Mixed martial artists are commonly compared to modern-day Roman gladiators. They fight for a living, making a competition out of the brutal sport. Each star varies in size, but they are all fierce competitors ready to put their bodies on the line for entertainment and fame.

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Most MMA stars not only live a crazy fighter lifestyle, but they have the look of someone who would be intimidating compared to the average person. Part of that means that the star has some extraordinary tattoos that define who they are. Since they have their bodies on display, some stars make an art of them. This is true in UFC and elsewhere!

10 Brock Lesnar

Current WWE star and former UFC Champion Brock Lesnar has some iconic tattoos visible on his body. When he started his WWE career, he was well known for the giant demonic skull tattoo he has on his back. That and his size made him one of the most intimidating stars that the sport has ever seen.

Once Lesnar got into MMA, he adapted his look, tattooing the one tool every gladiator needs, a sword. Lesnar displays his sword on his chest with pride, showing that he is always ready for a fight.

9 Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor is one of the most entertaining stars to ever come out of MMA. He is a household name because of his skills, his attitude, and his look. McGregor holds himself to a high standard and his tattoos visualize his cocky persona.

On his chest, he has a gorilla with a crown, showing that he is the king of the sport. On his stomach, he proudly displays his last name. Underneath that is a tiger, one of the most dominant animals in the jungle.

8 Israel Adesanya

Israel Adesanya will go down in UFC history as one of the best fighters that have ever graced the Octagon. He has multiple tattoos that define who he is as a person. On his chest, he has a tattoo that says "Broken Native" to remind him of his struggles.

He has a tattoo of Nigeria placed on his stomach; this is to represent his homeland. He has a few anime tattoos and a tattoo of Marvel's Deadpool, which show his love for those things. Finally, Adesanya has a portrait of his dog on his neck.

7 Shad Smith

As the first openly gay fighter in MMA, Shad Smith has been making an impact in the sport for years. He has a pretty impressive record, while also having some impressive tattoos on his body. For example, he has a tattoo of the popular brand TapOut across his stomach.

On his chest, he has a shark and a vicious dragon taking up each of his pectoral muscles. On his back, he displays his last name with flames coming out the top. The most impressive tattoo he has is the shark tattoo he has on the back of his head. It takes a strong person to put up with the pain of a head tattoo.

6 Valentina Shevchenko

UFC flyweight star Valentina Shevchenko is as tough as she is beautiful. She has multiple tattoos that back up her vibrant fighting style and aggression. Her most notable tattoo is the handgun that she has on her hip. Shevchenko has been very vocal about her love of guns and is an advocate for them.

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She has a few other tattoos that define her lifestyle, for example, she has a tattoo on her shoulder that represents her culture. She also has a Thai deity on her side, which is an honored symbol for many boxers.

5 Cody Garbrandt

When speaking about MMA stars with tattoos, Cody Garbrandt needs to be included in every list. The fighter has over 30 tattoos on his body and each of them were well-thought-out. On his chest, he has a very religious piece that also represents his family.

Above that, he has a tattoo to represent the Twin Cities which is where he is from. Garbrandt has a traditional Japanese tattoo on one of his arms as well. Most of his tattoos all over the rest of his body follow the same theme of religion and family.

4 Amanda Nunes

Amanda Nunes will go down in MMA history as one of the toughest women to ever compete in the sport. She has over five tattoos with each of them being as impressive as her MMA career. On her shoulder, for example, she has a portrait of herself with the face of a lion attached to it.

On one of her arms, she has an owl, this is to represent the strength and protection that an owl brings. On her other arm, she has a shield and armor. This shows that she is a warrior and is willing to fight for what she believes in. Overall, that would represent her very well because she is a female warrior in the Octagon.

3 Dustin Poirier

UFC lightweight competitor Dustin Poirier got his first tattoo at just 14 years old. Since then, he has gotten over 25 different tattoos and wears them with pride. On his chest, he has his daughter's name tattooed as well as stripes to represent his fighting ability.

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On his arm, he has stars coming out of fire. This tattoo is supposed to represent Poirier's relationship with God. On his other arm, he has a very cool Japanese samurai mask. The samurai were fighters much like Poirier.

2 Max Holloway

As a UFC Featherweight Champion, Max Holloway has been the face of the division. Holloway's tattoos provide fans an insight into who he is as a person. For example, he has Jesus's name tattooed right across his chest; joining the list of fighters that have faith in God.

Around that tattoo is a Polynesian-themed tattoo. The reason this represents him is that it shows he has peace and strength. Holloway's most iconic tattoo is the one on his arm that says "Blessed". His nickname is "Blessed" Holloway, and it represents how he feels as an individual.

1 Alexander Volkov

Alexander Volkov is a Russian fighter with over 20 knockouts to his name. He does not have many tattoos, but he does have a massive tattoo on his back. Volkov's tattoo is of a Samurai helmet, and it takes up his whole back.

This tattoo has come to define his entire career. Due to its size and its detail, Volkov has implied that the tattoo represents his strength and mentality.