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UFC is home to some of the most talented Mixed Martial Artists in the world, with many of them performing at the top level after years fighting in promotions around the world. It is where the Creme De La Creme comes to perform.
As such, the brutal nature of Mixed Martial Arts means that it is not for anyone and everyone. Instead, it is only those who are sure of their ability to perform take part in. These fighters usually have skills in one of the many areas, be it striking, grappling, wrestling, submissions etc. or all of the areas put together.
As a result, not too many normal people can perform at such a level. This does not hold true for at least one category, however.
Usually, action movie stars are actors who have may or may not have specialised knowledge of the sort of action which they partake in. Just like they are given a script to work from, their moves are also choreographed for them. However, every once in a while, there is an actor who is as knowledgeable in the art of combat and knows exactly what to do in it.
They are masters in combat themselves and don't need choreography. In all truthfulness, it is likely that they would end up being extremely comfortable in the UFC.
In this article, we will talk about five action movie stars who would succeed in the UFC.
#5 Steven Seagal
The first man on this list began his adult life as a Martial Arts instructor in Japan. Coming to that later, Steven Seagal achieved mainstream success when it comes to his movies in the 90's. His movies Hard to Kill, Marked for Death and Out for Justice were all successes in the box office, and from there, his film Under Siege helped him become a common name for action movies.
While he would go on to do many more films and direct to video movies, as well as television reality series' it is time to take a look at Seagal's credentials in Martial Arts.
As a child, Seagal had been frail and had been suffering from asthma. A Japanese man in a dojo in California hired him, and while working for him was suggested to visit Japan.
While in Japan, he would train in Martial Arts. He later gained the 7th-dan black belt in aikido. His knowledge in the combat form only increased in the coming years, as he would teach in his wife's dojo.
He would later open a dojo with a senior student, Haruo Matsuoka. He also assisted in the training of Lyoto Machida and would help Machida learn the front kick, that knocked out Randy Couture.
#4 Jet Li
One of the most accomplished and well-known actors from the Chinese film industry, Jet Li made it big in the world of both films and martial arts. His films Fist of Legend, Shaolin Temple, Hero, as well as the Once Upon a Time in China series, all won him great acclaim in Chinese Cinema.
He made his entry into main-stream English Cinema and Hollywood, with Romeo Must Die, and was a big part of Lethal Weapon 4. His films Kiss of the Dragon, Forbidden Kingdom and Expendables saw him win a lot of praise.
Before starting his film career, however, he trained for a long time in the art of Wushu, under teacher Wu Bin. Due to this training, he was able to win the National Championship for the Beijing Wushu Team. Li did not restrict himself to any one style of Wushu, and by the time he retired from competitive Wushu, he was the master of several different styles.
#3 Chuck Norris
If there is one name everyone in the world is familiar with, it is Chuck Norris. THE action star of the previous generation, Norris has starred in many Blockbuster action movies over the years making him one of the most famous actors in all of Hollywood. His fame has even made him the receipt of a lot of praise, with many of his fans comparing him to a God.
With films like Delta Force, Lone Wolf McQuade, Top Dog, Silent Rage under his belt his resume, when it comes to Hollywood remains huge without the shadow of a doubt.
When it comes to Martial Arts, he lived up to the hype associated with his name by inventing his own form of martial arts, called Chun Kuk Do. Based on Tang Soo Do, the martial arts was also derived from every other form of martial art forms that he knew.
The Chun Kuk Do world championship tournament is held every year in Nevada.
#2 Jean Claude Van Damme
The Belgian Actor is primarily well known for his Martial Arts Films and Action films. Those saw him come to the fore of Hollywood. With Bloodsport, The Kick Boxer series, the Universal Soldier series, as well as Double Impact and Street Fighter, Van Damme made quite an impact on the world of action films.
Before coming into the world of films, he had a career in Kickboxing as well as Semi-contact or light contact combat sports. The fighter who would later be better known as an actor found success in this area.
He trained in full-contact karate and kickboxing under his teacher, Dominique Valera. Before this, through sheer hard work, he had earned a spot in the Belgian National Karate Team. Van Damme started to compete in karate by the age of 15. In Semi-contact fights, he held an impressive record of 44 victories with only 4 losses.
His Kickboxing career was no less impressive. He earned 18 victories, with only 1 loss to his name, during his entire time there.
#1 Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee is one of those stars who has achieved immortality due to his work in both martial arts and the way he depicted the same in the films that he acted in.
Lee started from a young age, mastering the art of Wing Chun, under Ip Man, or Yip Man. Ip Man used to train students in the martial arts forms and discourage them from fighting in the street, by helping them to compete in organised tournaments instead.
Later during his time in the United States, it was Lee who was the teacher. He taught Jun Fan Gung Fu, which was his own approach and twist to Wing Chun.
He would also appear at the Long Beach Karate Championships where he demonstrated his famous one-inch punch. He notably had a controversial match in private with Wong Jack Man.
This fight would lead to Lee changing his Martial Arts philosophy, adopting a style called Jeet Kune Do, which was based on practicality, flexibility, speed, and efficiency. He called it the style of no style.
Although he had an immensely lucrative career in Mixed Martial Arts, his film career is not far behind. His films, The Way of the Dragon, Fists of Fury, Enter the Dragon, and Game of Death all saw him get a lot of acclaims. He died at the mere age of 32, due to a 'death by misadventure' when a form of tranquillizer was found in his system.
He would still be one of the top men in the UFC in his prime if at all given the opportunity.
