Are you looking for beard inspiration from UFC fighters with beards?
In this article, we’ll list 40 UFC fighters with beards including some of the best and most bizarre.
Contents
- UFC Fighters With Beards
- 1. Abubakar Nurmagomedov
- 2. Alessio Sakara – ‘Legionarius’
- 3. Alexander Gustafsson – ‘The Mauler’
- 4. Andrei Arlovski – ‘The Pit Bull’
- 5. Austen Lane
- 6. Ben Rothwell – ‘Big’
- 7. Bryan Barberena – ‘Bam Bam’
- 8. Brock Lesnar
- 9. Calvin Kattar – ‘The Boston Finisher’
- 10. Carlos Condit – ‘The Natural Born Killer’
- 11. Cody Garbrandt – ‘No Love’
- 12. Chris Barnett – ‘Beastboy’
- 13. Chris Daukaus
- 14. Chris Weidman – ‘The All-American’
- 15. Curtis Blaydes – ‘Razor’
- 16. Dave Herman
- 17. Demetrious Johnson – “Mighty Mouse”
- 18. Dustin Hazelett – ‘McLovin’
- 19. Emil Meek – ‘Valhalla’
- 20. Evan Tanner
- 21. Gerald Meerschaert – ‘GM3’
- 22. Guram Kutateladze – ‘Georgian Viking’
- 23. Jan Blachowicz – ‘Polish Power’
- 24. Jon Jones – ‘Bones’
- 25. Jiri Prochazka – ‘BJP’
- 26. Josh Burkman – ‘The People’s Warrior’
- 27. Johny Hendricks – ‘Bigg Rigg’
- 28. Josh Samman – ‘Anqa’
- 29. Julian Marquez – ‘The Cuban Missile Crisis’
- 30. Kyle Kingsbury – ‘Kingsbu’
- 31. Kelvin Gastelum
- 32. Khamzat Chimaev – ‘Borz’
- 33. Luke Rockhold
- 34. Magomed Ankalaev
- 35. Michael Chiesa – ‘Maverick’
- 36. Paul Craig – ‘Bearjew’
- 37. Roy Nelson – ‘Big Country’
- 38. Tim Elliott
- 39. Travis Browne – ‘Hapa’
- 40. Tyron Woodley – ‘The Chosen One’
UFC Fighters With Beards
In the UFC, it’s not just the fighting skills that catch our attention; the fighters’ unique looks play a big part too. And when it comes to making a statement, nothing beats a good beard.
Over the years, many UFC fighters have shown us beards can be more than just a fashion choice; they’re a symbol of toughness and a badge of honor.
So, in alphabetical order, here are 40 UFC fighters with beards, ranging from brilliant to bizarre.
1. Abubakar Nurmagomedov
Born in Dagestan, Russia, Abubakar Nurmagomedov is a welterweight fighter and the cousin of UFC brilliance, Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Before entering the UFC, Abubakar became a Russian national combat sambo champion and a three-time Combat Sambo World Championship bronze medalist.
2. Alessio Sakara – ‘Legionarius’
A hugely passionate Italian UFC fighter with Rome’s heritage tattooed all over his body, Alessio Sakara was always strapped with a beard when fighting.
Although Alessio was never a UFC champion, he was a fierce competitor who had 15 UFC fights, amassing a 6-8 record with 1 no-contest before being released in 2013.
3. Alexander Gustafsson – ‘The Mauler’
One of the best fighters to win a UFC title, Alexander Gustafsson was a great boxer with elite wrestling skills behind him.
He beat the likes of Glover Teixeira, Jan Blachowicz, and Mauricio Rua – all former UFC champions, while he lost in all three of his UFC title fights, once against Daniel Cormier and twice against Jon Jones.
4. Andrei Arlovski – ‘The Pit Bull’
One of the original beard wearers, Andrei Arlovski has been rocking a beard on and off since 2006. 17 years later and still in the UFC, the Belarusian veteran of 39 UFC fights continues to rock a solid beard.
Andrei Arlovski is the former UFC heavyweight champion, as well as holding the record for most wins in the UFC heavyweight division with 23.
5. Austen Lane
Austen Lane vs. Justin Tafa at UFC on ABC 5
Former American football defensive end, Austen Lane entered the UFC via Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022.
He certainly looks the part, with long dreadlocks and a thicky bushy beard, we’ll find out what he’s about in the years to come.
6. Ben Rothwell – ‘Big’
Known for his ominous presence inside the octagon, Ben Rothwell is a force that commands attention, not just for his fighting prowess but also for his signature rugged beard.
This heavyweight contender, hailing from Kenosha, Wisconsin, carries his beard as a badge of honor – a testament to the many battles he’s weathered, both in life and the UFC.
7. Bryan Barberena – ‘Bam Bam’
Bryan Barberena is an American national of Colombian descent, often carrying both flags to the octagon.
A UFC veteran of 10 years (he joined in 2014), Barberena is known for his boxing skills, his never-die attitude, his unkempt beard, and for living on his farm outside of Knoxville, Tennessee.
8. Brock Lesnar
One of the original UFC legends and beard growers, Brock Lesnar is the former UFC heavyweight champion.
During his UFC title defense against Cain Velasquez at UFC 121, Brock Lesnar sported a Viking-like beard.
However, his beard soon turned red after he was knocked out in the first round, never to be worn again in the UFC.
9. Calvin Kattar – ‘The Boston Finisher’
Never seen without a beard in 12+ UFC fights since joining the promotion in 2017, Calvin Kattar is known for his elite boxing skills.
The American UFC featherweight has secured 11 knockouts in 23 MMA wins and has earned 5 Fight of the Night bonuses for his entertaining fighting style.
10. Carlos Condit – ‘The Natural Born Killer’
An American native of Mexican descent, Carlos Condit is the former UFC welterweight champion.
By many, he’s considered one of the best fighters to never achieve undisputed champion status.
However, Carlos Condit was the WEC’s final welterweight champion before the UFC bought and merged the promotion.
11. Cody Garbrandt – ‘No Love’
Cody Garbrandt is the former UFC bantamweight champion who became known for his boxing skills, being fully tattooed, and rocking a beard when fighting.
He won the bantamweight title by beating Dominick Cruz in 2016 at UFC 207 but was then beaten by T.J. Dillashaw twice in a row.
12. Chris Barnett – ‘Beastboy’
Not the best things to be remembered for, Chris Barnett is very overweight and often sports a beard when fighting.
However, he’s also a 3rd dan black belt in taekwondo and has knocked out opponents with unexpected spinning kicks at the speed of light.
Most notably his spinning wheel kick KO against Gian Villante.
13. Chris Daukaus
A heavyweight with a punch as sharp as the lines of his well-maintained beard, Chris Daukaus is a fusion of power and style.
Balancing his career in the UFC with serving as a police officer, Daukaus proves a strong exterior and a disciplined lifestyle can coexist, both represented by his neatly styled facial hair.
14. Chris Weidman – ‘The All-American’
Chris Weidman is the former UFC middleweight champion remembered for beating Anderson Silva twice, one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time.
In the second fight against Silva at UFC 168, Silva broke his leg after Weidman checked a leg kick. Weidman suffered the same fate at UFC 261 against Uriah Hall.
Following the injury, he had a 2-year layoff and came back bearded.
15. Curtis Blaydes – ‘Razor’
Curtis Blaydes cuts through his competition with precision akin to how he maintains his beard: clean and no-nonsense.
This heavyweight wrestler’s strategic fighting style and his straightforward, trimmed beard showcase his preference for efficiency over flamboyance, making him a distinct figure in the UFC landscape.
16. Dave Herman
Dave Herman was a heavyweight MMA fighter who fought to a 1-4 UFC record before retiring early at the age of 28.
Before his second UFC fight, against Stefan Struve, Dave Herman grew a scraggly beard as well as hair all over his back.
He died his body hair and beard black and proclaimed to the media he was Sasquatch (Bigfoot).
17. Demetrious Johnson – “Mighty Mouse”
One of the greatest MMA fighters of all time, Demetrious Johnson was rarely seen in the octagon without a beard.
18. Dustin Hazelett – ‘McLovin’
Dustin Hazelett’s fighting style is as versatile and unpredictable as the growth patterns of his beard.
Known for his incredible submissions, this welterweight fighter sports a raw, unrefined beard, symbolizing his readiness to adapt and his willingness to embrace the wildness of life and the sport.
19. Emil Meek – ‘Valhalla’
With a Viking spirit, Emil Meek’s presence is as bold as his beard.
This Norwegian welterweight fighter brings a warrior’s approach to the octagon, and his thick, robust beard is reminiscent of the fearless Norse fighters of old, representing strength and an indomitable will.
20. Evan Tanner
Evan Tanner was the former UFC middleweight champion (UFC 51) and one of the first UFC fighters to connect with fans via social media.
He also had a blog where he wrote about his career as a UFC and MMA fighter, and he has an amazing documentary about his life called ‘Once I Was a Champion’.
He didn’t care much for his appearance and often rocked a scraggly beard.
Unfortunately, Evan Tanner was found dead in 2008 at the age of 37 due to heat exposure after a failed trip into the desert of Imperial County, California.
21. Gerald Meerschaert – ‘GM3’
Gerald Meerschaert is as known for his submission skills as he is for his ever-changing facial hair.
Whether he’s sporting a full beard or a simple goatee, Meerschaert’s adaptability in grooming mirrors his flexibility in the middleweight division — a true chameleon in both fighting and style.
22. Guram Kutateladze – ‘Georgian Viking’
An exceptionally skilled kickboxer and mixed martial artist, Georgian Guram Kutateladze loves to sport a bald head and thick beard to every UFC fight.
23. Jan Blachowicz – ‘Polish Power’
The former UFC light heavyweight champion, Jan Blachowicz carries a demeanor as calm and composed as his neatly trimmed beard.
Hailing from Poland, Jan showcases that behind his disciplined striking and power-packed punches lies a man who values order, control, and a good trim.
24. Jon Jones – ‘Bones’
The greatest MMA/UFC fighter of all time, Jon Jones doesn’t often grow a beard before fights, and for good reason.
He looks about 5 to 10 years older with a beard, as he did when he returned to UFC 197 after a year layoff due to steroids.
25. Jiri Prochazka – ‘BJP’
From the Czech Republic, former UFC light heavyweight, Jiri Prochazka, has been one of the most entertaining UFC fighters since joining the top MMA promotion in 2020.
Part of the reason he’s so entertaining is his uniqueness, and part of his uniqueness is his crazy hairstyles and iconic beard.
26. Josh Burkman – ‘The People’s Warrior’
Josh Burkman competed in the UFC between 2015 and 2019, earning a 1-8-1NC UFC record.
And despite his beard at times making him look like a dwarf from The Hobbit movie series, it was still much better than his performances in the octagon.
27. Johny Hendricks – ‘Bigg Rigg’
Johny Hendricks is a former UFC welterweight champion, after beating Robbie Lawler to a unanimous decision at UFC 171 for the vacant belt.
He was another UFC fighter always with a beard and a very scraggly one at that.
28. Josh Samman – ‘Anqa’
Unfortunately, Josh Samman passed away in 2016 due to a drug overdose. He was still an active UFC middleweight at the time, with a 3-2 UFC record.
He often changed his hairstyle, from short, to long, or braided, but most of the time he had an epic beard to go with it.
When he matched his beard with long hair, he looked like Aquaman.
29. Julian Marquez – ‘The Cuban Missile Crisis’
One of the best Cuban UFC fighters, Julian Marquez has recently made huge strides in his UFC performances.
Along with his skills, his beard has to be one of the best in the UFC currently, as it’s always trimmed to perfection while maintaining an impressive length.
30. Kyle Kingsbury – ‘Kingsbu’
Retired yet remembered, Kyle Kingsbury’s stint in the UFC’s light heavyweight division was marked by his eclectic personality, mirrored by his experimental beard styles.
From a full bushy beard to a minimalist chin strap, Kingsbury’s facial hair was an external testament to his internal mantra of living life on his own terms.
31. Kelvin Gastelum
One of the UFC’s most entertaining welterweights/middleweights, Kelvin Gastelum is rarely without a well-trimmed beard.
He last fully shaved his beard in 2020, updating his followers on Facebook about how he’s never shaving his beard again.
32. Khamzat Chimaev – ‘Borz’
Khamzat Chimaev has taken the UFC by storm, destroying those in the welterweight division with his outstanding wrestling before moving up to middleweight.
Chimaev sports a typical Muslim beard, which is to cut the mustache short and leave the beard as it is (grow it out).
While not the tidiest, his beard adds to his intimidating demeanor.
33. Luke Rockhold
The former UFC middleweight and Strikeforce champion, Luke Rockhold was mostly clean-shaven or had light stubble throughout his career.
However, he fought against Michael Bisping at UFC Fight Night 55 in Sydney with an unkempt beard, showing UFC fans why he’d never grown it out before.
The beard makes him look about 10 years older and uninterested in reclaiming his title.
34. Magomed Ankalaev
Emerging from the mountains of Dagestan, Magomed Ankalaev brings a piece of his heritage to the octagon with a traditional beard that complements his stoic persona.
This light heavyweight fighter’s beard is not just about style; it’s a nod to his roots, a constant reminder of the rugged terrains that forged the fighter he is today.
35. Michael Chiesa – ‘Maverick’
Michael Chiesa is very fond of beards, often taking the ‘I don’t care what others think of me’ approach when deciding what to do with his own.
Chiesa’s beard looked most insane when he had extremely long hair, especially between his UFC debut in 2012 and 2016 in his fights against Al Iaquinta, Jim Miller, Beneil Dariush, and Jorge Masvidal.
He looked like the kid in Jumanji (1995), Peter, after he turns into a monkey.
36. Paul Craig – ‘Bearjew’
Scotland’s finest, Paul Craig is one of the best Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighters in the light heavyweight division and in the promotion overall – currently 1 shy of Glover Teixeira’s record of 7 UFC submissions.
He’s another UFC veteran who’s long-sported a beard. When asked about his beard, Paul Craig revealed the secret to the aesthetics of his beard is “P**sy Juice”.
37. Roy Nelson – ‘Big Country’
Roy Nelson earned his way into the UFC by winning The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights (Season 10), competing there between 2009 and 2018.
During these years, Roy Nelson competed as a heavyweight when he should’ve been a welterweight.
He failed to his body fat, and he also often failed to cut his overgrown beard. The result? He had the appearance of someone who’d had one too many.
38. Tim Elliott
Tim Elliott against Zach Makovsky at UFC Fight Night 60
Tim Elliott won The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions (Season 24) in 2016 and has competed in the UFC on and off since 2012 (11+ years).
Over this time, Tim Elliott has mixed up his look, sometimes braiding his hair and generally having different hairstyles and beards in terms of style and length.
Depending on what he chooses, he can look like a completely different person.
39. Travis Browne – ‘Hapa’
Travis Browne vs. Fabricio Werdum at UFX on Fox 11
Competing as a UFC heavyweight between 2010 and 2018, Travis Browne had a wonderful ginger beard.
It must’ve looked great because he dated Ronda Rousey in 2015, and he’s not the best-looking bloke to have graced the octagon.
40. Tyron Woodley – ‘The Chosen One’
Tyron Woodley is the former UFC welterweight champion with 4 successful title defenses.
During his UFC tenure, many fans admired Woodley’s well-manicured beard, which he said required a daily routine.
His routine involved Dove shampoo and conditioner, combing to remove knots, followed by moisturizer made from hibiscus and shea butter.
Some joked he had a beard to hide his weak chin, which seems to be true since he got knocked out by Jake Paul in 2021.
