"The Axe Murderer" and the 10 Most Menacing Nicknames in MMA

Whether it describes their personality, fighting style, or both, the nickname can be a distinct feature of any fighter.

It is almost required for them to have one, and these 10 fighters not only have some of the very best, but they also have the most intimidating nicknames.

Every fighter brings a certain level of danger, and while they don't come with a hazard symbol, they do come with a nickname, and it's their for the same reason.

Top 3 Least Menacing Nicknames

No. 1: Tamdan "The Barn Cat" McCrory

No. 2: Eric "Ravishing Red" Schafer

No. 3: Frank "Twinkle Toes" Trigg

Notable Mentions:

Carlos “The Natural Born Killer” Condit

Kevin "The Monster" Randleman

John “War Machine” Koppenhaver

No. 10: Rick "The Horror" Story

Intense fear is always associated with the word "horror," and this is something welterweight fighter Rick Story likes to make his opponents feel before, during and after they fight him.

His relentless pressure, savage body attack and rock-solid chin can be an intimidating combination, and it has helped him get through very tough fights, including his latest one versus Thiago Alves.

He took bombs from the Brazilian but willed through them to get inside and land shots of his own and secure takedowns to win a unanimous decision.

No. 9: Diego "The Nightmare" Sanchez: Formerly Known as

Now known as "The Dream," Diego Sanchez gave up one of the most suitable nicknames in "The Nightmare," and it fit him well.

Sanchez' has one of the biggest hearts in the sport, and he is an opponent that cannot be beaten mentally. He is always in the fight till the end, and he proved this in his last fight versus Martin Kampmann.

After being bloodied and bruised for the entire first round, he came back and won the second and third to win a very close unanimous decision.

Who wouldn't love to see a fight between "The Horror" and "The Nightmare"?

No. 8: Chris “The Crippler” Leben

Take a shot from Chris "The Crippler" Leben and there's a good chance you won't be standing for very long.

13 of Leben's 25 victories have come by knockout, including ones over Jorge Santiago, Terry Martin and Mike Swick.

His next bout will be against Wanderlei Silva, and that fight has KO written all over it. Who will be the first to fall?

No. 7: Stephan "The American Pscyho" Bonnar

With blood pouring from his head in almost every fight, Stephan Bonnar well deserves the name of the famous book and movie.

With a 13-7 record, Bonnar only has two cut stoppages on his record. If his opponent doesn't cut him wide enough, they will be in for a long night.

Bonnar has literally given buckets of blood to the fans of MMA, and it has made him a fan-favorite.

No. 5: Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell

Chuck Liddell is ice-cold to the very core, and his nickname, "The Iceman," is one of the most fitting nicknames any fighter has ever had.

With devastating knockout power and a fearless fighting attitude, Liddell would eventually land his powerful right hand and put his opponent to sleep. He knocked out UFC Hall-of-Famer Randy Couture, twice.

He is now retired from the sport but still remains part of the UFC, working in the business department.

No. 5: Paul “Semtex” Daley

Paul Daley is the most powerful striker at welterweight, and he has the knockouts to prove it. His left hook is one of the best in the sport.

With 27 wins on his record, 20 have come by knockout, and it usually doesn't take more than one, huge and explosive punch, which has earned him the nickname "Semtex."

No. 4: Quinton "Rampage" Jackson

With a vicious fighting style inside the cage and an intense and temperamental attitude outside of it, Quinton Jackson has rightfully earned the nickname "Rampage."

Fans haven't seen quite the "Rampage" they are use to in his last couple fights. Known for his devastating one-punch knockout power, Jackson has only had one knockout in his last seven bouts.

Maybe we'll see it in his next bout, which should come against current UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion Jon "Bones" Jones.

No. 3: Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos

Current Strikeforce Women's Middleweight Champion Christiane Santos shares the same nickname as her husband, Evangelista.

"Cyborg" cannot be anymore fitting for someone who is indestructible in every sense of the word.

Santos has even contemplated participating in the WWE because of the lack of competition for her inside the cage. She has destroyed everyone who has stepped in front of her and has done it without taking little to no damage.

No. 2: Bob “The Beast” Sapp

330 lbs. of muscle makes up Bob "The Beast" Sapp, and it's not something many fighters probably want to have to deal with. If you didn't have any idea of what he looked like but were told the details, it would even sound scary.

Sapp is an animal, and even if he doesn't have the positive record to back up the characteristics of his physique, there aren't many people who would be willing to fight him without thinking about it first.

No. 1: Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva

Boxing had "The Hatchetman." MMA has "The Axe Murderer."

With the most aggressive, tenacious and vicious fighting style inside the UFC, Wanderlei Silva deserves the name that will always be associated with him.

Silva used this style to obtain a 16-fight win streak while he was campaigning in Pride. Since moving to the UFC, he hasn't been as successful, but it's his fighting style that makes fans want to see him again and again.

23 of his 33 victories have come by knockout, and this includes some over very solid opponents like Quinton Jackson (x2), Kazushi Sakuraba (x3), Guy Mezger and Keith Jardine.