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Check out all the fighter walkout songs from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 7 event in Washington, D.C.
While it takes intense training, world-class skills and maybe even a bit of luck to register a UFC win, picking the right song to accompany you to the cage is a key talent, as well.
Inside, see what the fighters from UFC on ESPN 7 went with as their backing tracks in Washington, D.C.
Tim Means answers questions from media after his victory at UFC Fight Night Washington
Tim Means answers questions from media after his victory at UFC Fight Night Washington
At Saturday’s UFC DC, Tim Means and Thiago Alves did not disappoint.
[autotag]Tim Means[/autotag] and [autotag]Thiago Alves[/autotag] have built up reputations as violent, high-action fighters.
At Saturday’s UFC DC, the two 170-pound fighters did not disappoint in a short, but action-packed spectacle. Means (29-11-1 MMA, 11-8 UFC) defeated Alves (23-15 MMA, 15-12 UFC) by guillotine choke at 2:38 of the first round.
Predominantly utilizing their boxing, both men landed heavy shots in the opening exchanges. A couple of minutes into the opening round, Means and Alves threw punches at the same time. It was Means who connected.
Alves fell to the canvas, trying to survive the onslaught. Means pounced on the Brazilian, who covered up. When Alves flipped to his stomach in a potential attempt to grab a leg, Means snatched his neck. From the standing position, Means cranked Alves’ neck in a guillotine choke and got the tap.
The UFC will be bringing an event to Rio Rancho, N.M. on Feb. 15. After the fight, Means called for a fight in his native state.
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With the victory, Means gets back in the win column after his previous fight, a loss to Niko Price in March. Means has now won three out of his last six fights.
As for Alves, the loss is his second in as many fights. The owner of the most welterweight fights in UFC history, Alves has dropped four out of five appearances. The fight against Means was the last on Alves’ contract.
The welterweight fight closed out the UFC on ESPN 7 preliminary card at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. It aired on ESPN following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+ and ahead of the main card on ESPN.
Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 7 results include:
It’s been a long road to UFC DC for Tim Means.
WASHINGTON – The road to recovery has been difficult for UFC welterweight [autotag]Tim Means[/autotag].
After dominating Niko Price for the majority of their March fight, Means was knocked out cold as the clock wound down in the first round.
“If I’ve learned anything over the years and in my past, it’s that I need to be patient.” Means told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “I think the hardest part was just winning the fight. I was dominating Niko. So not getting paid that extra money is a slap in the face.”
Not only did punches cause Means to lose consciousness, it resulted in a serious leg injury due to the way he fell. Means’ leg twisted awkwardly behind him, resulting in a broken leg and ankle. Surgery was needed.
“The athletic trainers and the rehab part of it was a learning experience, as well. It was grueling, painful, and a learning process,” Means said. “Those little ladies were pretty mean. I could dwell on it or move forward. It’s one of those things. (Expletive) happens. It’s my worst injury in 40 fights. What do you do, but get fixed and move forward?”
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Almost nine months later, Means (28-11-1 MMA, 10-8 UFC) will return to the cage to take on longtime UFC veteran Thiago Alves (23-14 MMA, 15-11 UFC) at Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 7 card.
Means expects Alves to target his injured leg – especially when the Brazilian sees the size of his new scar.
“He’s a guy that’s a heavy leg kicker and likes to bust up the legs,” Means said. “I want to put my injury to the test immediately. I can either handle it or I can’t. And there’s no tip-toeing around this stuff. I thought they offered a guy that’s going to come after my injury very well.
“A lot of these guys – everyone knows I was hurt. I have a big old scar down my leg now. So I’m just going to jump right in the mix of it. I’m either all in or I’m not in at all.”
MMA fans have adored Means and Alves for their fighting styles. Throughout the years, both men have accumulated fight night bonuses and thrilled the fans. Means doesn’t expect that to change Saturday night in the nation’s capital.
“It will be a war,” Means said. “It will be a tough three rounds, but I’ve got to knock out Thiago and send a statement.”
UFC on ESPN 7 takes place Saturday at Capital One Arena. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
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Tim Means wants to make a statement knockout of Thiago Alves at UFC DC
Tim Means wants to make a statement knockout of Thiago Alves at UFC DC
The best facts and figures about UFC on ESPN 7, which features a Alistair Overeem vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik heavyweight main event.
The UFC returns to Washington D.C. for the first time in more than eight years on Saturday with UFC on ESPN 7. The card is set to air on ESPN following early prelims on ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass.
In the headliner, two heavyweights on winning streaks will attempt to take another step up the divisional pecking order when perennial contender [autotag]Alistair Overeem[/autotag] (45-17 MMA, 10-6 UFC) takes on [autotag]Jairzinho Rozenstruik[/autotag] (9-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC), who stepped in on short notice as a replacement for Walt Harris.
For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the 12-fight card, check below for 50 pre-event facts about UFC on ESPN 7.
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Overeem, 39, is the oldest of the 24 fighters scheduled to compete at the event.
Overeem’s two-fight UFC winning streak at heavyweight is tied for the fourth longest active streak in the division behind Rozenstruik (three), Francis Ngannou (three) and Augusto Sakai (three).
Overeem is one of 11 fighters in UFC history to earn 10 or more heavyweight wins.
Overeem has earned 40 of his 45 career victories by stoppage. That includes seven of his 10 UFC wins.
Overeem lands 73.8 percent of his significant strike attempts in UFC competition, the highest rate in company history.
Overeem has been on the losing end of the fifth and sixth largest statistical comeback finishes in UFC heavyweight history. He out-landed Antonio Silva by 30 significant strikes before being knocked out at UFC 156, and he out-landed Travis Browne by 27 significant strikes before his demise at UFC Fight Night 26
Overeem’s 13 knockout losses in MMA competition are the most of any active member on the UFC roster.
Overeem’s 11 knockout losses in UFC/WEC/PRIDE/Strikeforce competition are the most in combined organizational history.
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Rozenstruik makes his second UFC appearance in a 35-day stretch. He defeated Andrei Arlovski at UFC 244 on Nov. 2.
Rozenstruik’s three-fight UFC winning streak at heavyweight is tied with Ngannou and Sakai for the longest active streak in the division.
Rozenstruik has earned eight of his nine career victories by stoppage. That includes all three of his UFC wins.
Rozenstruik’s three-fight knockout streak in UFC competition is tied with Ngannou, Amanda Nunes, Maycee Barber, Jared Cannonier and Justin Gaethje for the longest active streak in the company.
Rozenstruik’s nine-second knockout at UFC on ESPN+ 12 is the second fastest in UFC heavyweight history behind Todd Duffee’s seven-second finish at UFC 102.
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[autotag]Marina Rodriguez[/autotag]’s (13-0-1 MMA, 2-0-1 UFC) three-fight UFC unbeaten streak at strawweight is tied for the fourth longest active streak in the division behind Tatiana Suarez (five), Yan Xiaonan (four) and Zhang Weili (four).
Rodriguez fought to the first draw in UFC strawweight history against Randa Markos at UFC Fight Night 137 in September 2018.
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[autotag]Cynthia Calvillo[/autotag]’s (8-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) five wins since 2017 in strawweight competition are tied for most in the division.
Calvillo’s three submission victories in UFC strawweight competition are tied with Rose Namajunas for most in divisional history.
Calvillo has completed at least one takedown in five of her six UFC appearances.
Calvillo’s nine submission attempts in UFC strawweight competition are most in divisional history.
Calvillo attempts 2.02 submission attempts per 15 minutes in UFC strawweight competition, the most in divisional history.
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[autotag]Stefan Struve[/autotag] (29-11 MMA, 13-9 UFC) returns to competition after announcing his retirement from MMA following a victory at UFC on ESPN+ 3 in February.
Struve competes in his 23rd UFC heavyweight bout, the third most appearances in divisional history behind Andrei Arlovski (31) and Frank Mir (27).
Struve’s 13 victories in UFC heavyweight competition are tied for fourth most in divisional history behind Arlovski (17), Mir (16) and Junior Dos Santos (15).
Struve’s 11 stoppage victories in UFC heavyweight competition are tied with Arlovski and Gabriel Gonzaga for second most in divisional history behind Mir (13).
Struve’s six submission victories in UFC heavyweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Mir (eight).
Struve’s 21 submission attempts in UFC heavyweight competition are tied with Mir for most in divisional history.
Struve’s eight fight-night bonuses for UFC heavyweight fights are second most in divisional history behind Stipe Miocic (nine).
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[autotag]Ben Rothwell[/autotag]’s (36-12 MMA, 6-6 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since January 2016.
Rothwell is 0-2 since he returned from a nearly three-year layoff in March.
[autotag]Aspen Ladd[/autotag]’s (8-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) two knockout victories in UFC women’s bantamweight competition are tied for fourth most in divisional history behind Nunes (six), Ronda Rousey (three) and Germaine de Randamie (three).
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[autotag]Yana Kunitskaya[/autotag] (12-4 MMA, 2-1 UFC) is 2-0 since she returned to the UFC women’s bantamweight division in October 2018.
Kunitskaya’s two-fight UFC winning streak at women’s bantamweight is tied for the fourth longest active streak in the division behind Nunes (eight), de Randamie (four) and Ketlen Vieira (four).
[autotag]Cody Stamann[/autotag] (18-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) has earned all four of his UFC victories by decision.
[autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag] (14-3 MMA, 4-0 UFC), 22, is the youngest of the 24 fighters scheduled to compete at the event.
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[autotag]Rob Font[/autotag] (16-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since Dec. 15, 2018. The 357-day layoff is the longest of his more than eight-year career.
Font has alternated wins and losses in his past five fights. He won his most recent bout at UFC on FOX 31 in December 2018.
Font’s five stoppages victories in UFC bantamweight competition are tied for fifth most in divisional history behind T.J. Dillashaw (eight), Urijah Faber (seven), Marlon Vera (seven) and Pedro Munhoz (six).
Font’s four knockout victories in UFC bantamweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Dillashaw (seven) and Eddie Wineland (five).
[autotag]Ricky Simon[/autotag]’s (15-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) victory at the 5:00 mark of Round 3 at UFC Fight Night 128 is the latest stoppage in a three-round UFC fight.
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[autotag]Thiago Alves[/autotag] (23-14 MMA, 15-11 UFC) competes in his 26th UFC welterweight bout, the most appearances in divisional history.
Alves’ 15 victories in UFC welterweight competition are the third most in divisional history behind Georges St-Pierre (19) and Matt Hughes (16).
Alves’ nine stoppage victories in UFC welterweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Hughes (12) and Matt Brown (12).
Alves’ eight knockout victories in UFC welterweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Brown (10).
Alves’ 13 knockdowns landed in UFC welterweight competition are the most in divisional history.
Alves’ four knockout victories stemming from knee strikes in UFC competition are most in company history.
Alves has landed 380 leg kicks in UFC competition, the second most in company history behind Joanna Jedrzejczyk (430).
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[autotag]Tim Means[/autotag] (28-11-1 MMA, 10-8 UFC) is 8-6 (with one no contest) since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in May 2014.
[autotag]Makhmud Muradov[/autotag] (23-6 MMA, 1-0 UFC) is 17-1 in his past 18 fights dating back to March 2015.
Muradov enters the event on a 12-fight winning streak. He hasn’t suffered a defeat since December 2016.
[autotag]Trevor Smith[/autotag] (15-9 MMA, 5-6 UFC) has earned all five of his UFC victories by decision. He hasn’t earned a stoppage victory since June 2012.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
