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Fighters express themselves in several ways and getting inked is one of them. UFC athletes are no different. From newcomers to veterans, champions to greenhorns, many fighters have tattoos. The majority of athletes with them are also often adding to their colelctions of ink.
Fighters like Valentina Shevchenko are more subtle about getting inked. Those like Cody Garbrandt, meanwhile, have turned their bodies into canvases.
There is a wide range of art and designs you can see inked on the bodies of UFC fighters. Amanda Nunes has an armor tattoo on her right hand, Cody Garbrandt's knuckles spell ''true love'' and Tony Ferguson has wings on his back. Countless fighters also have the names of their loved ones inked on them.
Tattoos can become part of a fighter's identity. With that in mind, here is a list of five UFC fighters with the best ones.
#5. Dustin Poirier - UFC lightweight
Dustin Poirier is an accomplished lightweight, with wins over the best in the division. He has beaten Conor McGregor twice and will challenge Charles Oliviera for the 155-pound strap at UFC 269. He also loves getting inked.
Both his arms are covered in tattoos. He has inked the names of some of the most important individuals in his life. The names of his grandmother and mother are on his right hand, while his wife's name is on the left. His daughter's name is on the right side of his chest. On his left pec, the Japanese bushido code is written between tiger stripes.
There is a large tiger tattoo on his upper left arm, along with the magnolia flower. There is also a phoenix and the quote, ''blood bought, paid in full.''
On the right arm, he has flames and a samurai signifying the warrior's spirit. There is also a large rose on his right deltoid, with its petals falling.
Above the knuckles on his left hand, there is the fleur-de-lis. His marriage date is also inked on the side. In the same place on his right hand is a crown. Most of Poirier's tattoos are also colored.
#4. Alexander Volkov - UFC heavyweight
Alexander Volkov is a veteran fighter. He began competing in 2009 and signed with the UFC in 2016. Volkov has also fought in multiple promotions, including M-1 and Bellator.
The 6'7" heavyweight used to have a manta ray tattooed on his upper back. However, that has changed recently. Volkov showed off his new back tattoo to the world at UFC 254. This one, however, is massive and covers his entire back.
The manta ray got replaced by a full samurai helmet. The piece is intricately detailed. The headpiece of the helmet now occupies the place where the manta ray used to be. Below the headpiece is a traditional facemask, which samurais used to wear into battle. Red flames surround the helmet.
Volkov stands out among other tattooed fighters. While many have inked several parts of their bodies, the heavyweight has just one striking piece. It's also quite incredible that the massive tattoo was done in just two weeks.
#3. Max Holloway - UFC heavyweight
Max Holloway is among the best strikers in the UFC. He had a rough childhood and started fighting at a young age. However, the Hawaiian has molded himself into a champion. His tattoos are also unique and tell a story.
While Holloway has quite a few tattoos, they are not too densely packed. On the inner side of his upper left arm, there's the name of the street he grew up on. His right arm has a similarly positioned tattoo of his son's name, with the light of the heavens shining down on it.
The word ''blessed'' covers almost the entirety of his right arm. He also has ''Jesus'' written across the chest, surrounded by Polynesian patterns. There are also small details inside the design, like the two doves which stand for himself and his son.
However, the most iconic tattoos are on his back. They're two wings, like Tony Ferguson's back tattoo, but each is different. One is an angel's wing, while the other is a gargoyle's. According to Holloway, they signify balance, like the yin and yang symbol.
There are also several other small tattoos, including the Holy Cross and Plasm 144.
#2. Isreal Adesanya - UFC middleweight champion
Israel Adesanya quickly conquered the UFC middleweight division. Since then, no one has been able to dethrone him. While he is a phenomenal fighter, he is also a self-proclaimed anime nerd. This unique mix of character traits is evident in his tattoos.
Adesanya has ''broken native'' written across his chest. It's a call back to his days as a dancer. Below it is a map of his home continent, Africa. Below that is a unique tattoo. It's the ocean and moon spirit from the nickelodeon series, Avatar: The Last Airbender. It also simultaneously references the nine-tailed seal from Naruto. He also has a tattoo of his dog, Millionare, on his neck.
There is a large Deadpool tattoo on the left side of his torso. The second Avatar tattoo is on his right forearm and is an image of the character Toph. Calvin and Hobbes occupy the right bicep. There is also a large crocodile dragon on his back, which he designed himself.
#1. T.J. Dillashaw - UFC bantamweight
T.J. Dillashaw is one of the best bantamweights in UFC history. He became the bantamweight champion in 2014 and again in 2016. The former 135-pound king also has arguably the best sleeve tattoos in the UFC.
The lion and the clock on his forearm were the first ones. While the clock signifies a race against time, the lion stands for dominance inside the octagon.
There is also a bee with the wings of a butterfly. It's the visual interpretation of Muhammad Ali's famous quote, ''float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.''
However, the biggest piece is on his upper arm. It's a tattoo of Athena, the Greek goddess of war and wisdom. After beating Cody Garbrandt, he had a hawk inked on his deltoid. He also got a snake tattoo made after Conor McGregor gave him the ''nickname'' during a series of The Ultimate Fighter.
All of Dillashaw's tattoos are full of detail. The one on his outer forearm, however, is more intricate than any other. It's his wife's eye and in the reflection, Dillashaw can be seen holding up the UFC bantamweight belt.
There is also a deer, signifying his love for hunting and a snake forming an infinity sign. The bantamweight's right arm is like a canvas filled with art.
