Issue 211

November 2024

Ray Klerck unpacks how beards might be giving MMA champions an edge, from reducing punch impact to damage control and projecting dominance.

There’s a word for the UFC champions who don’t wear a beard: a woman. Alex Pereira is excluded. He’s a devilishly handsome enough rooster who flip-flops between bearded and clean-shaven. Look at the UFC’s current champions roster and you’ll note that there’s a lot of facial fluff on display. These crumb catchers have found a home in the Octagon and, other than left-over noodles, hide plenty of other secrets. Sure, these beards do vary by degree. Some are Viking-like, while others seem like something a movie character battling the bottle would wear. While these beards may seem like an aesthetic decision, in a sport where the margins between victory and defeat are a hair’s breadth away, then one of the most underrated tools in a fighter’s arsenal may be their face fluff. Beards can project dominance, absorb punishment, and embody culture, which might be where some Samson-like power is stockpiled.

BEARDS RULE THE BELTS

The UFC isn’t alone in the chin strap trend. Things are growing hairier across all of MMA. Have a squizz at the men’s champions in other MMA organizations like Bellator, KSW, and ONE, and you’ll find more beards than bare chins. Many of the sport’s most dominant fighters - past and present - have been bearded warriors, which science says is a smart move. A paper in the journal Integrative Organismal Biology suggests that beards might be more than a fashion statement; they could be nature’s built-in defense mechanism against a clenched fist. The research was crafted to stress test how much impact a chin could absorb with and without facial hair. They found that a full beard can reduce the force of a punch by up to 30%, offering some protection to the jawbone – MMA’s KO bullseye. This research showed that bearded jaw models fared better against blunt trauma than clean-shaven ones, suggesting facial hair disperses energy from strikes. These results only appeared in one study, so it’s not carved in stone, but if you look at the fighters who have never been knocked out, guys like Khamzat Chimaev and Chito Vera have almost always worn a beard with their gloves. Each whisker may help them absorb lower levels of cumulative damage over a grueling five-round title fight. 

THE BEARD AS INTIMIDATION

Beards don’t just shield against jabs - they project manliness. The pre-fight intimidation is something many MMA fighters use to squirrel doubt into their opponent’s confidence before a punch is thrown. A paper in the journal Archives in Sexual Behavior says facial hair enhances perceptions of anger and dominance. They are seen as older and more formidable. A bearded fighter often exudes an aura of primal aggression that may unsettle his opponent. The lion’s mane analogy is apt - beards signal strength and masculinity, creating an implicit warning to rivals. That said, it really is all just for show. Different research in the same Archives in Sexual Behavior journal found bearded men don’t have more testosterone and aren’t more dominant in any way. It’s all about the chest puffing for the face, and for fighters like Makhachev and Leon Edwards, this psychological edge is amplified by their calm yet commanding demeanors. Whether it’s a glare during a pre-fight stare-down or how a fighter carries himself in the cage, the beard tells opponents that the big gorilla has arrived. 

CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE

The beard embodies a more profound religious significance for the numerous Muslim fighters. In Islam, beards can be a symbol of piety and discipline, which shows that you are someone who observes the traditions of this religion. Champions like Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov have consistently shown these character traits and worn their beards as symbols of these values. Their beards are part of their image as a respectful yet absolutely ruthless competitor. This cultural weight extends beyond their personal identity - it connects them to their Islamic fans and communities worldwide, who might see their victories as triumphs for their religion as a whole. In this instance, the beard is more than just a personal choice. It is a representation of their dedication to their faith and the beliefs of their people. When they stroll into the Octagon, they carry the weight of a broader cultural narrative, making their presence all the more imposing.

HIDING WEAKNESS

Chin warmers don’t just amplify the perception of aggression. They can also obscure a fighter’s vulnerabilities, making them the Swiss Army knife of masculinity. Research at the University of England found that sadness and fatigue are much more challenging to read on a bearded face, giving fighters a subtle psychological advantage during high-pressure moments. The researchers believe beards emphasize the jaw, so it’s easier for someone to recognize emotions like anger while hiding signals of sadness. Confidence and focus are what winners are made of, so masking those fleeting moments of doubt or fatigue can make a real difference in the middle of a fight. As a bonus, beards can also help obscure minor cuts or any signs of swelling, making it harder for opponents to target weak areas. While referees and corner teams will always spot significant injuries, the beard adds an extra layer of ambiguity. This cerebral sleight of hand may help fighters maintain their poker face when the battle gets rough.

BEARDS AND REGULATIONS

The rules around beards are as thin as a teenager’s first attempt at growing one. Can you grab it while grappling? What happens if this happens accidentally? Well, the rules governing their length and presence can sometimes lead to controversy. In 2016, UFC welterweight Emil Meek was famously asked to trim his beard by the Ontario Athletic Commission before his fight at UFC 206. There were safety concerns - such as preventing cuts or abrasions caused by beards rubbing against opponents - to more dubious claims like ensuring beards can’t be grabbed during grappling exchanges. When put under the microscope, many justifications fell apart because hair-pulling is prohibited in MMA. All beards count as hair, and the instances of fighters using them as a grip are pretty much non-existent. The inconsistent enforcement of these rules across jurisdictions adds to the confusion. While some commissions insist on tightly trimmed facial hair, others, like Texas, openly admit they don’t regulate facial hygiene. Fighters have to navigate a patchwork of rules, but for the most part, they’re not considered an advantage or disadvantage while grappling. 

BEARDS AREN'T JUST STYLE POINTS

Alex Pereira is always going to be an outsider. He’s probably the world’s most exciting fighter and the lone clean-shaven UFC champion. His sharp chin is a reminder that beards aren’t yoked to championship belts – he’d need two beards for that. His clean-shaven status is only mentioned because it highlights how rare it is to see an MMA champion without a beard. MMA’s beards are seldom discussed, mainly because they’re seen as a grooming preference. After all, peak beard was at least a decade ago and most MMA stars are almost always on trend. Instead, beards are now protective, psychological, and cultural tools that contribute to a fighter’s aura of dominance. In the same way that the family popcorn bowl is also sometimes the vomit bowl, beards have multiple uses. Whether absorbing blows, intimidating opponents, or symbolizing discipline and tradition, facial hair might be a minor factor in the success of many top fighters, but it’s still a factor. The beard has become part of their identity as MMA evolves into a sport where psychological warfare is as vital as the physical prep. And if you’ve got a face only a fist could love, then applying the lumberjack chic look to your grill seems to be a good stand-in for a weak chin.