10 Fighters Whose Nicknames Will Always Be Associated with Them

A fighter can't choose their nickname; it's one of those things that's given to a fighter. Like a ceremonial gift from a coach of peer, a nickname means something.

Or in some cases, it's simply an inside joke within the gym, like Junior dos Santos being called "Cigano" because of his long hair.

Sometimes, a fighter's nickname even becomes bigger than the fighter themselves. That's the case with the people on this list. They were not the first or the last person to have these nicknames, but the people on this list will always be associated with them.

Roy 'Big Country' Nelson

Roy "Big Country" Nelson burst onto the UFC scene in a big way. Pun intended.

By beating Kimbo Slice on The Ultimate Fighter, Nelson became an overnight sensation by defeating one of the most irrelevant men in the history of MMA.

Nelson went on to win The Ultimate Fighter and would come within a fight away from challenging for the title with his bout against Junior dos Santos.

There likely won't be another "Big Country," as most professional MMA fighters don't have the physique to pull off the nickname like Nelson does. Also, most people with a mullet aren't going to be put in front of a national audience unless it's on a Cops rerun.

'The Axe Murderer' Wanderlei Silva

While Chuck Liddell was making headlines in America, "The Axe Murderer," Wanderlei Silva, was making just as many in Japan.

One of the faces of Pride, Silva became an international superstar by embodying his nickname to a T. An axe is a weapon that can only be used offensively; there's no defending with an axe. The same idea applies to Silva's style, as he wastes little time in getting in his opponents' face.

Numerous fighters like to utilize an aggressive style, but calling yourself an "axe murderer" nowadays will either get you a lot of weird looks or get you laughed at. Nobody is taking this name from Silva.

Antonio Rodrigo 'Minotauro' Nogueira

Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira may not seem like anything special to people who've only seen the UFC recently, but he made himself into an MMA legend during the glory days of Pride.

His lackluster UFC career will eventually be out-done by his accomplishments before bringing his career stateside. Even without having a successful UFC career, Nogueira still won a belt in the UFC.

Most Brazilian fighters have a nickname that's very specific to the individual, and Nogueira is a legend in his native land. There's no danger of anyone, Brazilian or not, taking "Minotauro" as their nickname.

'The Huntington Beach Bad Boy' Tito Ortiz

"The Huntington Beach Bad Boy," Tito Ortiz, is another stalwart in the UFC's lightheavyweight division. Chuck Liddell was using his fists (and feet) to knock people out, while Ortiz preferred to take his opponents down and unleash some vicious ground and pound.

So Huntington Beach isn't exactly a hotbed of MMA talent, but that's not why Ortiz is on this list.

Ortiz was the original "bad guy" (or "boy," if you want to get technical), and anyone who takes on the moniker "bad boy" is simply a bad imitation.

'The Korean Zombie' Chan Sung Jung

The South Korean-born Chan Sung Jung took his nickname, "The Korean Zombie," and ran with it. His shirt, just like the man himself, is one of the most popular fighters in the UFC.

Jung's ability to walk through the heavy strikes of his opponents gained him international fame among the MMA crowd. His nickname/fighting style may have made  him a big name in the MMA crowd, but his bouts with Leonard Garcia made him a household name.

There are very few Korean MMA fighters, and there's even fewer people who can withstand the amount of punishment Jung can.

'The Prodigy' BJ Penn

BJ Penn is one of the most accomplished fighters to ever compete in the sport of MMA. Besides his MMA credentials, he also has a laundry list of Brazilian jiu-jitsu accomplishments.

Earning his black belt in only three years and becoming the first non-Brazilian to win the black belt division at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Penn joined the sport of MMA and the UFC in 2001.

Penn would compete in multiple weight classes and became one of the best lightweights in the history of MMA.

A lot of fighters are considered prodigies nowadays given that a lot of guys who've competed in either striking sports or wrestling are making their way to MMA now. A fighter usually has to undergo a lot of training before gracing the UFC's Octagon, which would eliminate a fighter being considered a prodigy like Penn.

Jason 'Mayhem' Miller

Jason "Mayhem" Miller has had a long career that has seen him become of the most popular fighters in MMA history.

Despite not winning a major title in any MMA promotion, Miller is easily one of the most recognizable faces in MMA. He may not have had a great deal of success inside the cage, but "Mayhem" has built his fanbase outside the realms of combat sports.

"Mayhem" isn't an ode to his fighting style, as Miller isn't overly wild or undisciplined. It's in reference to his personality, of which a lot of fighters would have a tough time replicating.

Randy 'the Natural' Couture

Randy "The Natural" Couture got a late start in the MMA game, but that didn't stop him from having a very successful, lengthy career.

Although Chuck Liddell was no doubt the UFC's most popular fighter, Couture wasn't far behind during their heydays. The trilogy of fights between Liddell and Couture were a series of great fights not only in the Octagon, but in terms of money.

Other fighters may seem more naturally gifted with physical traits or make the transition to MMA with no issues, but nobody can be "the natural."

Vitor 'the Phenom' Belfort

Perhaps no single person in UFC history symbolized their nickname more than Vitor "The Phenom" Belfort.

Belfort blasted his way into UFC stardom at the young age of 19. His early wins were full of punch flurries and knockouts.

It may not seem like much now, but beating Tank Abbott in 52 seconds was a big deal in 1997. Of course, nobody can forget the flurry of punches that sent Wanderlei Silva from one side of the Octagon to the other at UFC Brazil.

There may be a lot of top-prospects and guys who have bright futures, but there will always be only one "Phenom."

Chuck 'the Iceman' Liddell

When the UFC was first gaining new viewers following Zuffa's takeover, the poster boy for the company was Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell.

Liddell reigned supreme in the lightheavyweight division for nearly three years. A lethal overhand right punch combined with great wrestling allowed Liddell to keep the belt.

There aren't many fighters who would even attempt to take "The Iceman" as a viable nickname simply because the name will always be synonymous with Liddell. Even people who've never watched an MMA fight know about Liddell.