By MATT MOLGAARD
MMANEWS.COM Staff Writer

Whether you appreciate the aesthetic value of it or not, flamboyancy is no foreigner to mixed martial arts. Certain fighters love to make everything they do as flashy and, if you will, loud as possible; it’s been that way since the early 1990’s. Some may recall Kimo Leopoldo walking to the UFC cage with an eight foot cross hoisted upon his back, well that type of insanity isn’t typically rivaled, but the idea of showcasing an outspoken personality certainly hasn’t gone anywhere.

Fighter’s with outrageous tattoo’s and wild hair dye are now a dime a dozen. It’s not atypical to spot fighters attempting to appear as crazy as possible during their trek from the dressing room to the cage. It’s all a part of the theatrics that come with this growing sport (and perhaps a bit of an attempt at intimidating one’s opponent). While I could talk about a whole slew of different fighters to push the envelope, I’ve narrowed things down to five unique individuals who always project a noticeable flamboyancy.

Jason Miller: Miller’s got the hair, and he’s got the entrances covered (I suggest referencing youtube for hilarious footage); that’s not what truly makes the man special. “Mayhem” stands out because he’s a bona fide nutcase. The man carries himself with no fear, speaks his mind no matter how outlandish his opinion may be; assembles video’s that will leave you hunched over in uncontrollable laughter and brings some raunchy chatter to radio waves. Everything Mayhem does, he does in flamboyant fashion.

Akihiro Gono: In all fairness, Gono keeps things pretty tame and respectable inside the cage (or ring), but he definitely brings the insanity outside of competition. This guy’s got a hilarious personality that he loves to force down the throat of any media willing to dedicate attention, and his ring entrances often redefine flashy and boisterous. And really, who doesn’t love the now famous “Gofro”?

Muhammed Lawal: “King Mo” likes to make his way to the cage sporting a crown two sizes too small for his noggin. He’s also quite fond of openly bashing fighters (despite a surprisingly high fight IQ) and parading about as though he is a genuine king; given his talent’s some of that is certainly justified. Catch this guy on a low key level and you’d better utilize the camera capability of your phone, as it doesn’t happen often!

Phil Baroni: Phil’s matured quite a bit over the years, but that doesn’t change the fact this man was once one of the flashiest, over-the-top dudes alive. His mastering of WWE mimicry was absolutely priceless, and he exercised that in pre-fight interviews, on his way to the cage, post-fight celebrations (I do believe he’s the “best eva!”) and entertaining press conference appearances. I respect the matured Phil quite a bit, but his “fight persona” was a thing of beauty, no doubt about it.