the new and old varieties. Gray Maynard opted for Young Jeezy’s “Lose My Mind.” The party anthem speaks of drinking and letting loose, things Maynard might have been looking forward to after a victory over belt holder Frankie Edgar.

Edgar went with Notorious B.I.G.’s “Kick in the Door” where the rapper begins with the line, “Your reign on the top was short like leprechauns/ As I crush so-called willies, thugs and rapper-dons,” which seemed to reference Edgar’s sole loss on his record, which was to Maynard. The song goes on to narrate the rapper’s ascent to the top of the heap, like Edgar’s rise in the lightweight division after multiple victories over B.J. Penn. The fight turned out to be too close for the judges to call and came to a draw. After hearing the judges’ frustrating decision, Edgar likely wanted to kick in a few doors.