For any prize fighter, the entrance music really sets the tone when going for a battle. It sets the pulses racing, brings the athlete in the so-called ‘zone’, which the best of performers like to get into before a battle.
Ronda Rousey, who is reputed as one of the most fearsome fighters on the planet, has had ‘Bad Reputation’ as her entrance music for a long time now. Let us delve into the reasons as to why Rousey chose this as her entrance music.
The fearsome reputation of Ronda Rousey
Ronda Rousey is undoubtedly one of the baddest fighters on the planet. She had a three-year reign as champion with the UFC until December 2015 and dominated all comers, even breaking down elbows of her opponents.
There was a time when Rousey’s fights were betted upon to end in the first round itself, such was the fearsome reputation of Rousey. She absolutely mowed down most of her opponents as she started her MMA career.
Rousey’s choice of music seems to reflect her mood and persona as she gets into a battle. When she walks into the tunes of ‘Bad Reputation’ – scowl on her face – it is reflective of the violence she intends to unleash on her opponents.
Rousey herself has explained her choice of the music. She once spoke to Wall Street Journal about her choice of her now iconic walkout music.
What Rousey has to say about her choice of entrance 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 said.
It wasn’t the first entrance theme used by Rousey, however, as she originally used the song “Sex and Violence” by The Exploited, but the song wasn’t deemed suitable for broadcast in the eyes of Showtime.
“It was hard to choose a new one,” Rousey commented about 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.”
Clearly, Rousey has her mind clear regarding her choice of music, and it definitely has helped her in her indomitable shows inside the ring. She has been the most feared thing inside the octagon for a long time now, and she and her ‘Bad Reputation’ will continue to send shivers down the spines of many an opponent in the coming years too.
Let us have a listen to her much talked about ‘Bad Reputation’ entrance music here:
