Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree… Never-mind, with Christmas just around the corner we figured we would hit up some of your favorite MMA stars and find out what their favorite holiday traditions and/or gifts were when they were growing up.
MMA stars look back on their holiday traditions and gifts
There were some fantastic answers, from Nick Newell’s Ghostbusters proton pack to Mitch Clarke’s Swedish Lutefisk (If you are questioning it, don’t worry, so was I) to Mike Swick’s life changing VHS movie.
To find out what others in the MMA world enjoyed while they were growing up then you came to the right place.
Check out the lengthy list below and I mean very lengthy (Some of these are from our 2012 edition of the list) and let us know either in the comments section below or on our Facebook page what your favorite holiday traditions and/or gifts were when you were growing up.
Dana White (UFC President) – That’s a tough one. I guess just being with my family.
Erik Koch (UFC Lightweight) – My favorite tradition was always watching ‘Christmas Vacation’
Nam Phan (Bellator Featherweight) – Everyone in the family is usually pretty busy. Every x-mas we do our best to have a family dinner.
Nick Newell (WSOF Featherweight) – Definitely my Ghostbusters proton pack and ghost trap was #1. My Ninja Turtles Michelangelo NunChucks, Karate Fighters & N64 were next. Oh also, my green plastic turtle sandbox.
Brendan Schaub (UFC Heavyweight) – My fav gift was a Junior Seau jersey I got when I was a kid.
Martin Kampmann (Team Alpha Male Coach) – Risalamande is a danish chrismas dessert and I absolutely love it! The more you eat the bigger chance to find the only whole almond hidden in it and win a prize too, its win win
Mitch Clarke (UFC Lightweight) – Favorite holiday tradition was eating Lutefisk, as traditional Swedish dish consisting of boiled cod and lye. Everyone hates it, but we all eat it to put a smile on my Swedish grandmothers face. Have a merry christmas.
John Makdessi (UFC Lightweight) – The best present I can remember as a child was the toy that changes to different games. For example you can play pool, then turn it into basketball and ping pong etc. I forgot the name, but it’s like a multigame.
King Mo (Bellator Light Heavyweight) – I got a transformer from Salvation Army
Kultar Gill (Former K-1 Fighter) – A house full of family and watching home alone with the cousins. Then trying to set up the same traps (as the movie) in the house, the next day. It never went well!!
Leonard Garcia (Retired) – My favorite tradition was the food haha! I loved the smell in the morning and the way it was close to being ready as I woke up! My favorite presents were gaming systems!
Myles Jury (UFC Lightweight) – Favorite tradition is just having a big dinner with the family and eating wayy too much.
Ben Saunders (UFC Welterweight) – As a kid… It was Mortal Kombat for Sega Genesis! Yeah… Buddy! 
Desmond Green (Titan FC Featherweight Champion) – Opening one gift Christmas eve and family breakfast Christmas morning was something I always looked forward to.
Mike Swick (UFC Welterweight) – I got ‘The Karate Kid’ on VHS. Changed my life.
Diego Brandao (UFC Bantamweight) – Staying with the family
Yves Edwards (Retired) – Vacation. Too bad my school didn’t wrap it up.
Gilbert Melendez (UFC Lightweight) – Tamales!!!’
Josh Jauncey (GLORY FC) – Haha after Christmas dinner we would put on this strangely hilarious English Christmas song we came across one year and make our guests do a choreographed dance with us that we made up. While we held straight faces, the best we could to make them feel incredibly awkward. It was brilliant and we still do it. Might do it this year as well.
Mike Rhodes (UFC Welterweight) – Really we never had much but family time. My favorite tradition was sneaking down stairs and shaking presents to see what I got lol.
Tony Ferguson (UFC Lightweight) – I loved it when we wrapped & put xmas gifts under the tree. I was little & thought the bulbs were apples, I’d try to eat em lol.
Shayna Baszler (UFC Women’s Bantamweight Fighter) – Going sledding Xmas Eve, freezing, thawing out in front of fire w/hot chocolate @ Gpa’s house!
Ben Askren (ONE FC Welterweight Champion) – Sneaking into the hiding place and opening presents without my parents knowing.
Chris Camozzi (Middleweight) – It gets better every year because my family keeps growing. That’s what I like most.
Brian Ebersole (UFC Welterweight) – Opening one present on Christmas Eve, with my immediate family.
Stipe Miocic (UFC Heavyweight) – Eating and opening presents! Now it’s eating and giving presents!
Sam Alvey (UFC Middleweight) – Every Christmas we go and see the big movie, lotr trilogy, King Kong, this year the hobbit. even living far apart we still go.
Jeremy Stephens (UFC Lightweight) – Blow up punching bag!
Sean Pierson (UFC Welterweight) – Now as a father its just seeing the excitement it brings all the kids in the family, reminds me life is great.
Max Holloway (UFC Featherweight) – My favorite thing was a mongoose bike when I was 12! Best surprise ever.
Bec Rawlings (UFC Women’s Strawweight) – Big breakfast with all my family. I have a big family.
Jessica Penne (UFC Women’s Strawweight) – Decorating the tree and watching xmas vacation.
Cub Swanson (UFC Featherweight) – Eating all the sweets at my family gatherings and blaming it on the kids.
Tarec Saffiedine (UFC Welterweight) – I loved LEGO as a kid.
Michael Chandler (Bellator Welterweight) – I got a deer rifle, a 35mm for Christmas when I was 16 from my parents.
Brandon Vera (ONE FC Heavyweight) – Just hanging out with the family.
Sarah Kaufman (UFC Women’s Bantamweight) – I’ve never been a big holiday person …although as a kid I liked to go to “candy cane lane” to see the decorated houses.
Kyle Kingsbury (Retired) – Wrestling with my old man around the Christmas tree.
Victor Cui (ONE FC President) – For a few years I lived w my little bro & we decorated our xmas tree w everything edible, chocolates, candycanes, caramel etc. By dec 25 the tree was bare and we didn’t waste time taking down deco. All our friends came over to eat from our tree
Aaron Simpson (Retired) – Feats of Strength!
Tito Ortiz (Bellator Light Heavyweight) – Fishing gear.
Alan Belcher (UFC Middleweight) – ‘Christmas Story’
Josh Barnett (UFC Heavyweight) – Elf hunting.
Alexis Davis (UFC Women’s Bantamweight) – My mom has dinner on Xmas Eve and she always buy crackers, the ones u pull & get a toy! Love that! We all wear the stupid hats!
Jessica Aguilar (WSOF Women’s Strawweight Champion) – Happiness for everyone… No joke.
Stephen Thompson (UFC Welterweight) – Every year the whole family gets together and I just love hangin out with them.
Shannon Knapp (Invicta FC President) – Big Christmas Eve family gathering with my mom’s side of family.
Douglas Lima (Bellator Welterweight) – Yea Christmas is always my favorite.. Jesus’ bday and the gifts!
Miesha Tate (UFC Women’s Bantamweight) – My favorite holiday tradition is making cookies for Santa! But this year he’s getting my cupcakes!
Firas Zahabi (Tristar Trainer) – My favorite holiday tradition? Forcing my fighters to train on Christmas Eve/day. Watching there faces as I give extra rounds.
