Brock Lesnar and the 10 Most Physically Intimidating MMA Fighters Ever

UFC 116 is just around the corner and it features one of the biggest fights in UFC history headlining the event—both figuratively and literally—as Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin are set to square off in the Octagon for the UFC Heavyweight Title.

In honor of these two frighteningly large and athletic monsters, let’s take a look at some of the most physically imposing men ever to compete in the world of MMA.

They may not all be the biggest, the baddest, or the most skilled fighters in the world, but they all have a look about them that strikes fear into the hearts of their opponents.

Enjoy!

Honorable Mention: Sean "Muscle Shark" Sherk

5'6" and 155lbs may not sound big or scary but just look at that guy. If you knew nothing about the sport and saw this picture, I'm sure you would just assume that Sherk was a big fighter.

Because he is a lightweight I couldn't really put him on the list, but he is a gigantic little man and I wanted to give him a tip of the cap.

10. Shane Carwin

While he may be more of a gentle giant, anyone with 4XL gloves and enough power to punch through a brick wall has to send a shiver down your spine.

Mix in the fact that he has to cut some weight to make the heavyweight limit and I just wet my pants.

9. Mark Kerr

Three words—The Smashing Machine. That pretty much sums up why Kerr makes this list.

Not only was a Kerr a large and muscular monster in his prime, but with his tremendous wrestling pedigree, imposing his will on an opponent was just as easily done as said.

8. Kimo Leopoldo

Kimo comes from the old school days of MMA and the UFC, where there were no weight classes and very few rules. To compete in those days, you were either very skilled or very crazy. Kimo was a bit of both.

Combine that with the tattoos and the mean mug, and I am not getting anywhere near that dude.

7. Alistair Overeem

At 6'5", 250 pounds and with a constant cloud of suspicion surrounding how he acquired that physique, Alistair Overeem is a menacing individual.

Overeem is menacing on a couple of different levels too; on one hand, the guy is a very talented fighter and his strength and speed just makes him that much more dangerous.

But then, you mix in the fact that he could well be a long-time juicer and now you have to take the crazy factor into consideration.

6. Tank Abbott

You'll notice that unlike everyone else on this list, Tank is not what I would call "ripped". He may have a big belly and some grey in his beard, but would you ever dare cross that man in some random bar somewhere? I thought not.

Tank's just a big scary guy who likes to fight and who likes to hurt people, hence why he was so popular in the early days of the sport.

5. Don Frye

Not the biggest fighter in the world physically, but Don Frye was certainly one of the baddest. Just look at him...he is the epitome of masculinity, grit, and toughness.

Often once an athlete retires, they fade away and are only remembered for their accomplishments in competition, Frye, on the other hand, has seen his MMA legend grow to Chuck Norris proportions.

4. Jeff Monson

I've always said it, Jeff Monson is just a frightening dude. I don't know if it's the crazy eyes, the crazy tattoos, or the insanely stocky body, but I would want no part of this guy in a fight.

Throw his anarchist beliefs into the mix and you know this guy really isn't playing with a full deck, and that just completes the package.

3. Brock Lesnar

I think this picture pretty much tells the story of why Lesnar makes the list. The man is an enormous, muscular, freak athlete with mean streak and just a touch of crazy.

That's a combination that I want no part of in any type of physical, one-on-one competition.

2. Bob Sapp

While he isn't a great fighter...hell, I wouldn't even call him a good fighter, Bob Sapp is just scary. I don't care who you are; to step into a ring with that monster is just crazy.

I always wonder how horrifying a fighter he could have been had he taken the time to work on his cardio and technique because with his size and power, he could have done some great things.

1. Mariusz Pudzianowski

He may just be getting started in his MMA career and he may have recently lost to the sloppy bodied, Tim Sylvia, but there is no doubt that Mariusz is the most physically imposing fighter in the world.

You see that plane in the photo behind him, he pulled that plane from a stationary position while hooked to a harness—that’s power, folks. A level of power that is difficult even to imagine.

The man is legitimately strong enough to rip a limb off of another human if he were so inclined. That’s why he gets the top spot.