The old saying goes, there is honor amongst thieves, in today’s world that may or may not hold true but what is generally true across the board in the sport of mixed martial arts is good old fashioned chivalry, honor, and mutual respect. When two trained and competent martial artist test each other’s skills there is usually a great respect between the two that is shared…usually.
What we are looking at today are five of the dirtiest fighters in mixed martial arts. Everything from fake glove touches to eye pokes to groin kicks and everything in between was taken into account and by no means is this list inclusive however; below you will find five of the dirtiest fighters to ever step inside the ring and/or cage.
5) JR Fuller
In today’s world of political correctness it has been commonplace for fighters to touch gloves at the beginning of a bout in a show of mutual respect. This gesture has actually become so commonplace that it is now expected at the sound of the opening bell. Never one to shy away from a cheap shot JR Fuller decides to expose his opponent in the ultimate betrayal of comradery…and rightfully pays the price!
4) Cheick Kongo
Throughout one’s career people develop habits and patterns that allow them establish a nickname or to be known for certain submissions, i.e. choke artist or hands of stone well Cheick Kongo has earned himself a keeper! Enter Cup Cheick Kongo. His list of victims is endless and includes Mirko Cro Cop, Mark Hunt, Travis Browne, Roy Nelson and many others.
3) Jon Jones
Jon Jones is one of the most talented, athletic, powerful, and graceful athletes we have ever seen in the sport of mixed martial arts. He truly embodies the word phenomenal when it comes to his athletic capabilities. Unfortunately, he also has a unique propensity to make people dislike him.
From his felonious out of the cage activities involving multiple incidents with drugs, moving vehicles and the legal system to his in cage antics, it is easy to see why this man made our list.
In the same manner that Cup Cheick Kongo likes to kick people in the groin, Jon Jones simple LOVES to poke people in the eye! His list includes but is not limited to Shogun, Lyoto Machida, Daniel Cormier, Rampage, Glover Teixeira, and Alexander Gustafsson to name a few…and did I mention he also likes to kick people DIRECTLY in the knee.
2) Mike Kyle
This guy is not even close to a one time offender in the realm of cheating or playing dirty. With repeated groin shots and eye pokes under his belt, Mike Kyle decided to up his cheating game when he bit Wes Sims in their bout.
His resume also includes a DQ when he punched Travis Wiuff after the bell, a draw when Krzysztof Soszynski could not continue due to getting thumbed in the eye, and who could forget when he attempted to soccer kick Brian Olsen’s head into the third row when it was a known rule that soccer kicks were illegal.
1) Gilbert Yvel
The number one man on our list of dirtiest fighters is a man that makes Mike Kyle look like Mother Theresa. Not only does Yvel like to kick people in the groin, poke them in the eye, and bite them, he also has a propensity to turn his aggression on to the referee. As a matter of the fact, he has not one but two disqualifications under his belt for knocking out or choking out the referee! Not exactly a take home to mom type of fellow!
BONUS: Rousimar Palhares
Rousimar Palhares’ UFC career ended when he refused to let go of a kneebar on Mike Pierce even after Pierce had tapped and the referee had intervened. Palhares also denied accusations that he deliberately cranked on his fight-winning kimura in the moments after Shields submitted. Rousimar is currently banned from fighting in the UFC and the WSOF.
