Sherdog’s Top 10: Greatest Walkouts

5. Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Kazushi Sakuraba | K-1 Dynamite 2006 (Dec. 31, 2006)

This walkout caused a sensation among hardcore MMA fans of the mid-2000s, despite occurring in a promotion that was neither the UFC nor Pride Fighting Championships. The atmosphere is set with the arena being darkened except for a series of spotlights, as well as not one or two but three large Titantrons. Additionally, on a large, lower platform there are several dozen kids in gis. The music begins, and rather than anything high-energy or aggressive, it's soft and melodic. Akiyama has chosen “Time to Say Goodbye” by famous English classical soprano Sarah Brightman alongside legendary Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. The lyrics are all in Italian. The Japanese audience must have wondered whether they were still at a fight show, or had been transported to a symphony hall. Suddenly, Akiyama appears, being pushed up on a platform! The bright lights on either side give him a heavenly, angelic glow. He walks to the lowered dais with his team, at the head of all those students. Suddenly, they all kneel, with Akiyama being the last to do so. As the music approaches its crescendo, the fighter yells the signal, and the entire group bow their heads to the ground in unison. Finally, Akiyama stands up and makes his way to the ring. As Bocelli hits his final high note, Akiyama jumps into the ring, in perfect sync with the music, as every fan's jaw is firmly on the floor. For sheer theatrical spectacle, no entrance has ever matched it, before or since.

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