The Walkmen: UFC 181 Walkout Songs

UFC 181 by all accounts lived up to its pre-fight hype, as the event was littered with spectacular knockouts, sick submissions and terrific back-and-forth brawls.

Robbie Lawler finally broke through the championship barrier in the main event, capturing the Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight title in a split decision over Johny Hendricks on Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The verdict sparked instant debate, as many felt Lawler did not do enough to take the championship from the “Bigg Rigg.” However, in a tip of the cap to his walkout song -- Sam and Dave’s “Hold On, I’m Comin’” -- Lawler woke up late in the fourth and fifth rounds and hammered away at the Oklahoman. In a sense, it was as if he had told the audience to “hold on” because he was “comin’” with a heck of a storm.

Hendricks, who did his best work with multi-strike combinations in the second and third rounds, was rocked by a closing onslaught in the fifth. The Team Takedown representative still felt like he did enough to retain his title. However, when Lawler was announced as the new champion, Hendricks likely needed more than “50 Dollars and a Flask of Crown” to ease his pain.

In the co-headliner, lightweight champion Anthony Pettis lived up to his trademark walkout track from Jim Jones and Tum Tum, as “Showtime” proved yet again that he belongs among the pound-for-pound elite by submitting Gilbert Melendez in stunning fashion with a guillotine choke. Melendez took the fight to the champion from the start, but Pettis remained relaxed, weathered the storm and eventually capitalized on the first mistake the challenger made. “El Nino” kept his head tucked a bit too long on a takedown attempt in the second round, as Pettis cinched the choke and turned Melendez into “Silly Puddy.”

Meanwhile, heavyweight bomber Todd Duffee made his long-awaited return to the Octagon by torching Anthony Hamilton in the first round. The American Top Team brute walked to the cage to Nonono’s “Pumpin’ Blood,” and he got the arena’s collective blood pumping when he flattened Hamilton with a right hand to the temple.

Finally, Josh Samman may have asked someone to “Take Me to Church” after he smacked Eddie Gordon’s jaw with his shin in the second round. As soon as the kick landed, Gordon was out cold and remained unconscious for a few minutes. The result earned Samman a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus and went down as one of the best knockouts of the year.

UFC 181 Walkout Songs
Robbie Lawler: Sam and Dave “Hold On, I’m Comin’” │ Hold On, I’m Comin’ (1966)
Johny Hendricks: Bleu Edmondson “50 Dollars and a Flask of Crown” │ Southland (2001)
Anthony Pettis: Jim Jones and Tum Tum “Showtime” │ Eat Or Get Ate (2007)
Gilbert Melendez: Zion I feat. The Grouch “Silly Puddy” │ Mind Over Matter (2000)
Travis Browne: The Runners and Browne Family “Haka/Smack” (Remix) │ Smack Single (2014)
Brendan Schaub: Puff Daddy and The Notorious B.I.G. “Victory” │ No Way Out (1997)
Todd Duffee: Nonono “Pumpin’ Blood” │ We Are Only What We Feel (2013)
Anthony Hamilton: Ivan Gough and Feenixpawl “In My Mind” │ In My Mind Single (2012)
Tony Ferguson: Freestyle “That Party Has Just Begun” │ Dance’n Soul Mixx (2000)
Abel Trujillo: Rich Gang “Lifestyle” │ Rich Gang 2 (2014)
Urijah Faber: 2Pac “California Love” │ How Do You Want It Single (1995)
Francisco Rivera: Snoop Doggy Dogg “What’s My Name?” │ Doggystyle (1994)
Josh Samman: Hozier “Take Me to Church” │ Take Me to Church (2013)
Corey Anderson: Mike Stud “Closer” │ Closer (2014)
Justin Jones: Chuck Brown and The Soul Searchers “Bustin’ Loose” │ Bustin’ Loose (1978)
Raquel Pennington: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis “Can’t Hold Us” │ The Heist (2012)
Ashlee Evans-Smith: The Interrupters “Take Back the Power” │ Take Back the Power (2014)
Sergio Pettis: Diggy Simmons “Great Expectations” │ Airborne (2010)
Matt Hobar: Rage Against the Machine “Bulls on Parade” │ Evil Empire (1996)
Clay Collard: Echosmith “Cool Kids” │ Talking Dreams (2013)
Alex White: Silverstein “Your Sword Vs. My Dagger” │ Discovering the Waterfront (2005)