Let’s talk about nicknames, shall we? A nickname can take on many forms, ranging from one your parents give you to one that reflects your personality. Sometimes, the reasons that a person has his or her own nickname can and will defy logical explanation to the point that the reason for the nickname amounts to a private joke inside one’s own family.
As someone whose childhood nickname, Spud, has carried on well into adulthood, nicknames are important to people. It’s in that spirit that today marks the first session of The All-Nickname Club. From time to time, we’ll reconvene right here in this same spot to induct new people in the club.
Before the first session of The All-Nickname Club comes to order, we’ve got some ground rules that need to be established. It’s like Kramer said on Seinfeld: “Without rules, there’s chaos.”
Ground Rules
All ground rules mentioned herein apply in perpetuity as of today.
Rule No. 1: Nicknames in The All-Nickname Club will be limited to MMA fighters only. This means that no boxers or kickboxers will have their nicknames considered. Exceptions can and will be made in the event that a fighter in MMA has crossed over into sports entertainment organizations, such as WWE or AEW.
Rule No. 2: At least two, but not more than four, fighters will be inducted into The All-Nickname Club during the course of the same session.
Rule No. 3: No two fighters from the same weight class can be enshrined into the club in the same induction session. Fighters are to be inducted in accordance to their current weight class at press time, or in the case of a retired fighter, final weight class.
Rule No. 4: Once a fighter is in The All-Nickname Club, the fighter can’t be removed from the club for any reason.
Rule No. 5: The All-Nickname Club is treated like a working document. More nicknames are to be added to the club with the passage of time.
Jon “Bones” Jones
The inaugural inductee into The All-Nickname Club is one of the best fighters around at 265 lbs., current UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon “Bones” Jones. On the night of Nov. 16, Jones (28-1, 1 NC MMA, 22-1, 1 NC UFC) successfully defended his heavyweight strap by way of third-round knockout (spinning back kick followed by punches) during UFC 309‘s main event versus the now-retired Stipe Miocic (20-5 MMA, 14-5 UFC) at Madison Square Garden.
If anybody in the world had an idea to compile a list of great MMA nicknames, they’d be best-served to have “Bones” at the top of the list. Anything other than that would be deemed borderline criminal. The nickname fits Jon Jones perfectly.
When “Bones” steps into the cage and he’s got that look in his eyes, he can pick any opponent apart like a chicken dinner, leaving only the cartilage on the plate. That moniker fits the record-holder for most UFC title defenses in promotion history.
#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/KAxppM2YEn
— BONY (@JonnyBones) November 17, 2024
“Rowdy” Ronda Rousey
Suppose you were tasked with power rankings of notable nicknames in the sport. You could make a legitimate case for there being a dead heat at No. 1 between Jon Jones and the next inductee into the initial class of The All-Nickname Club. Thankfully, in this case, numerical order need not apply.
It’s at this point that the first ground rule comes into play. While “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) made herself a household name fighting in the famed Octagon, she crossed over into WWE about a year after her final UFC appearance, making her debut in Vince McMahon’s promotion during WrestleMania XXXIV in April of 2018, winning by (what else?) armbar.
Even better, she asked for, and was granted, permission from the late WCW performer “Rowdy” Roddy Piper to adopt the “Rowdy” nickname. Does it get any better than that for the first-ever UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion? Likely not.
Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett
After capturing the Cage Warriors Featherweight Championship in September of 2016, one Patrick Mark Pimblett defended the title versus Julian Erosa (30-11 MMA, 0-1 CWFC) two months later. It wasn’t until late in the summer of 2021 that Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett (22-3 MMA, 6-0 UFC) burst onto the scene in MMA’s top promotion.
In addition to having one of the best nicknames out there, the lightweight has proven to be a force in the weight class, garnering the Performance of the Night Award in four of his six fights since joining the UFC. He’s already won a championship at 145 lbs. and is currently undefeated in Dana White’s promotion.
If he follows it up with a UFC Lightweight Championship in the next several years, Paddy Pimblett will be even more of a baddy.
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua
By definition, the word “shogun” was used to describe Japanese military chiefs from the mid-12th century until the 19th century. In modern times, “shogun” has been used in the MMA parlance as the nickname of former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (27-14-1 MMA, 11-12-1 UFC), who fought in the organization between 2007 and his 2023 retirement.
Rua, who joined the UFC’s active roster upon Pride FC‘s assets being purchased by the Fertitta brothers in 2007 after the latter promotion dissolved, fought for the 205-lb. division’s championship in 2009 and 2010, going 1-1 in such fights against Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida (26-12 MMA, 16-8 UFC) in that span. Before capturing light heavyweight gold in the UFC, “Shogun” won the Pride FC Middleweight Grand Prix title in 2005 against Ricardo Arona (14-5 MMA, 8-4 Pride FC) during Pride Final Conflict 2005.
Numerically speaking, Rua won 21 of his fights by way of knockout, so his striking throughout his career was befitting of a chief and a warrior. It’s no wonder why his nickname fits him so well.
Meeting Adjourned
With that, the first meeting of The All-Nickname Club is wrapped up. Join us again when we reconvene soon. For now, please file out quietly and drive home safely.
