Many UFC fighters have long hair. And let’s be honest, these guys all look good with long hair. But are there any advantages to this?
There are two arguments about the advantages of having long hair, which Dana White discusses in an interview with Men’s Health Magazine.
One argument is that it lessens the chance of a fighter getting a cauliflower ear by providing more protection for their ears from contact.
The other argument is that fighters with long hair have a more intimidating presence when they enter the cage since they have “magnificent manes to muss.”
Even though there are no set UFC rules prohibiting fighters from having long hair, these fighters are in the minority.
Most UFC fighters have short hair, and this is because fighters generally like to keep their heads free from entanglements which may limit their mobility in the fighting match.
Long hair becomes a hassle since the UFC is a full-contact adrenaline sport, and the hair can always get in your way. It can act as a distraction and can also become hard to manage during fights.
There are many advantages to having long hair. However, there are also some disadvantages associated with having long hair.
It is a luxury that not all fighters can afford. And unless you can manage it, I’d advise against it.
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So, who are some known UFC fighters with long hair?
Let’s take a look at the list of UFC fighters with long hair:
Brian Ortega
Ortega is a featherweight UFC fighter fighting from California. He is known for his grappling expertise and very impressive fighting skills.
He is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and is currently ranked #3 in the featherweight division of UFC. Brian Ortega is also known for his long hair.
He has very long hair, which measures to be at a whopping 2 feet above his shoulders.
2. Jorge Masvidal
Jorge Masvidal is another UFC fighter with long hair. He is a welterweight fighter from Florida, United States.
His fighting style can be described as having a mix of karate and kickboxing, which highly reflects his fighting style.
He has been competing in UFC since 2007, and he is currently ranked #11 in the welterweight division of UFC.
3. Benson Henderson
Benson Henderson is a former UFC fighter with long hair. He is currently a Bellator MMA fighter. He has very long hair, which measures at least shoulder length.
His fighting style showcases a Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter combined with Mixed martial arts, Boxing, Taekwondo, and Submission wrestling.
4. Chris Gruetzemacher
Gruetzemacher is a UFC fighter who has been competing in MMA since 2008. He is in the lightweight division of UFC.
He is also known as “Gritz,” which is an acronym for “Ground and Pound.” Gruetzemacher is a well-rounded mixed martial artist who has pretty long hair which measures to be above his shoulders.
5. Clay Guida
Clay Guida is an American mixed martial artist who has been competing in the UFC since 2003. He is also known as “The Carpenter.”
He has been fighting in the lightweight division of UFC since 2008. He is a veteran fighter and has been competing at the highest level of MMA for over a decade.
He is a very long-haired fighter whose fighting style can be described as a great wrestler, fighter, and striker.
6. Cody McKenzie
Renowned as “The AK Kid,” Cody McKenzie is an American fighter who has been competing in the UFC since 2011.
He is currently ranked #21 in the featherweight division of UFC. And he is also a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Cody McKenzie has very long hair, which can only be described as being a mullet.
7. Elias Theodorou
Elias Theodorou is a Canadian mixed martial artist competing in the UFC since 2014. He was ranked #10 in the middleweight division of UFC before he passed on in 2022.
He was a well-rounded mixed martial artist, and he had been training in mixed martial arts since his childhood. Moreover, he is a black belt in BJJ and a Dark blue belt in Muay Thai.
Takeaway
Long hair can be described as being a very big emphasis on your style and not the sport you play. Some people like their fighters having long hair, and it is all about your style.
But if you are an active MMA fighter, do yourself a favor and just keep your head shaved clean. That way, there won’t be any distractions when you are in the middle of fighting matches.
Moreover, long hair doesn’t add any advantages to your MMA fighting career. However, be free to leave a trademark if you love a wavy mane.
