The walkout song has become a signature part of a fighter's persona in mixed martial arts.
When Ultimate Fighting Championship athletes make the walk to the Octagon, their music choice serves to pump up themselves and the crowd before the cage doors lock and the opening bell sounds.
Selecting the right track is not something fighters take lightly. Some say they spend considerable time thinking of the perfect song, while others pick a particular piece of music and stick with it throughout their entire careers. On Saturday in Salt Lake City at UFC 291, both methods of thought were on full display as Derrick Lewis (Fat Pat: “Tops Drop”) and Michael Chiesa (Ted Nugent: “Stranglehold”) went with their traditional joints.