What do Nick Diaz, Mirko ‘Cro Cop’, Takanori Gomi and Rich Franklin all have in common? Well apart from all being natural southpaws, recent studies suggest they are more likely to be affected by fear.

Scientists from the Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, Scotland, found that when left-handed people were placed in frightening situations, they exhibited more symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder than their right-handed counterparts. 

Dr. Carolyn Choudhary, who led the study, said: “It may be because the right side of the brain, which is dominant in lefties, is more involved in the fear response.”

Yet if the theory is true, it fails to explain how all of the fighters above can boast a bloody brace of devastating knockouts and a fine collection of title belts between them.

However, recent studies also argue that lefties are more susceptible to anger and aggression. 

A small study published last year in the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease found that the brains of lefties process emotions differently than those of righties, with more communication between the brain’s two halves. As a result, the areas that produce negative emotions, such as anger and aggression, experience greater activity.

As fear can drive aggression, this may be the missing link as to why these fighters are some of the greatest to ever grace Strikeforce and the UFC. And a reason why Homer Simpson should beware iconic lefty Ned Flanders!