Best UFC Fighter Nicknames

UFC fighters are best known for their fighting skills, which ultimately give fans maximum entertainment, which includes looking at MMA odds before critical showdowns. Through their top-notch skills, nicknames were coined for them, adding to their popularity and prominence in the MMA scene and throughout the combat sports community.

But who among the UFC stars have the best fighter nicknames? How did they earn it? And what is the story behind it? Here are the four fighters in UFC history with the best fighter nicknames.

Anderson Silva – The Spider

Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva’s nickname “The Spider” started when he was fighting in Brazil, where an announcer introduced him as the country’s version of the superhero because he was wearing a Spiderman shirt. Silva lived up to the nickname and moved like it, which made him a beloved athlete to fans. 

Since then, he has embraced it and become a dominant fighter, and he brought this in his journey under the Las Vegas-based promotion, where he became the middleweight champion and was able to defend his title multiple times.

The Spider strikes gold again 🕷🏆

Anderson Silva officially enters the #UFCHOF Pioneer Wing!

[ B2YB @ToyoTires ] pic.twitter.com/KL2TcSC7kv

— UFC (@ufc) July 7, 2023

Silva was like Spiderman when he fought in the UFC, which he believed made him earn the moniker due to the resemblance of his movement to the popular superhero. He became one of the greatest fighters in the sports’ history and often a UFC odds favourite when he stepped into the Octagon.

Chan Sung Jung – The Korean Zombie

Chan Sung Jung’s iconic nickname, “The Korean Zombie,” has fittingly described him as a fighter who keeps going despite being beaten up and bloodied by his opponent. His nickname was immortalized because it almost became his real name, and fans recognized him more for that alias.

From WEC ➡️ to UFC…

Thank you for the memories, @KoreanZombieMMA 👊🇰🇷 #UFCSingapore pic.twitter.com/9RJtEbLqYQ

— UFC (@ufc) August 27, 2023

The UFC even used it as his name in official fight posters in which he was headlined because of his incredible heart. Jung competed in 12 UFC fights and was a two-time UFC featherweight title challenger. Unfortunately, he came up short in both opportunities. He finished his pro career with a record of 17-8 before officially retiring in August 2023.

Conor McGregor – The Notorious

Conor McGregor is no question the most famous fighter in UFC history, as he helped the promotion reach a different level of publicity. Even before stepping inside the Octagon to fight, he was nicknamed “The Notorious” because he had always gotten into trouble since he was a kid.

McGregor carried this to the Las Vegas-based promotion, lived up to the nickname, and became a notorious fighter almost every contender sought to fight. However, he also experienced troubles outside the cage and got into several controversies.

Carlos Condit – The Natural Born Killer

Former UFC welterweight champion Carlos Condit has arguably one of the coldest nicknames in all of sports due to his moniker of “The Natural Born Killer.” He secured this nickname because of how aggressively he fights inside the Octagon. This style has helped him win nine victories in the UFC.

8 years ago, on January 2, 2016, we witnessed one of the greatest fights in UFC history: Robbie Lawler vs. Carlos Condit at UFC 195.

Round 5 of their epic battle was one of the greatest rounds of a title fight that you'll ever see.

Lawler and Condit have always embodied… pic.twitter.com/E0wijRRgpw

— AFeldmanMMA (@afeldMMA) January 2, 2024

Although he failed to defend his title during his reign, Condit was part of some of the best fights in UFC history, including his fight against Robbie Lawler in January 2016 at UFC195, where they put up an all-time classic. Ultimately, he received a split decision loss to Lawler but left an indelible mark to fans.