Sherdog’s Top 10: Most Aggressive Fighters

David “Tank” Abbott rose to prominence through violent finishes. | Photo: Jeff Sherwood/Sherdog.com

8. David Abbott

Few fighters embodied the outlaw spirit of the early UFC shows better than “Tank” Abbott. A wrestler in high school and college, Abbott was known more for his wild aggressiveness and crazy punching power than for any sort of technical mastery, but especially in the early days of more-or-less legal MMA in the United States, he represented a special brand of marketable ass-kicking. He appeared on an episode of “Friends” as an “ultimate fighter” and symbolized the somewhat seedy and countercultural vibe of the sport.

There was nothing terribly complex about Abbott’s approach. He could defend takedowns with his wrestling background, but, for the most part, his game focused on winging vicious, hard punches at his opponent until somebody fell down. That garnered him quick knockouts over fighters like John Matua, Paul Varelans, Steve Nelmark and, later, the iron-chinned Wesley Correia. Power and borderline-psychotic aggression honed in dozens of bar fights made Abbott a stiff test for anyone.

Abbott was never a great fighter, but he was certainly one of the sport’s wildest and most aggressive competitors, and he rarely disappointed except in his suspect gas tank. Even today, few can match his record of brutal violence.

Number 7 » They represent a unique brand of pressure-fighting aggressiveness predicated on ridiculous cardio, offensive output and slick combination boxing that presents a brutal mental and physical challenge to their opponents.