Vitor Belfort is a trailblazer. A pro since 1997, Belfort has seen it all. At UFC Fight Night 32, Belfort may have put two of the promotion’s weight classes on notice: not only with his fight finishing theatrics in the cage. but his next-level grand entrance walking to it.
Pick-up trucks, warm apple pie, the bald eagle and Dan Henderson’s right hand are points of pride for many if not all citizens of the U.S. Few artists can turn the volume of American patriotism up to 11, but Toby Keith may be one of them. On the last fight of his UFC contract Henderson put his hand over his heart and proudly marched to the cage to the tune of Keith’s 2011 No. 1 hit “Made in America.”
In less than 80 seconds Belfort became the first man to knock out Henderson and likely earned himself a second crack at the UFC’s middleweight title. Belfort finished Henderson with an inspired uppercut to the chin followed by a motivated head kick. Why aren’t more fighters singing or chanting themselves to the cage?
On the undercard -- despite dancing in an often hostile environment -- non-Brazil fighters ruled the walkout game.
Long live Ryan LaFlare and his appetite for supersized hip-hop collaborations. Prior to his win over Santiago Ponzinibbio, LaFlare stepped out to A$AP Rocky’s song “1 Train.” The six minute track may feature more MCs -- Kendrick Lamar, Joey Badass, Yelawolf, Danny Brown, Action Bronson and Big K.R.I.T -- than LaFlare has training partners at his New York gym.
The rebirth of Jeremy Stephens as a UFC featherweight and the reemergence of classic 90s hip hop as viable walkout songs cannot be a coincidence. Two of the three most important factors in Stephens win over Rony Mariano Bezerra was his fearless ability to strike at range, a perfectly timed head kick and his decision to walkout out to Gang Starr’s 1998 jam “Work (Victory).”
Stephens’ path to victory came in the first round via a brutal head kick. The 27-year-old Stephens has won his last two fights in his new weight class while DJ Premier and Guru of Gang Starr would have been amazing MMA corner men; work is victory and victory is work.
UFC Fight Night 32 Belfort vs. Henderson Walkout Songs
Vitor Belfort: Jorge Quintero feat. Vitor Belfort “300 Violin Orchestra Remix” (2012)Dan Henderson: Toby Keith “Made in America” Clancy’s Tavern (2011)
Brandon Thatch: Freestylers “Painkiller” Adventures in Freestyle (2006)
Ryan LaFlare: A$AP Rocky “1 Train” Long Live A$AP (2013)
Jeremy Stephens: Gang Starr “Work (Victory)” Moment of Truth (1998)
Godofredo Pepey: Bob Marley & The Wailers "Could You Be Loved" Uprising (2010)
Sam Sicilia: Johnny Cash "Ain't No Grave” American VI: Ain't No Grave (2010)
Omari Akhmedov: The XX “Intro” XX (2009)
Thiago Perpetuo: Awolnation “Sail” Back From Earth (2010)
Justin Salas: Santana “Oye Como Va” Abraxas (1970)
Daron Cruickshank: Rick Derringer “Real American” The Wrestling Album (1985)
Dustin Ortiz: Avicci “Wake Me Up” True (2013)
Jose Maria Tome: Freestyle “Don’t Stop the Rock” Don’t Stop the Rock (1985)
Tommy Messano is the editor-in-chief of ULTMMA.com. You can contact him on Twitter at @ULTMMA.