The first heavyweight champion ever was John L. Sullivan won the heavyweight championship way back in , just to show you how far back fighters have had nicknames. From there, nicknames would continue, eventually also becoming a part of MMA. Whether it is chosen by the fighter, or a product of the fans, most fighters have some sort of moniker.
As mentioned earlier, not every fighter has a nickname, but the vast majority do. Here, I will list some of the most famous fighters and their corresponding nicknames, with a brief history on how they got them.
His fighting style, along with his brash commentary outside the cage, has led to many people admiring his work inside the Octagon. In an interview he did with Reebok , McGregor revealed that his nickname was given to him by his coach, John Kavanagh. He had me saved in the phone as trouble, and it just kind of stuck.
This is one of the better nicknames in MMA, as it fits Conor well. I stuck with wrestling because at lbs, I was too small to do anything great on the defensive line. While we cannot be sure whether he is the "last" one to do it in the UFC, we can definitely be sure that his striking style has been derived by bending multiple striking-based martial arts into one.
However, we are yet to see any grappling style being "bent" to give Adesanya his first submission win in the UFC. Francis Ngannou not only lives up to his nickname but also looks like an alien monster from the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. Ngannou's huge frame and large head also resemble that of the predator from the movie. It helps to add to the legend that Ngannou's opponents will most likely not see the second round of the fight. Also Read: Does Francis Ngannou have the hardest punch in the world?
Where do we even begin? His brash attitude, trash-talk, and antics inside and outside the octagon make him extremely popular among fans. Unfortunately, they have also earned him infamy and dislike from several UFC fans. But does that matter to him? The answer to that question is in the video below:. For all the latest news, updates, and more from MMA, follow our Facebook page. New User posted their first comment. Log in. Modified 18 Jun Listicle.
Edited by Avinash Tewari. That's the case with the people on this list. They were not the first or the last person to have these nicknames, but the people on this list will always be associated with them. Nelson went on to win The Ultimate Fighter and would come within a fight away from challenging for the title with his bout against Junior dos Santos.
There likely won't be another "Big Country," as most professional MMA fighters don't have the physique to pull off the nickname like Nelson does. Also, most people with a mullet aren't going to be put in front of a national audience unless it's on a Cops rerun. One of the faces of Pride, Silva became an international superstar by embodying his nickname to a T. An axe is a weapon that can only be used offensively; there's no defending with an axe.
The same idea applies to Silva's style, as he wastes little time in getting in his opponents' face. Numerous fighters like to utilize an aggressive style, but calling yourself an "axe murderer" nowadays will either get you a lot of weird looks or get you laughed at.
Nobody is taking this name from Silva. Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira may not seem like anything special to people who've only seen the UFC recently, but he made himself into an MMA legend during the glory days of Pride.
His lackluster UFC career will eventually be out-done by his accomplishments before bringing his career stateside. Most Brazilian fighters have a nickname that's very specific to the individual, and Nogueira is a legend in his native land. There's no danger of anyone, Brazilian or not, taking "Minotauro" as their nickname.
Chuck Liddell was using his fists and feet to knock people out, while Ortiz preferred to take his opponents down and unleash some vicious ground and pound.
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