5 current UFC fighters who have led the new breed of trash talkers

#2. Colby Covington

Prior to his bout with Demian Maia, Colby Covington was a relative unknown in the world of MMA. At the time, 'Chaos' was on a four-fight win streak, yet he eluded the notice of fans (with the exception of hardcore spectators).

Even the UFC seemed disinterested in Covington, as the former interim welterweight champion claims he was on the verge of being cut from the promotion due to the lack of fanfare and excitement he generated. With no other choice, 'Chaos' poured his energy into developing a controversial persona.

After dominating Maia, Covington cut a now-infamous promo where he attacked the entire country of Brazil for their aggressive treatment of him. Moving forward, the former interim champion embarked on a crusade against the entire UFC roster, aiming his trash talk at fighters in multiple divisions.

From personal attacks to ridiculing the MMA records of potential foes, Covington has become synonymous with trash talk in the sport. He's known for developing nicknames for fighters to make fun of certain characteristics they possess, like his decision to address Leon Edwards as Leon Scott to highlight how forgettable he believes the fighter is.

---

#1. Sean Strickland

No one trash talks quite like Sean Strickland. If Colby Covington courts controversy, then Strickland is married to it. As a mixed martial artist, the former welterweight and his fighting style aren't particularly exciting. He is, however, efficient.

Strickland fights tall, peppering his foes with an active jab while maintaining constant pressure. Defensively, he uses an air-tight guard and parries his opponent's linear punches as they desperately try to stop his advance with jabs and straights.

With a microphone, however, Strickland is an entirely different beast. His brand of trash talk is designed for pure shock value as the current middleweight contender often expresses his unfiltered thoughts with the intention of creating controversy.

For example, he deliberately used homophobic language to verbally attack Israel Adesanya at the UFC 276 pre-fight press conference in one of the many moments Strickland has used to generate interest. Whether he's unveiling his allegedly homicidal thoughts or questioning the manhood of an entire nation, the UFC had yet to see 'Tarzan's breed of trash talk.