In the world of mixed martial arts, image and persona often play a significant role in a fighter's career. While some fighters are known for their elaborate hairstyles, others have made a statement with a clean, bald look. This article celebrates those iconic UFC fighters who are remembered for rocking bald heads, highlighting their achievements and contributions to the sport.
Included in this list are fighters who are remembered for rocking bald heads. It doesn’t include fighters who’ve had hair for the majority of their career and are now bald.
Here is a list of some of the most memorable bald fighters in UFC history:
List of Iconic Bald UFC Fighters
- Alexander Volkanovski - ‘The Great’
- Anderson Silva - ‘The Spider’
- Anthony Smith - ‘Lionheart’
- Bas Rutten - ‘El Guapo’
- Ben Rothwell - ‘Big’
- B.J. Penn - ‘The Prodigy’
- Brandon Vera - ‘The Truth’
- Cheick Kongo - ‘The Darkness’
- Cyril Gane - ‘Bon Gamin’
- Daniel Cormier - ’DC’
- Demetrious Johnson - ‘Mighty Mouse’
- Derrick Lewis - ‘The Black Beast’
- Georges St-Pierre - ‘Rush’
- Glover Teixeira
- Jeff Monson - ‘The Snowman’
- Junior Dos Santos - ‘Cigano’
- Keith Jardine - ‘The Dean of Mean’
- Kevin Ferguson - ‘Kimbo Slice’
- Kamaru Usman - ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’
- Randy Couture - ‘The Natural’
- Ronaldo Souza - ‘Jacare’
- Stefan Struve - ‘Skyscraper’
- Tito Ortez - ‘The Huntington Beach Bad Boy’
- Wanderlei Silva - ‘The Axe Murderer’
- Yoel Romero
Profiles of Select UFC Bald Fighters
Alexander Volkanovski - ‘The Great’
Alexander Volkanovski is an Australian beast, considered the greatest UFC and MMA featherweight of all time ahead of Jose Aldo and Max Holloway. Once upon a time, he had a little bit of hair, but he’s remembered for his long-time bald look which adds to his intimidating presence in the Octagon and makes him look like a garden gnome.
Why Alexander Volkanovski is Better than Everyone | UFC Documentary
Bas Rutten - ‘El Guapo’
One of the best Dutch UFC fighters of all time, Bas Rutten’s legacy in the UFC is as solid as his bald head. He was a three-time King of Pancrase world champion and he also became the UFC heavyweight champion.
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Ben Rothwell - ‘Big’
Standing at an imposing 6’4″, Ben Rothwell is a seasoned veteran of the UFC’s heavyweight division. Ben Rothwell looks like Kratos and is easily recognizable with his bald head, hairy chest, and carrying a few extra pounds around his midsection. Still, he’s quick and powerful and competed in the UFC for 13 years since 2009.
B.J. Penn - ‘The Prodigy’
B.J. Penn is known for his extreme flexibility, forward pressure style, and exceptional submission prowess, becoming the first non-Brazilian to win in the black-belt division of the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Cheick Kongo - ‘The Darkness’
Frenchman Cheick Kongo is considered a veteran in the MMA world and has had a long and successful career - fighting in the UFC for 7 years between 2006 and 2013 and having 46 MMA fights. Cheick Kongo started kendo and karate at the age of 5 and earned black belts in both martial arts. His UFC career was filled with memorable moments, including his epic comeback victory against Pat Barry.
Daniel Cormier - ’DC’
Daniel Cormier, an American mixed martial artist, and former Olympic wrestler, is considered one of the greatest fighters in the history of MMA. His baldness is very much part of his image, and once had hair painted on his head before the Johnson vs Bader in 2016.
Derrick Lewis - ‘The Black Beast’
Derrick Lewis is known for his devastating knockout power which has led to him securing the most knockouts (KO/TKO) in UFC history with 13.
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Georges St-Pierre - ‘Rush’
Georges St-Pierre, often referred to as GSP, is a retired Canadian MMA fighter. He defended his welterweight title a consecutive 9 times, a record in the UFC welterweight division.
Georges St-Pierre may lack hair, but he is nothing if not style. Bald looks odd on some guys: indentations, pointed noggins, scars, moles, and other blemishes make a Bic job a risky proposition. But GSP’s buzzed cranium is just like his fight game - clean, well-rounded, and polished to perfection.
It’s his skill and his look that have made GSP what he is today: the UFC Welterweight Champion, a fan favorite, a fitness-empire founder, a Men’s Health cover model. And Rush doesn’t even need hair to do it.
Junior Dos Santos - ‘Cigano’
Considered one of the best Brazilians and all-time greats of the UFC heavyweight division, Junior Dos Santos was a very entertaining fighter. Dos Santos’ best wins came against Derrick Lewis, Tai Tuivasa, Stipe Miocic, Mark Hunt, Frank Mir, Cain Velasquez, Stefan Struve, Mirko Filipovic, Fabricio Werdum, and the list goes on.
Randy Couture - ‘The Natural’
He’s a six-time UFC champion, having become a heavyweight champion three times, a light heavyweight twice, and also the UFC 13 heavyweight tournament champion. Outside of the cage, Randy Couture started a successful gym chain and clothing line, Xtreme Couture MMA. Post-fighting, Couture has made significant strides in the entertainment industry, with notable roles in the “Expendables” franchise and other films.
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Wanderlei Silva - ‘The Axe Murderer’
Silva’s martial arts journey began at the age of 13 with Muay Thai and kickboxing at the Chute Boxe Academy in his hometown of Curitiba, Brazil. Wanderlei Silva, given the nickname Sakuraba Hunter for his time spent in PRIDE, is one of the most famous and brilliant MMA fighters of all time.