15 Hollywood Actresses Who Would Make Great MMA Fighters

What does it take to be a MMA fighter?

A person would have to be humble, a hard worker and pretty brave to say the least. This isn't an application to become a WWE Diva or Lara Croft in the next Tomb Raider film.

When you step into the octagon, there is another human being standing across the cage coming to hurt you. There aren't any storylines, breaks or smoke and mirrors. What you see is what you get.

Throughout generations, actresses have entertained millions by honing their craft and showcasing their hard work on the silver screen. While the majority of female actors are delegated to more sensitive roles, there are those who possess the brawn, beauty and wit to tackle the action genre.

How would a leading lady fare in an actual combat situation?

As long as Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos keeps her distance, it isn't far fetched to believe that some actresses may be able to hold their own at a beginner's level.

Some of these women are already gifted athletically, and all of them have starred in a film or television show that has required knowledge in a particular area of combat. Bear in mind, they would have to leave all forms of modern and medieval weaponry at home.

It probably still wouldn't save them against Santos, but a BJJ instructor would most likely freak out if a student came to class with a samurai sword or a semi-automatic pistol.

Who are these ladies again?

Without further ado, here are 15 Hollywood actresses who would make great MMA fighters.

15) Hilary Swank

Lyoto Machida proved at UFC 129 that Mr. Miyagi's old tricks are capable of getting the job done in the octagon.

Hilary Swank is truly the last Karate Kid, and she uses her skills to embarrass a random high school thug in a street fight.

One of Swank's more successful roles was as Maggie Fitzgerald in Million Dollar Baby. Clint Eastwood produced and directed this masterpiece that saw himself turning a female amateur boxer into a professional superstar.

14) Uma Thurman

Throughout her acting tenure, Uma Thurman has caused more blood shed than any woman on this list.

The violence displayed in Kill Bill turned what was supposed to be an action flick into a modern day horror film for some.

"Do you want to be a (expletive) fighter?" UFC President Dana White made this line famous, and there is no doubt that Thurman could be the most suited actress to answer the call.

13) Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley's heart definitely makes up for what she lacks in physical stature.

Amidst a predominantly male cast, she was still able to shine in all of her action sequences in Domino and Pirates of the Caribbean.

It's dangerous to underestimate a woman, and Knightley is always successful at driving that point across.

12) Summer Glau

Summer Glau could turn to MMA if her short-lived television shows keep getting canceled.

The Cape was the most recent casualty, but her fighting skills were better shown in Serenity and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

Who knows? Maybe Glau still has some leftover metal in her chin.

11) Carrie-Anne Moss

Don't expect the next Anderson Silva.

Unlike her Matrix co-stars Keanu Reeves and Hugo Weaving, Carrie-Anne Moss wasn't able to dodge bullets. Instead, she relied on countless hours of intense training and studying Kung Fu.

10) Kate Beckinsale

Kate Beckinsale would probably have to leave the vampire fangs at home to avoid another Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield incident.

Outside of fangs and a vast amount of medieval weaponry, Beckinsale is more than welcome to bring all of the hand-to-hand combat skills she acquired in shooting the cult hit Underworld.

9) Charlize Theron

To be a MMA fighter, a person has to make a big commitment and show an incredible amount of dedication.

There aren't too many actresses who truly dedicate themselves to their craft like Charlize Theron. As far as fighting goes, she flaunted some newly-acquired skills in the box office flop Aeon Flux.

8) Lucy Liu

Lucy Liu tends to let her fists do the majority of her talking.

Unfortunately, she is mostly remembered for her role as Alex Munday in Charlie's Angels, but there is far more to this heroine than cheap thrills and outlandish stunts.

She is a true martial arts student with plenty of experience in various aspects.

7) Zoe Saldana

Zoe Saldana proved in The Losers that she didn't need a James Cameron script or an enormous blue CGI model to be imposing.

She had no qualms about mixing it up with Jeffrey Dean Morgan in an unforgettable motel room fight scene.

If Saldana can hold her own against the hulking Morgan, it would be interesting to see her receive the necessary training to compete against other women of the same size.

6) Angelina Jolie

Perhaps the biggest star on this list, Angelina Jolie is the epitome of a female action icon.

Along with gracing the covers of a multitude of magazines, Jolie is constantly deemed by media outlets as one of the world's sexiest women.

She has been known to subject herself to intense training rituals to prepare for big screen action roles.

We've seen her curve bullets in Wanted, but her portrayal as Evelyn Salt took the term badass to a whole other level.

5) Rhona Mitra

Ali G Indahouse was perverted and admittedly entertaining, but Rhona Mitra's true coming out party as an action superstar was in Underworld and Doomsday.

Mitra's rare mesh of strength and beauty is unrivaled in the movie industry.

This is definitely a similarity shared with the "Face of Women's MMA" Gina Carano, who brandishes both looks and an incredibly hard right hand.

4) Milla Jovovich

If you're one to mistake beauty for weakness, it would be wise to run the other way when you see this Ukrainian bombshell coming.

Milla Jovovich has developed a knack for kicking ass and taking names. She doesn't discriminate against the alive or the undead.

In movies like Resident Evil and Ultraviolet, every person or creature in Milla's way is dispatched of in pretty much every way conceivable. She currently practices BJJ and a variety of other martial arts.

3) Michelle Rodriguez

Very few, if any, Hollywood actresses exhibit the grit and toughness found in S.W.A.T. and Fast and the Furious star Michelle Rodriguez.

If her on-screen demeanor translates to her fight preparation and in-ring ability, Santos wouldn't be the only fighter Strikeforce has a hard time finding an opponent for.

2) Michelle Yeoh

Michelle Yeoh Choo-Kheng is probably the most deserving actress featured on this list.

She was ranked by Rotten Tomatoes in 2008 as the greatest action heroine of all time. Most remember her for her masterful performance in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Despite her martial arts accomplishments on the big screen, Yeoh hasn't had any formal training. She relies heavily on her dancing background, a natural athletic gift, and incredible flexibility.

Age could be the primary roadblock for her MMA debut. The Malaysian actress turns 49 in August.

1) Chloe Moretz

Are you shocked?

Well, so was just about every other moviegoer who witnessed this young phenom in Matthew Vaughn's 2010 film Kick-Ass.

Along with best breakout star, Chloe Moretz took home a MTV Movie Award for biggest badass.

There is nothing more shocking than watching a seemingly harmless little girl viciously murder countless baddies.

At only 14 years of age, Moretz would have plenty of time to develop her MMA skills and round off her game.