It seemed like it was over the moment the bells started to ring.
In his entrance to UFC 276, at which he'd end up defeating Jared Cannonier by an easy decision, Israel Adesanya -- the reigning UFC middleweight champion -- had the entire arena buzzing. Adesanya walked in to the sounds of WWE legend The Undertaker's theme song, "Rest in Peace." The funereal tune is instantly recognizable to any WWE fan, with its tolling bells and eerie organ theme, and it was doubly appropriate considering WWE's "Money in the Bank" event also was staged in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
That's not all Adesanya did, however. He completed the look by wearing a hat that called back to The Undertaker's iconic look and carrying an urn with "Jared" written on it. The entrance itself might have been the highlight of the bout, as both Adesanya and Cannonier fought cautiously, with Adesanya's range frustrating Cannonier's attempts to bring the fight to the mat.
The win moves Adesanya to 23-1 and further cements his position at the top of the UFC middleweight division.
Athletes from the combat sports world and beyond reacted to Adesanya's entrance on Twitter.
ADESANYA CHANNELING THE UNDERTAKER 😱
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) July 3, 2022
STREAM #UFC276 NOW ON @ESPNPLUS ▶️ https://t.co/lDO4DiDPME pic.twitter.com/u5JabMxZuY
Side note. Adesanya using the undertakers music is making me mark out like crazy!!! @ufc
— SARAYA (@RealPaigeWWE) July 3, 2022
#UFC276 pic.twitter.com/N1SrGBVoHW
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) July 3, 2022
Izzy marked his territory😆#UFC276
— Diana Belbiță (@DianaBelbita) July 3, 2022
Very few can pull this off @stylebender just epic walkouts #UFC276
— Mark O. Madsen (@MarkTheOlympian) July 3, 2022
@stylebender that walk out tho!! 🔥🔥#ufc276
— RobFont (@RobSFont) July 3, 2022
Izzy's walkouts don't miss 🎯 #UFC276
— Billy Quarantillo (@BillyQMMA) July 3, 2022
I was waiting for the breakdancing sh*t to start on the undertaker walkout 😂😂😂 well played . Gotta close tho ! #UFC276
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) July 3, 2022
This is better than his dance walkout 👏👏👏
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) July 3, 2022
Best walkout ever #UFC276
— Brian BOOM Kelleher (@brianboom135) July 3, 2022
— Darius Butler (@DariusJButler) July 3, 2022
Izzy comin out to the undertaker theme in front of Vince McMahon 🤣 🤣
— Terrance 'T Wrecks' McKinney (@twrecks155) July 3, 2022
