The Best MMA tattoo ideas with photos

Since the beginning of MMA fighting, tattoos have often been featured on the bodies of MMA fighters. Whether this is seen in amateur, local promotions, or at the pinnacle of UFC fights, it’s fair to say that many MMA fighters like to tattoo their bodies. Sometimes, these tattoos are corny and look bad, whereas other times they can look very appropriate and inspired.

In this article, we shall look at the best MMA tattoo ideas. This goes for any budding MMA fighter who wants to use tattoos to show meaning, or just for fans who are looking for something to represent their beliefs in the form of body artwork. We shall also be breaking down what these tattoos mean and why certain fighters have them.

The best MMA fighting tattoo ideas

MMA gloves tattoo

A common MMA tattoo design is a pair of hanging MMA gloves. Originally, this design was used in boxing and it shows the life of a fighter. Some people also have these gloves positioned in a prayer position, to give them luck, strength, and protection when fighting by god. In some cases, some people will also have a tattoo of hand wraps as well, as opposed to gloves.

Most commonly, this tattoo features on the chest or stomach of fighters and is a timely reminder of their profession and lifestyle. If you see this tattoo on someone, it’s fair to assume that they’ve been involved in MMA or martial arts at some point. If they haven’t then arguably, it’s a bit of a fake tattoo in terms of what it’s meant to represent.

Sak Yant Muay Thai tattoo

Obviously, a big part of MMA involves Muay Thai. It’s fair to say that without the use of Muay Thai, MMA would look vastly different in terms of striking and clinch work. One famous UFC fighter who has Sak Yant tattoos is Ciryl Gane. This is because before his move to MMA, the Frenchman had a career in Muay Thai and really lived the Muay Thai lifestyle.

Over the years, the application of Sak Yant tattoos has sadly gotten watered down. Originally, they were done by Thai monks and these were given to those deemed good enough to have them done. These days, anyone can have a Sak Yant tattoo as you can literally walk into a tattoo parlor and ask for one. However, if you really want one then it’s probably best to have at least trained and fought in Muay Thai at some point as otherwise, it’s quite misleading – especially when you think about the culture of honor and tradition that is attached to it.

Animal warrior tattoo

Perhaps one of the most iconic MMA tattoos ever is the gorilla king eating a heart which is loudly displayed across Conor McGregor’s chest. This style combines artwork from traditional Japanese methods as well as neo-traditional tattoo work.

Obviously, it’s a clear statement piece but also looks incredibly unique. If we’re to break down what this tattoo means – then it represents a few things. Firstly, the gorilla is wearing a crown, meaning that it’s the king of the jungle or the top predator.

This is obviously fitting for a UFC champion. Secondly, it looks aggressive and is eating a heart, which is to warn opponents not to cross the gorilla. Ideally, the tattoo is meant to represent the fighting – which is spot on for McGregor who dominated MMA at one point. Of course, you shouldn’t directly copy McGregor’s tattoo but you can opt for similar predator animals such as lions, sharks, and tigers.

Samurai warrior tattoo

One of the more common (if not cliched) MMA tattoos is the depiction of a samurai warrior. As many MMA fighters view themselves as modern samurai, this tattoo design makes sense. Famously, UFC fighter Alexander Volkov had a huge samurai mask tattooed across the length of his back.

Whilst most tattoos aren’t this extreme or large, they’re still pretty prominent in MMA. Thankfully, when most MMA fighters go into battle, they aren’t risking death, unlike the Japanese samurai. However, it’s still a scary prospect to risk your health and defend your honor. Sometimes these tattoos are also accompanied by katana swords, masks, and armor. Although this style has been used many times before, it’s arguably timeless and should only be done if you’re truly serious about fighting.

Japanese Kanji MMA tattoo

As many martial arts came from Japan, some fighters pay their respects by getting Japanese texts written on their body. One example of this can be seen with Georges St. Pierre who had ‘Jiu Jitsu’ written on his chest in Kanji. Although more subtle than most MMA tattoos, it still has a powerful meaning.

GSP is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under John Danaher and takes it pretty seriously. Because of this, a number of his victories were scored by submission and his grappling was brilliant during his fighting days. This tattoo is a reminder to himself and others about the hard work and lifestyle he put in to become a legend. Remember, Jiu Jitsu isn’t just a martial art, it’s also a lifestyle and GSP lives in a very stoic, humble way. With this in mind, his tattoo is perfect, and whilst it says a lot, it’s still not as loud or flamboyant compared to many other MMA tattoos out there.

Gladiator armor tattoo

Similar to the samurai MMA tattoo, some fighters opt for gladiator-style tattoos as well. One of the most popular gladiator tattoos is the imitation of shoulder armor. Here, people will make it look as if their shoulder has a piece of metal protecting it, with more metal running down the arm. Honestly, this looks pretty awesome and some of the intricate details can make it look even better.

If the comparison between MMA fighters and samurai is a little too far, then the comparison between MMA fighters and gladiators is much more realistic. This is because MMA fighters are effectively modern-day gladiators and prize fighters who literally fight for their income.

Sword and dagger tattoos

Another image that is synonymous with fighting is the sword or dagger. Whilst using blades is obviously illegal in MMA, it’s more about what they represent rather than literally stabbing someone. Often, MMA fighters will have blades tattooed on their body which is symbolic of their own body.

For instance, if you have a sword tattooed on you – then it could mean that you’re a warrior. Similarly, it could also mean that you view your body as a weapon that is on a level with a sword. In other words, you’re dangerous. Ex-UFC champion Brock Lesnar famously had a huge sword tattooed running down his chest. Whilst some people saw this as trashy, it’s undeniably iconic and summed up his warrior lifestyle perfectly. Of course, most sword and dagger tattoos aren’t nearly as big but they can still represent the same thing.

Celtic and tribal tattoos

Whilst these tattoos have a lot of crossover to life outside of martial arts, they’re still very common within the MMA world. For instance, fighters of Celtic descent may choose to have Celtic imagery and patterns tattooed on them. Usually, these are on their shoulders or may act as sleeves as well. On a similar note, fighters from islands may also opt for tribal tattoos which also represent their background and heritage.

The likes of Robert Whittaker (originally from New Zealand) has a tribal tattoo on his shoulder which may be a shout-out to his Maori roots. One thing worth mentioning about this style is that it’s a bit odd getting it if you have no connection to the original culture. During the 2000s, many people got tribal tattoos despite not being from certain parts of the world. Although they may look nice, arguably this is a bit cheesy. Of course, there’s nothing stopping you from doing this but it kind of defeats the purpose and lacks any deeper meaning.

Cyborg MMA tattoo

One of the cooler MMA tattoos going around is the cyborg design. This is where it’s made to look like you’re actually a cyborg who has a robotic body underneath your skin. To do this, tattoo artists will give the illusion that your surrounding skin has been torn off. Underneath this is a mixture of metal, circuits, and mechanical artwork.

If done correctly, this style looks awesome. The point is to intimidate your opponent into looking like you’re an undefeatable cyborg. If you’ve ever seen the movie Terminator, then you’ll get the point. Internally though, it could also act as a badge of honor that you also view yourself as a cyborg who is indestructible. In some similar cases, fighters also use the ‘under the body’ style to show a chain link fence instead. This is to show their respect to the MMA cage as if it is literally under their skin – as MMA is such a huge part of their life.

Black belt tattoo

For some MMA fighters, they will tattoo a black belt onto their skin. The point of this is to show homage to their main martial art. This sort of tattoo is particularly common with BJJ practitioners, who may have trained in BJJ for years before transitioning to MMA. Such is the love for their original discipline, that they may even wear a gi to the cage. So, out of respect, they get a black belt tattooed on them. It’s almost like they’re representing BJJ in MMA.

Similarly, you can also see this with other black belts such as those with a Karate or Judo background. There are many creative ways to get a black belt tattooed on your body. Obviously, if you see this in the cage then it may make you respect your opponent more as it shows they’re a specialist in at least one area.

Conclusion

So there you have it. As seen, there are lots of MMA-style tattoos that you can use for inspiration. Remember, these should be used as a template as it’s not very original to completely copy someone’s tattoo design. Of course, it’s up to you but ideally, your tattoo should have some kind of personal meaning behind it. At the same time, remember to choose your MMA tattoo wisely as well, you could be stuck with it for life!