UFC: 11 Fictional Characters We'd Love to See in the Octagon

The world of fiction is populated with many characters that spur the imagination and inspire the spirit of their fans.

Fictional characters have performed many feats and have a slew of different attributes. There are even certain characters that have done certain things or have certain abilities that would generate much interest for the hypothetical MMA careers of these characters.

Who are these fictional characters and why would we love to see them fight in the UFC, or in MMA in general?

Read and find out but please keep in mind that all the characters on this list (with the exception of one) are absent of superpowers. Who would want to see a nigh invincible character like Superman crush a poor mortal MMA fighter?!

Daniel LaRusso

The Karate Kid's Daniel LaRusso is a perfect choice for a fictional character to enter mixed martial arts.

Since a crane kick has actually been performed in mixed martial arts, why not give the first fictional character to employ this mythical technique on the silver screen a chance to shine in the UFC?

Who wouldn't like to see Daniel LaRusso attempt to transition his Karate moves such as crane kicks, drum punches and katas into modern mixed martial arts?

John McClane

Throughout his exploits in the Die Hard film franchise, NYPD detective John McClane proved his mettle many times over.

Whether he is saving hostages from a skyscraper, stopping the destruction of an airport, or solving fiendish riddles throughout New York City, McClane always gets the job done no matter how difficult.

It is McClane's, grittiness, toughness and fighting spirit that would help him succeed in mixed martial arts.

Bruce Wayne

Based on the preface in the intro slide one may think that Bruce Wayne is the character who is the exception to the "no superhero rule" but he isn't. Bruce Wayne doesn't have any super powers per se; he is just very intelligent, very rich and very skilled at martial arts.

Imagine if someone with Bruce Wayne's intellect, money and combat experience got into mixed martial arts. Who wouldn't love to see that?

A.C. Slater

A.C. Slater was the star of the wrestling team at Bayside High in the hit 90's television show Saved by the Bell.

Slater was an accomplished wrestler who, in his only fight he ever had against Zach Morris, neglected to use his wrestling to eek out a decision and instead opted to stand and trade.

Thus, Slater would be a fun character to watch get involved in MMA because he would make the transition to the sport pretty well and would (presumably) use his wrestling in reverse (a la Chuck Liddell).

In addition, going to MMA would also help to solve young Slater's career-search problem he had in one episode. He was worried that his wrestling wouldn't lead to anything but being a washed up pro wrestler! Don't worry, Slater, wrestlers like you will always have MMA!

Rocky Balboa

This one pretty much goes without saying.

Imagine how exciting it would be if legendary boxer Rocky Balboa decided to learn wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (or at least how to stop a takedown and how to get back up) and enter the world of mixed martial arts?

It would be the most highly anticipated event in combat sports history—more so than Balboa's pseudo-MMA match with "the Ultimate Male" Thunderlips.

Ellen Ripley

Yes the title does say UFC but let's just expand it to mixed martial arts as a whole for this character (and the next) since the UFC doesn't have a women's division and she really deserves it.

A woman who is tough enough to defeat vicious creatures with acid for blood AND their queen is made of some pretty stern stuff. How could such a determine and strong woman not at least have mild success in MMA?

Maggie Fitzgerald

What would this slideshow be without Margaret "Maggie" Fitzgerald (essentially the female Rocky) from Million Dollar Baby?

Fitzgerald's transition to MMA would be interesting for the same reasons as Rocky's would be, but it would likely shake up the women's divisions more since they aren't quite as deep (yet) as the men's divisions.

Pai Mei

Pai Mei from Kill Bill Vol. 2 certainly fits the bill for a fictional character fans would like to see in mixed martial arts competition.

The enigmatic martial arts master seems to be a virtual repository of techniques and can even defeat a master swordsman in Beatrix Kiddo (Uma Thurman) whilst he is unarmed.

How could this fictional character not be given a chance in the UFC?

Martin Riggs

Martin Riggs from the Lethal Weapon franchise is a perfect fictional candidate for the UFC because he is the first fictional character (at least in an American film) to beat the bad guy not with an over-the-top flashy kick or some other cliché, but rather a triangle choke!

In fact, Riggs demonstrates that he knows quite a bit about the different martial arts throughout the Lethal Weapon films, which makes him a great fictional character to introduce into the world of mixed martial arts.

Indiana Jones

The man has beaten up Nazis, dissident Indian priests, more Nazis and communists in his lifetime all the while searching for legendary artifacts and maintaining what amounted to a totally separate life as a university professor.

Imagine if a man with his physical abilities and devotion preferred to make a living from MMA instead of archeology?

Neo

Neo from The Matrix is the one character on the list that technically has super powers since, in the ending of the second movie, it's revealed that he has the same abilities both inside and outside the matrix.

However, let's just pretend that it's the Neo from the first film who doesn't know this yet.

Why should he join the world of mixed martial arts? Because Neo is actually the definition of a mixed martial artist! Neo had every single martial art that ever existed downloaded into his brain, making him the most well-rounded MMA fighter in the world.

Matt Saccaro is a Bleacher Report featured columnist and an avid MMA fan. For articles like the one above and for brilliant 140-character insights into MMA, follow him on twitter @mattsaccaro