Those who have watched the UFC for years know that the organization is notoriously no fun when it comes to fighter entrances. There’s no ramp. No video package. If your walkout music is a bit too spicy, there’s even a good chance they’ll nix it. It takes a Conor McGregor level star for the UFC to do something more than dim the lights, and even then it’s on rare occasion.
So many watching were surprised when Israel Adesanya’s walkout for UFC 243 in Melbourne, Australia included a coordinated dance routine complete with a cartwheel spin. Exactly the kind of thing a nervous UFC exec would hate, you’d imagine. And you’d be right. As Israel Adesanya explained after his big second round knockout win (watch the finish here), he wanted to do this before but the UFC wouldn’t let him.
”I tried to do it at the [Anderson] Silva fight in February,” Adesanya explained at the post-fight press conference. “And the UFC was like ‘No, we can’t have that.’ I was like oh, f**k you then. And then this fight, this is my show, I’m headlining this bitch. So I was like no, I’m going to do it my way or no way. Like, who else on this kind of stage, is going to do that before they go and whup some ass.”
As for concerns it might take him out of the proper fight headspace?
“I don’t have to worry about it,” Adesanya said. “I told you I’m a dancer, I’m an entertainer. I don’t have to ‘worry about it.’ We came up with that on Wednesday.”
“I think James Te Huna is the only one who has ever done it, with the Men In Black intro. And Anderson Silva did it in PRIDE with his Michael Jackson s**t. If I could sing, Justin Bieber wouldn’t even have a job. But you don’t want to hear me sing.”
“You gotta realize this is the spectacle, this is a big stadium,” he finished. “I have to give them a show and set the tone. And there’s no one like me. No one.”
Adesanya summed things up in a single tweet after the fight: “When I’m having fun, I’m the best in the world.”
He certainly looked like he was having fun in Melbourne.
Comments
Israel is going to be the one to finally beat Jon Jones.
By levelpsyche on 10.06.19 10:53am
Jones would beat his ass with one Pico tied behind his back!
By The Haymaker on 10.06.19 10:56am
Well, the UFC won't allow him to to tie a Pico behind his back to begin with. Rules.
By levelpsyche on 10.06.19 11:01am
Here comes the Jon Jones talk
The Key difference…Nobody seemed to be able to lay a hand on Jones when he first started.
Jon wasn’t as cocky either.
By PooCocktail on 10.06.19 10:55am
No, just a psychopath...
But I ain’t hatin’.
By Dana's Mythical Friend on 10.07.19 3:32am
I think its more of him just letting his ego blow up too much and running with it.
By jesusjr on 10.07.19 8:49am
They should've said "No, no, no!"
That whole dance routine had me cringing worse than as if I had been endeavoring to listen to a Henry Cejudo interview!
It was just coated in a thick WWE schmaltz. They most definitely should never leave him do this again.
Peace and Blood.
By The Haymaker on 10.06.19 10:55am
They’re being individuals Haymaker.
By SonnyCrocket on 10.06.19 10:58am
I know right? These guys showing their individuality and culture; how pathetic!
Don’t worry bro. Not all men are confident enough to dance in front of a crowd.
MAGA
By Nothern to the Bone on 10.06.19 11:15am
Lol. Unacceptable!!
I dig that Israel did that. He’s an original, I like that he’s showing his originality and if the UFC is ever to listen to a fighter, they should listen closely to him.
I don’t think flashy walkouts make the UFC the WWE. I think it amplifies the spectacle side of things and I really dug what Pride did back in the day.
If spending a whole lead up to a fight on trash talk is accepted and promoted, why not give the spectacle side of things some airplay as well?
There are many fans such as myself that despise forced trash talk but enjoy fighters expressing their originality. We’re out here UFC!!
By dbodrums on 10.06.19 12:17pm
PRIDE = HOMO
Yeah PRIDE as in HOMO! This Dance Shit has NO place in MMA! NONE!
By AwesomeAlec on 10.07.19 1:40am
Are you 8?
By Nothern to the Bone on 10.07.19 6:27am
Um. This little one has to be trolling.
No response necessary. If you don’t respect Pride at least on some level I’m not interested in what you have to say. Not to mention the other components to that comment… damn
By dbodrums on 10.07.19 7:58am
It's best to not try and suss out any sort of meaning; just let it be.
By Nothern to the Bone on 10.07.19 6:35pm
No doubt
By dbodrums on 10.07.19 7:38pm
How come anytime a fighter does anything to show their individuality or personality, these so called "hardcore" fans are so quick to accuse them of WWE bullshit?
God forbid they do anything to try to stand out from all the other 1000’ of fighters out there, or other than just walk to the cage with a straight look on their face and ever say anything interesting.. Maybe they should just give out cookie cutter answers everytime they are interviewed.
By The Ultimate Keyboard Warrior on 10.07.19 12:50pm
Because MMA fans are mostly morons.
MMA fans: So and so has no personality and is boring. They should be more of a character.
Also MMA fans: But no, not like that!
By akai_suisei on 10.07.19 3:20pm
Ya dance was stupid but end of day as long as he gets in cage to fight don't really care what they do. Assuming its nothing with obvious negative backlash
Only thing I might have been worried if I was ufc was if he didn’t stick his cart wheel. That would be pr nightmare possible getting injured minutes before main event. But pretty damn funny to.
By jesusjr on 10.07.19 8:52am
I remember thinking the same thing about "Prime Time" "Neon" Deion Sanders in the NFL.
Not looking back at it, it’s what made his career even more legendary.
By SolarJuicing on 10.06.19 2:12pm
*Now
By SolarJuicing on 10.06.19 2:17pm
Just admit that you're a racist piece of garbage...
With your sad, confederate flag.
Yeah, I remember that picture, bud.
Get bent…
By Ross Fuller on 10.07.19 1:04am
Dancing
I Agree !00% Haymaker. Ever since the UFC was sold to HomoWeird we get Clowns, Masks and this Dancing Shit. MMA is becoming Emasuclated like the rest of the world! I don’t mind a guy having a Shtick but NOT this Shit!
By AwesomeAlec on 10.07.19 1:38am
Time - You only get to be GOAT with the test of TIME!
By PooCocktail on 10.06.19 10:58am
The worst walk in I have ever seen
I hated it, it was beyond fucking stupid.
By watagump on 10.06.19 11:00am
UFC = WWE if they allow walk-in performances
By PooCocktail on 10.06.19 11:02am