Ronda Rousey explains choice of 'Bad Reputation' for walkout music

Ronda Rousey

Very few fighters in the UFC have consistently impactful, memorable walks to the cage. Ronda Rousey is one of those few. A fighter whose walk to the cage seems to bring the MMA world to a standstill.

Rousey (11-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) walks to the tune of “Bad Reputation” by Joan Jett, a scowl on her face that portends the violence she plans to unleash on her opponent.

Rousey spoke to Wall Street Journal about her choice of her now iconic walkout music.

“Lots of professional fighters want their walkout song to sound like the “Rocky” theme—you know, regal and inspiring,” Rousey said. “I’m more on the theatrical side, so I needed something gritty, with a lot of attitude.”

Rousey originally used the song “Sex and Violence” by The Exploited, but the song wasn’t exactly fit for broadcast in the eyes of Showtime.

“It was hard to choose a new one,” Rousey said of trying to find a new song. “I tried some Rage Against the Machine songs, but none of them felt right. Then my godfather’s son suggested Joan Jett’s ‘Bad Reputation,’ from 1981. I had just heard the song on my car radio in the parking lot of the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas: ‘An’ I don’t give a damn ‘bout my reputation / Never said I wanted to improve my station / An’ I’m only doin’ good when I’m havin’ fun / An’ I don’t have to please no one.’

“The song was perfect. If you’re constantly stressing over trying to get everyone to like you, you’re giving them the power to control your well being. For me it’s better to embrace the role of the heel and chase after being disliked. It’s an element of control and leaves room for error.”

Joan Jett will next blare from an arena’s sound system as Rousey makes that long walk to the Octagon at UFC 190, when she defends her women’s bantamweight championship against Bethe Correia (9-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC). UFC 190 takes place Aug. 1 at Rio de Janeiro’s HSBC Arena. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

For more on UFC 190, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.