When used effectively, the art of trash talk can be both a boon and a weapon for the fighter using it. Take, for instance, current UFC lightweight champion and soon-to-be-father Conor McGregor. The champ knows his way around a promo; perhaps better than anybody in the game of mixed martial arts.

McGregor has shown that he can simultaneously drive pay-per-view and ticket sales through the roof with a single soundbite; undoubtedly driving his own financial figures up as a result. The Irishman is able to take up temporary (and sometimes permanent) residence in an opponent’s head, where he quickly goes to work with a metaphorical pickaxe, mining for fear and doubt.

In most cases, by the time the Octagon door closes he’s already won. All that’s left is the follow-up face punching.

Of course, we have seen plenty of other fighters use trash talk over the years, though sometimes it works against their favor rather than for it. Chael Sonnen – who recently signed with Bellator to take on another man known for talking smack in Tito Ortiz – not only took shots at Anderson Silva but the entire country of Brazil as a whole, resulting in an uproar from Brazilian fans and even some media members.

While he helped garner a massive amount of interest in the fight by playing a heel role, a few comments may have crossed the line in Silva’s mind, who made short work of on fight night at UFC 148.

In the video below, we take a look at a few of the best trash talkers in the sport of MMA and why they’re considered as such, according to YouTuber MMA Release.

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Who would you include on this list?

Ray Higginbotham is a writer and avid fan of MMA. For more content like this, follow him on Twitter @_MMARAY and check out his Facebook page while you’re at it.