Sherdog’s Top 10: Greatest Entrances

8. B.J. Penn

The newest generation of fans never knew two-division UFC champion Penn at anywhere close to his best, but in his prime, the Hawaiian was one of the most dominating fighters in the history of MMA. His in-cage viciousness was legendary, and rightfully so, but one of the less-talked-about parts of his appeal was the genuine emotion that surged through the crowd -- generally partisan in his favor -- just before he fought.

Penn’s roots manifested themselves in his choice of entrance music. In his later career, he almost always walked out to Hawaiian musician Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s “Hawai’i 78,” remixed with a variety of other popular songs, such as on one occasion, Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy.” Regardless of the particular track, however, Penn’s signature intensity and emotion always came through clearly. He brought Hilo and the rest of Hawaii with him wherever he fought, and there was no mistaking the genuine ferocity with which he approached fighting.

Number 7 » The former professional wrestler brought his sense of showmanship to Pride with him. His style in the ring was itself incredibly fun, with its high-risk submissions, exposing his back and slick takedowns, but his contribution to the entertainment value of the show summed up the spirit of Japanese MMA for many, many years.