Issue 037

May 2008

1 Chuck Liddell’s primal scream

There’s nothing fancy about Liddell’s post-victory ritual, but it is definitely one of the sport’s most memorable. After battering his opponent into the ground he runs around the Octagon, arms outwardly extended, roaring with primal joy at the fact he’s just proved to the world he’s a better fighter than his rival. Those familiar with nature documentaries about the great apes might be struck by the similarity with a triumphant silverback gorilla, fresh from handling a challenge from an upstart member of the troop.

2 Tito Ortiz’s ‘Digging the Grave’ 

Certainly not a spontaneous outburst, the always-controversial Ortiz first debuted his grave digging routine a few years back as part of his brilliantly conceived marketing plan to turn himself into the sport’s ultimate ‘Bad Boy’. Essentially a one-dimensional, often dull fighter, Ortiz quickly realised that personality was paramount and set about creating his onscreen ‘character’. Outspoken in interviews, routinely donning pre-printed, derogatory t-shirts about his opponents (the most infamous of which was ‘Gay Mezger is my bitch’), he also started to mime laying out a bodybag for his beaten opponent before theatrically digging the hole for their corpse. Tasteless to be sure, but original and very memorable.

3 Bas Rutten’s split kicks

When the aggressive, charismatic Dutch kickboxer entered the insular world of Japan’s Pancrase organisation in 1993 he was not a popular man among his peers. Practically all the promotion’s native fighters were trained in the same way – a style that emphasised submission artistry. Rutten stormed in and obliterated people with vicious kicks and concussive palm strikes (punches to the face were outlawed in those early days). To add insult to injury, he celebrated each victory by facing each side of the ring and then leaping high in the air with a spectacular jumping split kick rarely seen outside the world of videogames and martial arts demonstrations.

4 St. Pierre’s breakdancing

Georges St. Pierre is known as one of the sport’s most talented and athletic fighters, but when he busts out his trademark post-fight celebration you wonder if he could have cut it as a professional dancer instead. Dropping to his back, he windmills his legs before kipping up to his feet, rounding it off with a nice back somersault. 

5 Mark Coleman takes to the air

UFC Hall of Famer Coleman’s triumph in the original Pride Grand Prix was likely the highlight of his long fighting career. But it isn’t so much his tournament victory that is renowned, but more the way he celebrated it that is so fondly remembered to this day. Elated after his decision win over Akira Shoji, farcical forfeit victory over Kazuyuki Fujita and triumphal battering of Igor Vovchanchyn, Coleman leapt onto the corner’s ring ropes but managed to miss his footing, catapult himself off the middle rope and back into the ring onto his head, landing with all the grace of a sack of potatoes – a classic MMA blooper.