Intimidation is a huge factor when it comes to success in MMA or any other kind of combat sport, but who are some of the scariest UFC fighters to ever enter the octagon?

Former UFC Middleweight champion Michael Bisping recently discussed some of the most fearsome fighters to ever put on a pair of UFC gloves, and there were some notable behemoths in the lineup.

Whilst this probably isn’t the list that many may have chosen (he’s gone prior videos mentioning the likes of Brock Lesnar as some of the scariest ever, hence why he isn’t on this lineup), there are some big names on this list.

Here are the 5 fighters that Michael Bisping has claimed as some of the scariest in the history of the UFC, including Shane Carwin and Conor McGregor.

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Most intimidating UFC fighters ever

Speaking on his YouTube channel, the UFC commentator Bisping would start by saying that the art of intimidation, or at least trying to intimidate your opponent, was a big part of his own UFC career.

“If they are anything like I was through my career, they also spend a lot of energy trying to make their opponents less confident. Of course one of the best ways to make your opponent less confident is to try and intimidate them” Bisping began.

So, here is the list that ‘The Count’ gave for some of the most intimidating and scariest fighters in the history of the UFC:


5. Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor

LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 12: Conor McGregor celebrates after a first-round knockout victory over Jose Aldo in their featherweight title fight during UFC 194 on December 12, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)

It’s certainly an interesting shout, as these days there may be some who feel that Conor McGregor is not at all ‘scary.’

Bisping would give some decent reasoning for the pick, saying: “Believe it or not, a lot of the opponents that stepped into the octagon with Conor McGregor, they were already sh*tting their pants.

"Of course, let's not forget about the fact that Conor McGregor is one of the very best at making people overly emotional.

"When you're too emotional, you get off your game plan. Look at what he did to Dustin Poirier [in their first fight]. Dustin, boy, he was so mad, he was so angry, he just wanted to kill him, he was just seeing red, the game plan went out the window.”

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4. Shane Carwin

UFC 111: St-Pierre v Hardy Weigh-In

NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 26: UFC fighter Frank Mir (L) faces off against UFC fighter Shane Carwin (R) for their Interim Championship Heavyweight fight at UFC 111: St-Pierre vs. Hardy Weigh-In on March 26, 2010 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)

The former UFC Interim Heavyweight champion would also feature on The Count’s list, and for good reason.

He said: “Long before Brock Lesnar was around...the biggest, and best, wrestler, the hardest hitting, and scariest human beings in the UFC was Shane Carwin. 

“He dominated the UFC heavyweight division from 2008 to 2011. Carwin came into the UFC as an 8-0 prospect with a rep on the small hole circuit as a soft-spoken, college-educated giant who was scary as hell to fight. 

“He was six foot two but he had to cut weight to make the 265-pound limit. An absolute beast of a man.”

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3. Ronda Rousey

Ronda Rousey Media Day

GLENDALE, CA - OCTOBER 27: Ronda Rousey arrives at her press conference leading up to her fight against Holly Holm in UFC 183 at the Glendale Fighting Club on October 27, 2015 in Glendale, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Bisping would also put former WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey on the list, due to how dominating she was in her MMA career.

“Ronda Rousey was one of the reasons why women even fight in the UFC today” Bisping began. “Dana [White] famously said they will ‘never ever’ fight in the UFC, but when he saw Ronda Rousey and she was capable of and saw her star power? He quickly made a u-turn and it was one of the best decisions he ever made.

“The former Olympian was absolutely terrifying to her opponents back in the day. Obviously the Judo…she would hit a throw and then crank on an armbar as viciously as she could. 

"Of course, her first seven opponents [in MMA] including Miesha Tate, Sarah Kaufman and Liz Carmouche were all armbarred in the very first round. I'll never forget that image of Miesha Tate's arm just being bent back and contorted to a very unnatural position.”

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2. Anthony Johnson

UFC 202: Johnson v Teixeira

LAS VEGAS, NV - AUGUST 20: Anthony Johnson celebrates his first-round knockout win over Glover Teixeira in their light heavyweight bout at the UFC 202 event at T-Mobile Arena on August 20, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)

At number two is one of the hardest-hitting fighters in both UFC and Bellator MMA history, Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson. 

Bisping revealed why he had Johnson at the number two slot: “One of the hardest-hitting punchers we've ever seen in the UFC. Listen, I'll never forget when he cracked Daniel Cormier at the start of their title fight. 

“DC just went flying across the Octagon. Fortunately for DC, he's gonna head like a fire hydrant so he managed to get back up.

“Rumble stands at six foot two inches and has a 78-inch reach and it is absolutely insane that this man ever fought at 170 pounds.”


1. Mirko Cro Cop Filipović

Pride Grand Prix 2005 - Final Round - Match - August 28, 2005

PRIDE Heavy Weight Title Match, Emelianenko Fedor VS Mirko Crocop (Photo by Tomokazu Tazawa/Getty Images)

There’s a reason why this PRIDE legend is on the list, and it isn’t really for his time actually inside the UFC octagon.

Bisping has quite the affinity for the Croatian legend, saying: “He was known for ‘right leg hospital, left leg cemetery.' Mirko Cro Cop was one very serious individual, ice-cold, like a serial killer. 

“He was a former special service operative from Croatia with knockout power in each of his limbs, specifically the left leg in particular.”

Mirko Filipović is the fighter’s real name, but Bisping would reveal why the Croatian MMA legend would earn the nickname Cro Cop.

“Mirko ‘Cro Cop,’ that nickname was given to him because he was an anti-terrorism officer, which is kind of funny because he actually went on to terrorize The Pride FC heavyweight roster and some of the UFC roster as well when he made the switch.”

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