Nick Diaz, BJ Penn and the 20 Most Fearless UFC Fighters

You have to have the utmost respect for any athlete that locks himself in a cage with a man who is looking to knock your head off or break your arm.

At the highest level, there are ways to go in there and "run" and "pray" and fake your way safely through a fight.  Defense and stall tactics can be a skill indeed.

It is the guys who go into the fight fearlessly, move forward and unleash their will who ultimately leave the biggest mark and impression on fans.

A fearless fighter is hard to measure by statistics, knockouts or submissions, but he is known and appreciated more than any "safe" unbeaten fighter will ever be.

Here are the 20 Most Fearless Fighters In the UFC.

20. Josh Koscheck

UFC welterweight top-10 Josh Koscheck has always carried himself with a swagger worthy of a champion.

It must have been developed from his championship wrestling days.

It has been impressive how Koscheck has evolved his game into one of the most fearless fighters in the game.

He's not afraid to tell all what and who is on his mind.  He is also not afraid to take on any challenge inside or outside the cage.

Being a coach on TUF, facing Georges St. Pierre for the title in Montreal and stepping in to face a legend in Hughes is full proof of that.

19. Urijah Faber

Urijah Faber does not look like the kind of guy that likes to get in there and fight against ugly, bulky tough men.

He is great example of why you can't judge a book by it's cover.

Faber is pretty big with no fear, and the skills to back it up.

Faber has been in this game a long time.  He holds a 25-5 record. 

His fights against the likes of Dominick Cruz, Brian Bowles, Mike Brown and Jens Pulver shows that he is not afraid to get in there and mix it up with the best.

Mix it up he does, as Faber does not rely solely on his superior wrestling for his wins.

18. Stephan Bonnar

Stephan Bonnar is 6-7 in the UFC including his loss to Forrest Griffin in their epic fight on TUF 1.

A closer look at that loss tells you all you need to know about "The American Psycho".

Win or lose, Bonnar lays it out there with no fear.

He came into the UFC more as a grappling ace.  He quickly gained a reputation not very far from his nickname.  His fights are wild, brutal and very entertaining.

It takes no fear to fight the way Bonnar does. We are all better for seeing it.

17. Dan Hardy

It was extremely ironic and fitting that Dan Hardy fought Chris Lytle in the last fight before Lytle turned the lights out on his career.

Hardy, if he could somehow get a win, could easily take up the role of fearless fighter that Lytle held in the hearts of fans around the world.

Hardy makes no secret that he is a fearless striker who is not the best at wrestling and holding.

He likes to go out and bang away and will fall on his sword before he changes to a safer style.

Hardy also possesses championship heart, as his fight for the title clearly displayed.  

16. Jon Jones

There are some who may argue with Jones' inclusion on this list but it is his actions of this past year that has placed him in it.

Anyone who can jump from fighting Ryan Bader, to directly challenging one of the most feared strikers in the game in Shogun Rua is a fearless kid indeed.

Follow that up by taking on one of the baddest punchers in the UFC in Quinton Jackson, to now having the enigma that is Lyoto Machida staring at him, Jones has not really had much time to be scared in 2011.

So far he has met every challenge at only 24-years of age.

15. Mark Hominick

Many people know Mark Hominick from his courageous fight with Jose Aldo at UFC 129 in April. That fight alone could land him on this list.

Of course, Hominick has been carving out a fearless path in this sport for many years leading up to that night.

They call him "The Machine" for a reason.  Hominick just keeps coming forward in his fights, looking to precision strike you weary, and then load up for the kill.

No matter what you do to him, he will come forward with no fear until either you decide to quit, or the bell rings to end the fight.

14. Melvin Guillard

Being fearless has a fine line and Melvin Guillard always seems to be on the brink of crossing it.

Guillard is confident, brash and even cocky sometimes heading into his fights and it sometimes leaves him open to fatal mistakes.

Never-the-less, he is fearless indeed and he looks to come straight out and knock you out.

Wins against Jeremy Stephens, Shane Roller and Evan Dunham displayed the positive of his explosive, no fear style.

Losses to Nate Diaz, Rich Clementi and recently Joe Lauzon showed the negative.

Sometimes you have to fight with caution to avoid mistakes, but I won't tell Guillard that if you don't.

13. Donald Cerrone

Donald "The Cowboy" Cerrone has developed quite a reputation for being a fearless UFC competitor based on his willingness to step up to a fight on short notice throughout his fighting career.

Many guys say they are willing to "fight anyone, anywhere, anytime" but Cerrone actually does it.

He is set to do it again this month as he faces Denis Siver as a late replacement for Sam Stout.  You can bet Cerrone will go in there and stay on his feet with Siver.

Conventional wisdom says that Cerrone has a real advantage on the ground in this one. That's all a fighter like Donald needs to hear to rebel and keep it banging.

12. Cheick Kongo

There have been many fights over the years where fans have been disappointed by Cheick Kongo and his inability to improve his ground game.

There have also been many fights over the years where I have been extremely happy he doesn't have one.

Kongo is a feared striker and he has really developed into a fearless, entertaining fighter despite his short comings against top competition.

Kongo is a chiseled man who could probably wrestle and throw his way through some fights.

Fights with Antoni Hardonk, Mostapha Al Turk and most recently Pat Barry are good examples of a fearless Kongo.

11. Quinton Rampage Jackson

I'm sure that Quinton Jackson is afraid of a lot of things, like having to do another A-Team movie, or another interview with a Karen Bryant.

He certainly has no fear when he steps inside the octagon.

If there is a tough man out there at 205-pounds, then Rampage Jackson has faced him.

From taking on Wanderlei Silva in his hey day in Japan, to knocking out the dangerous and favoured Chuck Liddell, Jackson has faced them all in his career.

He has beaten almost all of them.

Rampage will not back up or hide once he is in a fight. He will stand and trade and get in close no matter what.

10. Pat Barry

Pat Barry makes this list on his frame and style alone.  He is a very small and compact fighter to be fighting in the heavyweight division.

He has had to face some of the longest and meanest in the game and has not taken a step back in any of those fights.

Barry is a striker at his core and he has vicious leg kicks in his arsenal.

All of Barry's fights have a fearless and entertaining style and he has a legion of fans following him because of it.

I see Barry having a very exciting career, although I'm afraid it's going to be a short one.

9. Antonio Rodrigo Nogeuira

Not much can be said about the fearlessness displayed in the career of Antonio Rodrigo Nogeuira.

His opponents and fights are legendary with the way that Big Nog always showed incredible heart.

He has faced all the biggest and baddest men in MMA history, mostly in the prime of their careers and won more than he has lost.

Before you can go in there and show incredible heart, you must be somewhat fearless.

Nogeuira's resume includes the likes of Fedor Emelianenko, Randy Couture and Cain Velasquez.

Nogeuira started out as a BJJ specialist but he doesn't fight all his fights on the mat as he prefers to stand and fight.

8. Frankie Edgar

Frankie Edgar has always been a little man in a big man's game, and has never stopped him fro getting what he wants in his life and career.

When you live in that reality, fearlessness grows from deep inside you. Edgar has developed and recently perfected this skill.

Almost every fighter he faces is a bigger man than he is.  Gray Maynard was a perfect example.

Edgar has had many men try to come in the cage and bully him but Edgar has met every challenge head on.

A Maynard trilogy and BJ Penn twice will tell you all you need to know about Edgar.

7. Chris Leben

One may question the dedication and technique of "The Crippler" Chris Leben, but you certainly can't say that he isn't scared of much in life.

His upbringing and past aside, Leben has shown that he is not afraid of anyone who the UFC wants to throw in front of him.

Leben made this list on the strength of the last year and a half of his career starting with his short notice victory over Yoshihiro Akiyama, facing Brian Stann and Wanderlei Silva in succession.

These are tough, skilled men that Leben has stepped up to with no fear.  He has put his career in a very nice spot.

6. Dan Henderson

Dan Henderson has always struck me as one of the coolest and toughest men to ever grace mixed martial arts.

His fights in the Pride organization are the best example of someone coming out and throwing with reckless abandon.

Age has done nothing to dispel that notion.

Aside from Wanderlei Silva, Henderson holds some of the most raw and brutal knockouts in Pride history.

His fights in the UFC against Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort, Rich Franklin, Rampage Jackson and a beauty Strikeforce bout against Fedor are further proof that fear is not a factor with Hendo.

5. Wanderlei Silva

It has been a tremendous career for Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva. For a span of ten years or so he would have topped this list.

Silva is the perfect example of a fearless fighter. He has one of the biggest fan following's in the MMA world because of it.

No one will ever forget the fear he instilled in his opponents with his crazy stare. It was his own willingness to go for broke that made him the man he is.

Unfortunately, that style brings consequences and they are catching up to Silva today.

You can't teach an old dog new tricks. I'm sure there will be fireworks when he faces Cung Le later this year.

4. Chael Sonnen

If Anderson Silva is the most dangerous man in the world right now, doesn't that mean the man who insults him has absolutely no fear?

Chael Sonnen is one fearless dude for the way he has treated Anderson Silva over the years.

He beat Silva up when all else seemed terrified to go near him. He has called him out to do it again.

He has even said that he will retire if he can't beat Silva this time.

Sonnen has fought and destroyed many with his wrestling dominant style.

He doesn't throw you down because he is scared to fight.

He throws you down, gets on top and then continues to beat on you until you can get him off.

There is no fear in that.

3. Carlos Condit

Carlos Condit is the "Natural Born Killer" for a reason.

He has 32 professional fights and a whopping three have gone to a decision.

Condit's style tows that very fine line of fearless and reckless but make no mistake, there is nothing wreckless in his technique.

His last fight against Dong Hyun Kim was a perfect example of how a fearless fighter can go in and throw to finish the way that Condit has done in many of his fights.

He comes at you, can strike with the best and win, like he did with his right hook to the button on Dan Hardy.

I was really looking forward to the fight that Condit would have made for GSP.

2. Nick Diaz

Despite all that is going on and all that has gone on in the life and career of Nick Diaz, he is still one of the best and most fearless fighters of all time.

He may have a fear of crowds, interviews and camera's but when it's time to fight, which is what matters most, Diaz always brings an exciting show.

I love it when Diaz tries to get a fight going by raising his hands high over his head to entice the fighter to come and get him.

He isn't afraid to punch with the best like Paul Daley or Scott Smith. He isn't afraid to roll around with the best like he did with Karo Parisyan and Diego Sanchez.

Either way, Diaz fights an exciting fight without any fear of what a loss or a beat down would do to his status.

1. BJ Penn

BJ Penn has built the kind of career that has earned him one of the most fearless fighters in MMA history let alone the UFC today.

He burst on the scene with very little experience to great success, then went against the organization and went to Japan and fought at many catchweight's.

A fight at almost two hundred pounds against Lyoto Machida comes to mind as a great challenge to the natural 155-er.

Penn has also challenged two of the most dominant champions in UFC history in GSP and Matt Hughes with no fear for himself or his legacy. 

It's not just his fighting up in weight that is fearless, when Penn gets in there he looks to finish. He comes right out for the kill and it is only his cardio that sometimes stalls his effort.

There are many right behind him gaining ground fast, but BJ Penn remains the most fearless fighter in the UFC.

I'm looking forward to a fight between him and No. 2 Diaz.

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

Catch him on Facebook and Twitter at wakafightermma.