Brock Lesnar, Alistair Overeem and 10 Most Physically Imposing Fighters in MMA

When you think of the physique of a professional fighter a certain ripped and muscular picture is sure to come to mind. There are some fighters that can shake an opponents confidence simply by stepping into the cage looking like they want to distribute a severe pain clinic.

Newly signed UFC heavyweight Alistair Overeem is one perfect example of a fighter who's sheer look and physique may cause the man across from him to shake at the knees and consider backing out. Overeem is not alone with that fortunate advantage, and here are the 10 Most Physically Imposing Fighters in MMA.

You must have a minimum of 5 professional fights to qualify so physically imposing fighters such as Bobby Lashley and Mariusz Pudzianowski do not qualify.

Honorable mention: Ryan Ford, Georges St-Pierre, Jeff Monson, Thiago Alves

 

10. Chris Leben

Chris "The Crippler" Leben is not the stereotypical muscle man that you are going to see throughout this list. He is a 5'11 185-pound middleweight who scares more with his scowl, dyed hair, plethora of tattoo's and most of all a crazy, lunatic look in his eye and a smile on his face before he even fights.

Leben just looks imposing with the sheer size of his head, and the fact that he looks like there is nothing more he would rather do, than draw some of your blood with a beating.

 

9. Anthony Johnson

It has been said that Anthony "Rumble" Johnson walks around at a normal weight of 225-pounds and he competes in the 170-pound division. Needless to say, that is a very serious and significant weight cut for Rumble to make, but once he is done making weight, he can routinely get back up close to the 200-pound mark.

Johnson is an absolutely huge and ripped 170-pounder once his training and cutting is all said and done what you get to face is a very imposing and quick man for his size.

For any natural 170-pounder, it would be extremely intimidating to look across and see a man that much larger in your weight class.

 

8. Melvin Manhoef

Melvin Manhoef is a little on the short side at 5'9 but this 185-pounder is made of muscle and is one of the most physically imposing fighters currently outside of the UFC.

Manhoef's skills have not been as imposing as his look as he is on a three fight losing streak, but one look at him and you can see why he has become such a marketable fighter outside of the UFC.

 

 

7. Shane Carwin

I will certainly admit that the larger and original version of heavyweight Shane Carwin is a more imposing figure than Carwin 2.0. The dehydrated and drawn Carwin of UFC 131 is not as bulky or imposing a figure to face.

Loss of mass aside, Carwin's size, scowl and mitts are extremely intimidating to stand in front of and have to fight. At 6'2 and 254-pounds, Carwin remains one of the biggest and baddest men in MMA.

 

6. Antonio Silva

Antonio "Big Foot" Silva is one of the biggest men in mixed martial arts, and he carries a significant agility and skill set to go along with that imposing frame. His mix of size and skill are a nightmare if he is able to get in top position as he did on legend Fedor Emelianenko earlier this year.

If there was a super-heavyweight division, Silva would be eligible and a top contender as there are few who can match his mix, but just looking at the size of Silva is enough to make you want to reconsider trying with him.

5. Hector Lombard

Hector Lombard has been a chiselled and feared mixed martial artist for some time now, and is one of the most imposing fighters outside of the UFC. Fans have been calling and wishing for his debut in the top promotion for a while now based on his impeccable physical physique and his aggressive style.

The American Top team fighter has a highlight reel of brutal and fast knockouts on his resume and would strike fear into many of the top men in the division.

4. Melvin Guillard

If you are a 155-pound fighter in the UFC the sheer look and physique of the brash contender might cause you to reconsider signing the contract to fight him. Guillard has zero body fat on his athletic frame and the pumped up in your face style is another intimidating factor

Guillard does not run with the big boys of the UFC and he is only 5'9, but Melvin seems like he would take on anyone at anytime and anywhere and his look is very imposing.

 

3. Cheick Kongo

Cheick Kongo is a heavyweight and has a look that you would never want to have to encounter inside a closed caged area. At 6'4 and 235 pounds of soild muscle, Kongo just looks the part of athlete and fighter.

Along with the muscular frame, Kongo has long, solid limbs that unleash bad things when Kongo throws them out at you.  He also has a scowl and a chin to boot.

2. Alistair Overeem

Fans all around the world have been waiting for Alistair Overeem and his perfectly imposing physique to come in and challenge the big boys of the UFC. At 6'5 and 260-pounds, Overeem has made many fighters in Europe and Asia shake at their knees.

His transformation to the beast he is now has been well documented and now it is time to see if his power game is as complete and imposing as his frame.

1. Brock Lesnar

Complete mixed martial artist or over sized bully, one thing that is crystal clear about heavyweight Brock Lesnar is that he is one of the most, if not the most physically imposing fighter in the game today.

I would not want to look or deal with the sheer size and mass that Lesnar brings in his 6'3 265-pound frame. He is also incredibly agile for his size and who can forget the fright that a frothing-at-the-mouth Lesnar gave us all at UFC 100.

Dwight Wakabayashi is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA and correspondent for MMACanada.net.

Catch him on Facebook and Twitter at wakafightermma.