- TomGun106
- 2nd Degree Brown Belt
- Member Since 2013.09.01
My MMA Rankings
All Time Greatest Nicknames in MMA
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1
- Kotetsu Boku
- "No Face"
- 26-16-2
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I'm not even sure what Kotetsu Boku's nickname means. And I'm not sure I want to know.
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2
- Tony Lopez
- "Kryptonite"
- 65-32-0, 1 NC
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The perfect anti-hero nickname in three universally understood syllables. The 39-year-old, longtime KOTC heavyweight champ is 32-12 and on the downside of a long career spent mainly on the West Coast. But that nickname will live on forever, at least if this guy has anything to say about it.
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3
- Trey Houston
- "That Just Happened"
- 11-4-0
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"That Just Happened." Hilarious, but intimidating at the same time in its own way. But mostly just hilarious. One of those why-didn't-I-think-of-that nicknames and perfect for a new-school fighter like the 24-year-old, 10-2 Trey Houston.
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4
- Giva Santana
- "The Arm Collector"
- 18-3-0
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Giva Santana is still kicking along at age 41. And now he's 2-1 in Bellator. Guess how the two wins came. If you said "by submission," you are correct (one was an armbar, the other was a kneebar).
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5
- Maurício Rua
- "Shogun"
- 27-14-1
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In my mind, Mauricio Rua's nickname, "Shogun," is the classic of all classics. It conjures up Pride and soccer kicks and samurai warriorship. Simple, clean, elegant, deadly and chock full of charisma. Just a great, great, great nickname.
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6
- Rodney Wallace
- "Sho Nuff the Master"
- 26-16-1
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Not much to add to this one.
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7
- Chan Sung Jung
- "The Korean Zombie"
- 17-8-0
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The South Koreans really know their way around a nickname. Chan Sung Jung's is so good that plenty of fans probably don't even know his real name. The Zombie was named such apparently for his tendency to relentlessly move forward regardless of the punishment he's taking.
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8
- Rousimar Palhares
- "Toquinho"
- 19-12-1
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No other fighter has a nickname that sums him up quite as much as that of Rousimar "Tree Stump" Palhares ("toquinho" means "tree stump" in Portuguese).
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9
- Ed Herman
- "Short Fuse"
- 24-16-0, 1 NC
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You know what I can't stand in a nickname? When it's clearly something the fighter deliberately sat down and brainstormed, then gave to himself or herself. Nicknames should be organic.
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10
- Alessio Sakara
- "Legionarius"
- 20-13-0, 2 NC
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It's just badass sounding. It basically means "soldier" in Latin and definitely has that Gladiator feel. And I am entertained, Legionarius. I am entertained.
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11
- Joey Beltran
- "Mexicutioner" | 18-15-0, 1 NC
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So many things worked into one moniker. You've got nationality and pride, you've got humor, you've got danger, you've got originality.
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12
- Doo Ho Choi
- "The Korean Superboy" | 14-4-1
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Don't let the fact that he looks like a fourth-grader fool you. Doo Ho Choi will knock you right out. His nickname (Super Boy) combines both of these facts and rhymes with his real name. What more do you need?
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13
- Ian McCall
- "Uncle Creepy" | 13-7-1
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This nickname was a lot cooler when Ian McCall was the freight-training prospect. Now he's just a guy who's 0-2-1 in the UFC.
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14
- Lorenz Larkin
- "The Monsoon" | 25-8-0, 2 NC
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Monsoons can be overwhelming. So can Lorenz Larkin, who only recently suffered his first professional loss (not counting the King Mo thing).
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15
- Karo Parisyan
- "The Heat" | 24-12-0, 1 NC
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Kicking it off with an oldie but goodie, "The Heat." Karo Parisyan's moniker shows that a simple nickname can be effective and descriptive. Plus, it reminds me of one of my all-time favorite movies.