DMX Narrates 'UFC 196' Fight Promo

DMX is joining the UFC. But the rapper, who recently suffered health complications after being found unresponsive, isn’t about to fight in the MMA league. Instead, he’s teamed up with the U as a narrator for the UFC 196 cold open.

His gritty voice, which has become his trademark in hip-hop, allows him to create a powerful description of the bouts set to take place on Saturday (March 5). Using vivid language, Darkman X tells the backstory to fights like Holly Holm vs. Miesha Tate, a battle for the women’s bantamweight championship, and the main event between Nick Diaz and featherweight champ Conor McGregor.

This follows tough news for X, who was hospitalized after he was found not breathing in a hotel parking lot last month. The cause of the collapse remains unclear, though some have speculated that it was brought on by the rapper’s longtime battle with drug addiction.

DMX has been important to UFC in the past. His song “Ain’t No Sunshine” was used as Anderson Silva’s entrance music for years. When asked why he doesn’t change the track, Silva said it was a mandate from UFC’s owner, Dana White.

“Ask Dana White,” he said. “Whenever I talk about changing my song, he says no. [Brazilian MC] Pregador Luo was working with Usher, who is my personal friend, on a new tune. But it seems like Dana does not want to change the music, so we won’t be able to do it.”

Listen to DMX’s description of Saturday’s event below (via Miss Info).