Israel Adesanya is not your typical fighter. The former UFC middleweight champion naturally doesn’t fit the mold of typical UFC champion fighters that has been established over the past three decades. A millennial through and through, the Yoruba loves anime, TikTok and dancing, which is pretty atypical for fighters in general, let alone UFC fighters, who are some of the toughest of them all. And ‘Izzy’s uniqueness and flair are nowhere more evident than in some of his best-known walk-out songs.
As he prepares to fight the reigning middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis To claim his old title and settle the personal score between them at UFC 305 this Saturday, let’s take a look at the most memorable and epic walkouts of his career.
Israel Adesanya’s unforgettable exit from the UFC 243 title fight
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Adesanya’s most famous walkout undoubtedly took place in the most important fight of his career to date. “Izzy” famously fought for the middleweight title at UFC 243 in 2019 after only a year in the promotion run by Dana White. And to set the scene and show that he was serious in his first title fight against then-champion Robert Whittaker, the former kickboxer pulled off one of the most legendary walkouts in all of UFC history.
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‘Izzy’ loves dancing and even told reporters that “Dance culture was my culture” before UFC 243. It was obvious that he really enjoyed dancing and the culture that comes with it, because before he left, three dancers, two of whom had taught him how to dance, came out. The trio set the mood with breakdancing when “Izzy” came on a few minutes later.
But instead of heading straight for the Octagon, the Kiwi-Nigerian joined the dancers and showed he actually has rhythm, busting out some crazy, even acrobatic dance moves to the sounds of Big Rulez’s anthem “Hype 2 Hype” – all in front of a packed, electrified and cheering Melbourne crowd.
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Following that electrifying walkout, “Izzy” electrified the crowd with a second-round knockout of Whittaker to emerge as the UFC’s new middleweight champion. The only other walkout that could even think of rivaling Adesanya’s memorable walkout at UFC 243 is the one at UFC 276 nearly three years later.
“Izzy” channeled his inner Undertaker to exit UFC 276
Adesanya, like almost every child of the 90s, grew up loving and enjoying the WWE. You will remember the moment when a starstruck Adesanya stopped a press conference midway through when he announced WWE Superstar Booker-T in the background. But nowhere was his love for the pro wrestling promotion (and one superstar in particular) more evident than during his memorable exit from UFC 276.
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Inspired by the “Dead Man” himself, “Izzy” not only became a WWE Superstar The Undertakers theme song in a dark arena, but also wore his iconic black wide-brimmed hat and urn. Needless to say, the UFC crowd went wild, just like the WWE crowd has gone wild countless times after the arena went dark and the unmistakable gong announced the Dead Man’s entrance.
“Izzy” defended his title for the sixth time against Jared Cannonier in Las Vegas, but that victory was overshadowed by the former kickboxer’s indelible walkout. Which Israel Adesanya walkout is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below.