UFC: 12 Personalities the UFC Should Sign for Freak Show Fights

Freak show fights are at the root of MMA's history but also at the root of the UFC's history. Many of the early UFC fights had a freak show appeal to them.

However, with regulation and rules came a decline in freak show fights in the UFC. Aside from James Toney vs. Randy Couture at UFC 118 (and maybe any of Kimbo Slice's UFC fights) there haven't been many freak show fights in the last five years or even since Zuffa purchased the UFC a decade ago.

While freak show fights do diminish the credibility and the image of the sport, they can be tons of fun to watch and very intriguing.

Obviously, the UFC would never start doing such fights en masse in 2011, but let's just pretend that they would. Which personalities would be good for these fights? Read and find out!

The Green Ranger (a.k.a. Jason David Frank)

Anyone who grew up in the early 1990s would be familiar with the Green Ranger from the hit kids show Power Rangers (the Green Ranger would later become the White Ranger in the next incarnation of the show).

Why should an extremely minor celebrity be signed over other major ones for a freak show fight?

Because the Green Ranger actually has powers, with Zordon's blessing, to choke out Jose Roberto Vasquez—no doubt an agent of Rita Repulsa—in a sanctioned MMA bout. Bringing this potential freak show fighters record to 1-0, infinitely better than the records of the other members of this list.

Chad Ochocinco

Why should this football player be honored with a freak show fight in the UFC?

Because he has called out Anderson Silva in the past and has most recently called out Tito Ortiz. Please Joe Silva, let the wide receiver have his way so the fans can see the most one-sided, bloody, freak show beatdown of all time!

Badr Hari

Former K-1 heavyweight champion Badr Hari would make an excellent freak show fight.

First, it would prove to the doubters and the ignorant (for the millionth time) that pure striking, in and of itself, isn't worth that much against someone with even limited grappling.

Second, it would give Hari a chance to make good on his criticism of the MMA (before he got knocked out by MMA fighter Alistair Overeem in a K-1 bout shortly after at K-1/Dream Dynamite!! 2008).

Imagine Badr Hari vs. Cheick Kongo!? What a fight that would be!

Shaquille O'Neal

Shaquille O'Neal has long been an MMA fan and has even expressed desire to take on giant Korean kickboxer/MMA fighter Hong Man Choi.

Wouldn't a battle of giants, one of which was a famous athlete and abysmal "actor" (what he did wasn't acting), be something that would garner attention, turn heads and just be fun to watch?

The New York Jets

Well, not the whole team in the Octagon at once, but at least one representative from the team.

Why them? The Jets actually train in mixed martial arts during the offseason, as featured in a spot done by HD-Net's Inside MMA.

The natural athleticism of football players compliments MMA, just look at Matt Mitrione! Imagine seeing Mark Sanchez in a UFC fight! What fun! Maybe he could fight the next person on the list.

Tom Brady

There's no concrete reason to have Tom Brady on here, aside from the fact that pretty much everyone (except for those hailing from New England) would love to see pretty boy Tom Brady get his face smashed in by someone in the UFC.

Do you disagree?

Barack Obama

UFC fighter Jacob Volkmann called out Barack Obama after a victorious outing at UFC 125.

Shortly after the tongue-in-cheek gesture, the Secret Service paid Mr. Volkmann a visit; they were not amused.

But imagine if the UFC was actually able to make Volkmann-Obama a reality? It would be the freak show fight to end all freak show fights!

Weston Cage

Weston Cage, the son of famous actor Nicholas Cage, recently expressed his desire to fight in the UFC, ideally against Kimbo Slice (who hasn't been with the organization in quite some time so it seems Weston hasn't done his homework).

Why does Cage want this? To prove that he's mentally stable, no joke.

Maybe letting Weston Cage into the UFC will enable Cage to have some sense beaten into him.

James Toney

Yes, he's been in the UFC before, and he'll be doing a freak show fight against Ken Shamrock in the near future. But Toney's trash talk (when it can be understood) and ridiculous overconfidence is simply too funny.

Imagine all of the crazy things he would have to say if put in a fight against Quinton "Rampage" Jackson?

Ralph Macchio

Since a crane kick has actually been performed in the UFC, why not invite the actor who helped show the technique to the world, the Karate Kid, Ralph Macchio.

Would he be able to bring any actual Karate to the table, a la Lyoto Machida? Probably not, but it's always fun to watch an opponent without skill take on a skilled one.

CM Punk and Christian

How amazing would it be if the UFC and the WWE did an epic freak show crossover, in which either of the two WWE heavyweight champions were pitted against the UFC heavyweight champion, Cain Velasquez?

In fact, Velasquez could probably take both out at the same time. Either way, it would certainly be a fun event to watch, no?