Issue 167

May 2018

Trash-talking aims to get under opponent's skin to throw them off their game. Here's the six fighters who are best at it.

1: THE HYPE MAN - CHAEL SONNEN

No one had ever run his mouth like ‘The American Gangster’ did on his quest to get a shot at Anderson Silva. Sonnen talked his way into becoming one of the biggest stars in the sport – despite never being in the top spot in any division.

2: THE MOTORMOUTH - CONOR MCGREGOR

‘The Notorious’ is successful with his torrent of verbal jabs at opponents because, probably more than anyone, he gets them mad. So many opponents let their emotions get the better of them and become easy targets for that left hand.

3: THE WISE-CRACKER - 'RAMPAGE JACKSON'

Always charismatic and entertaining at a press conference, and likely to make everyone fall about laughing. Chances are that would have been at the expense of his opponent. Few fighters have attracted such a big fanbase and his still follows him to this day.

4: VERBAL BEATDOWNS - DOMINICK CRUZ

The former 135lb champ doesn’t scream and shout; he just has a way of savaging rivals, or even guests on Fox broadcasts, by ridiculing their intellect and picking apart their excuses and clichés.

5: THE TOUGH TALKERS - NICK & NATE DIAZ

Pulling a mean mug, getting in people’s faces and spitting venom at anyone; that’s not part of their crew. There may not be much thought behind their words, but it’s bad-ass and gets fans fired up.

6: THE POT-STIRRER - MICHAEL BISPING

Whatever you think of the former middleweight champion, there’s no doubt he has an uncanny ability to get under opponents’ skin. There’s rarely anything especially clever about his insults, but he gets people to pay attention and remained a huge UFC star for 12 years.