Tito Ortiz and the Biggest Egos in MMA History

We've all heard the humble yet cliché statements from fighters looking to make a name and hopefully some fans in the sport. Newcomers in the sport don't want to step on anyone's toes. Veterans don't want the world to think the fame has gone to their heads. 

But what about the ones who dare to cross social boundaries? What about the athletes who could care less what you or anyone else thinks?  

Several fighters have been known for their "bad boy" images and their complete disregard for social norms that deem a person modest and respectful.  

This class of fighter creates creates their own norms, which usually includes flipping off crowds, cursing at the audience and disrespecting authority, advertisers and more accomplished fighters.  

These fighters go against the grain in many ways and usually aren't ashamed to admit it. Picking the most egotistical from this bunch is a true challenge and shouldn't be attempted by those that are faint of heart.  

Josh Koscheck

Josh Koscheck dominated Georges St-Pierre in the one-sided war of words that preceded their 2010 meeting in the Octagon.  Unfortunately, for him, it didn't transfer over to his title fight with the Canadian champ at UFC 124.  

St. Pierre seemed to thwart the trash-talker's game plan with ease, breaking his orbital bone in the process. Koscheck spent an entire season of The Ultimate Fighter not only coaching upcoming fighters, but also taunting his opponent—the welterweight champion. 

The pent-up displeasure with the former American Kickboxing Academy fighter that the Canadian audience had accumulated during the fall of 2010 was finally set free when Koscheck appeared before the audience of 23,000. That crowd showed their support for their champion and their hate for his challenger with their downpour of boos and "F*ck You, Koscheck" chants.

Fans became acquainted with the hell raiser on Season 1 of TUF. He left his mark on the show with his endless pranking of fellow contestants and an inability to avoid drama.  

With his geeky imitations and lack of respect of the champ, Koscheck will be forever remembered as a fighter who fans love to hate.

Nick Diaz

By flipping off opponents and crowds, taunting and slapping fighters in the cage, fighting in a hospital and blowing off UFC press conferences, Nick shows us how highly he regards himself. His utter disregard for whatever opponent he faces is very apparent during his matches

Diaz doesn't participate much in pre-fight trash talk, but his demeanor in the cage speak loudly about his unconcern for the skill set of his opponent. Diaz taunts his opponents by dropping his hands and making faces at them to show his indifference to anything they throw at him.

It's truly a demoralizing feat that sometimes turns to embarrassing. During his interim championship match with Carlos Condit at UFC 143, Diaz slapped Condit open-handedly in the face during his usual hand-dropping and face-making routine.

After losing by decision, Diaz expressed his disdain for the judging system and announced his retirement, stating "I don't need this sh*t."

His controversial personality is something fans and non-fans will never forget about him.

Jon Jones

The youngest of the group, Jon Jones is a prime example of when a humble fighter goes brash. After an astonishing run in 2011, Jones' head has inflated just as fast as the skill level of his opponents.  

Jones didn't become champion until after UFC 128, but he didn't let that stop him from signing autographs as the champion before stepping in the cage with Shogun. Also, he won't sign your replica belt because you didn't earn it. 

From making statements like: “I think once you start to think that you’re the man, and you know it all, and your style is unbeatable and stuff like that, that’s when you get caught and clipped, and get humbled really fast” to proclaiming: "I do believe my own hype," Jones has ascended into an unprecedented level of arrogance in any fighter as young as he is.

His greatest opponent, and former teammate, will attempt to humble him in a few weeks at UFC 145.

Brock Lesnar

Known as possibly the biggest draw in the organization, Brock Lesnar is also known to have possibly the biggest head. Disrespect the fans and your opponents all you want but don't even think about doing the same to the advertisers, says UFC President Dana White.

After dealing a savage beating and trash talking to his rival, Frank Mir, flipping off the crowd, and encouraging the shower of boos, Lesnar said he'd be having a Coors Light that night since Bud Light apparently refused to pay him what he feels he's worth. He made his forced apology after being chewed out by White backstage.

Lesnar made a career out of arrogant showmanship in the WWE and apparently some of it carried over to his career with the UFC.  

Tito Ortiz

Disrespect can't get any more blatant than wearing a t-shirt that names the boss as your b*tch. Tito Ortiz did just that at the UFC 84 weigh-ins.

During his reign as champ, Ortiz constantly reminded us of how good he was. He's famous for his multiple rivalries, especially his falling-out with former teammate Chuck Liddell.

While humble in defeat, Ortiz will forever be known as one of the most arrogant athletes in MMA.

Chael Sonnen

As quite possibly the most self-absorbed, arrogant, disrespectful and egotistical fighter in the history of the sport, Chael Sonnen appears to be capable of stating anything with a confident smile, no matter how outrageous.  

Prior to his championship match with Anderson Silva in August of 2010, Sonnen talked his way to fame and angered a lot of Brazilians in the process. His outrageous tactics to draw some sort of response from his humble rival never cease to amaze me.

One of the most outrageous antics Sonnen performed was his possession of a plastic replica belt at a press conference last year. He proclaimed himself the champion and that he stole the belt from Silva's home in the night.

Sonnen's highlight reels of absurdity deservedly garner much more attention than the highlight reels of his fights.

Without his loud mouth, Sonnen would be just another name on Anderson Silva's list of title defenses.