There is an awesome piece on MTV's web site. Its about Music and how it motivates two UFC fighters, Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell.
The piece is very well written. Here are some excepts from the article.
Liddell puts together a fresh playlist for each of his fights, and while the details may change, it's usually raw and aggressive. "It really helps when I'm training. It gets you fired up," he said. So as Liddell prepares to return to the Octagon, he loads his iPod with Slayer ("Angel of Death" is a favorite), Pantera (Vulgar Display of Power is in heavy rotation), Nickelback, Rancid and Lars Frederiksen & the Bastards (hang around Liddell long enough and eventually you'll hear "Skunx"). Then there's his love of country. "It's fun for me to put on a few country songs while we're training because I'm one of the few people [at the gym] who likes them," Liddell laughed.
Chances are, no one's going to challenge his monopoly of the sound system, no matter what he's playing. Much like the music on his playlist, Liddell is straight-shooting, hard-hitting and rock-solid. Unlike his music, however, he is also soft-spoken, a genial man but one who would seemingly rather be fighting than doing just about anything. His soundtrack — much like his focus — is all about the ring.
...
For Tito, the drive he finds in his music is about more than the fight; it's about the life. He's a mogul in training, a man who can clearly see Jay-Z's blueprint ... and 50's and Eminem's. There's the fighting, but there's also the clothing line (Punishment Athletics), the lust-worthy girlfriend (Jenna Jameson) and the Hollywood aspirations (he's pondering his own reality show). "If you have the charisma to hold a camera, you're going to go far," Ortiz said. "If you're just going to fight for the rest of your life, all of a sudden you'll be 40 years old, teaching karate classes at your local dojo."
...
The music and the motivation reach a crescendo on fight day. In those last few moments before the Octagon door swings open, both men shut out the world and bury themselves in their music: When the going gets tough, the tough crank up their iTunes.
At the end of the article, they then published an example of the playlists that these two great fighters have.
The Essentials
Chuck's most played artists: Rancid, Lars Frederiksen & the Bastards
Tito's most played artists: Korn (old friends), Eminem
Chuck's playlist surprise: A wealth of country and a smattering of "goofy pop songs" ("That's my daughter," he laughs. "She can download whatever she wants.")
Tito's playlist surprise: Oddball reggae sing-jay progenitor Eek-A-Mouse ("Back in the day, when he used to play in Orange County at Club 5902, I went and watched — and it was awesome," he recalls.)
Chuck's training playlist
Pantera - "Walk"
George Thorogood - "Who Do You Love"
Travis Tritt - "Here's a Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares)"
DMX - "One More Road to Cross"
Staind - "It's Been Awhile"
Hank Williams Jr. - "Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound"
Yung Joc - "It's Goin' Down"
Lars & the Bastards - "Skunx"
Slayer - "Angel of Death"
Suicidal Tendencies - "Controlled by Hatred"
50 Cent - "If I Can't"
T.I. - "Bring Em Out"
Tito's training playlist
Eminem - "Mosh"
Korn - "Good God"
Ludacris - "Move B---h"
DMX - "Damien"
Rage Against the Machine - "Know Your Enemy"
Fieldy's Dreams - "Ortiz Anthem"
Korn - "Ass Itch"
Snoop Dogg - "Murder Was the Case"
Metallica - "Enter Sandman"
Bob Marley - "Get Up, Stand Up"