RobbieLawler is curse-proof.
In the unwritten rules of MMA walkout science, one of the riskiestmoves is picking a song from the music catalog of Detroit rapperEminem. Hours of research and mathematical equations have proventhat if you walkout to an Eminem, an unspoken curse will hover overyou for the next 15 to 25 minutes of your life. In the UFC on Fox 12 main event on Saturday at the SAP Center in SanJose, Calif., Lawler proved that the cure-all for any MMA-relatedhex is punching like a tank, gut-wrenching body kicks and a chinbuilt for five rounds of punishment.
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If Lawler were to pick a song by Eminem, he surely would pick atrack filled with smack talk from one of the controversial rapper’sfirst two albums, right? Or maybe Lawler would go with anultra-violent, high-tempo Eminem song? No, he defies walkout logicby thinking outside the box. Since re-signing with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and becoming a top welterweightcontender, Lawler has used the inspirational power balled“Beautiful” to put him in the mood to punch another human being inthe face.
With his confidence at an all-time high, Matt Brownswitched to a new walkout song for UFC on Fox 12. When we lastheard from “The Immortal,” he leaned on California hard rock bandAvenged Sevenfold as his personal soundtrack. Staying in the hardrock genre, Brown selected Tennessee rockers Saliva to pump him upfor the most important fight of his life. Used in World WrestlingEntertainment and NFL commercials, the 2006 rock hit “Ladies andGentlemen” is a crowd-friendly song used to ramp up arenas.
Across the span of 25 minutes and with a potential welterweighttitle shot hanging in the balance, Lawler and Brown left it all inthe cage. Round one opened with both men getting in their shots,but Lawler’s counter striking set the table for his eventualvictory. In the later rounds, Lawer’s well-rounded offense allowedthe San Diego native to outscore Brown. Hard body kicks, takedownsand ground control all led to Lawler having his hand raised. Lawlerput on another beautiful performance in the cage and will walk intoa rematch with current UFC welterweight champion JohnyHendricks despite Eminem’s attempts to jinx him.
AntonioRogerio Nogueira picked a really good walkout song: Method Manand Redman’s “Da Rockwilder.” The problem was Nogueira’s walkoutsong lasted two minutes and 18 seconds while his fight with currentlight heavyweight contender AnthonyJohnson lasted a mere 44 seconds.
Johnson hit the cage to the Lil Wayne track “Moment,” off thecompilation album “Young Money: Rise of an Empire.” Johnson’scareer has risen to new heights since he returned to the UFC as a205-pound wrecking ball. Three months removed from the mostsignificant win of his UFC career, Johnson’s new signature “Moment”may have occurred in the co-main event of UFC on Fox 12.
“Da Rockwilder” is a sugary walkout desert wrapped in a compactpackage. From a 1999 collaboration album, it attacks strong with anopening baseline, follow-up beats and both rappers at their lyricalbest. Returning from an 18-month layoff and allowed little time toget his feet wet, Nogueira was not at his best for his bout withJohnson. A clean left hand paired with an uppercut from “Rumble”saw Nogueira wobbled against the cage in the fight’s openingmoments. Johnson sealed his eighth win in a row with more punchingcombinations that went unblocked by the Brazilian. With thevictory, Johnson’s next big Octagon moment could conceivably comein a potential No. 1 contender’s bout at 205 pounds.
For her UFC debut, JoannaJedrzejczyk not only picked a walkout song from her nativePoland but also happened to guest star in the track’s accompanyingmusic video. “Przejmij ster w swoje dtonie,” by Polish hip hopstarlet Rena, is a 2013 single off the album “Uliczna Psychologia.”Loosely translated to English, “Przejmij ster w swoje dtonie” means“take control of your steering wheel.”
In the steering wheel of life, Jedrzejczyk not only took control ofher UFC destiny but power slid into a tight, left-hand turn inbetween oncoming cars. Quick on her feet, Jedrzejczyk utilized herboxing and a stiff jab to control Julianade Lima Carneiro for 15 minutes. Hard right hands andcombinations led to Jedrzejczyk’s decision win.
Jedrzejczyk’s cameo in the Rena music video shows off her fullrange of acting moves, including a perfectly timed punch. As anewly signed UFC strawweight, Jedrzejczyk’s striking skills shouldsteer her career in all the right directions.
UFC on Fox 12 Walkout Songs
RobbieLawler: Eminem “Beautiful” | Relapse (2009)
MattBrown: Saliva “Ladies and Gentlemen” | Blood Stained Love Story(2007)
AnthonyJohnson: Lil Wayne “Moment” | Young Money: Rise of an Empire(2014)
AntonioRogerio Nogueira: Method Man and Redman “Da Rockwilder” |Blackout! (1999)
DennisBermudez: Wale feat. Meek Mill and Rick Ross “Ambition” |Ambition (2011)
ClayGuida: Pepper “Stand and Fall” | Pink Crustaceans and GoodVibrations (2008)
BobbyGreen: T.I. “Big Things Poppin’ (Do It)” | T.I. vs. T.I.P.(2007)
JoshThomson: LL Cool J “It’s Time for War” | Exit 13 (2008)
JorgeMasvidal: DJ Casper “Cha Cha Slide” | Cha Cha Slide (2000)
TimMeans: Rob Zombie “Feel So Numb” | Sinister Urge (1997)
HernaniPerpetuo: The Doors “Break On Through (To the Other Side)” |The Doors (1967)
BrianOrtega: DMX “X Gon’ Give It to Ya” | Cradle 2 the Grave(2003)
Tiagodos Santos e Silva: Marquinhos Gomes “Nao Morrerei” | Ele NaoDesiste de Voce (2010)
Julianade Lima Carneiro: AC/DC “T.N.T.” | T.N.T. (1975)
JoannaJedrzejczyk: Rena “Przejmij ster w swoje dtonie” | UlicznaPsychologia (2013)
NoadLahat: Matisyahu “Youth” | Youth (2006)
StevenSiler: Drake “Headlines” | Take Care (2011)
DaronCruickshank: Black Keys & RZA “The Baddest Man Alive” | The Manwith the Iron Fists (2012)
Mike de laTorre: James Brown “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” | It’s aMan’s Man’s Man’s World (1966)
Tommy Messano is the editor-in-chief of ULTMMA.com. You can contact him onTwitter at @ULTMMA.