From being a child in the schoolyard to just being out and about as an adult, there are few things more exciting than when a street fight breaks out.

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One of the many reasons the sport of mixed martial arts is so exciting is because it is the sport that most resembles street fighting. That's why promotions like UFC and Bellator have been as successful as they've been. Fighters are not just stuck to one discipline. Whether it is punching, kicking, wrestling, or submissions, all of it is allowed in both MMA and street fighting. As a result, it is no surprise that some of the biggest names in the sport of MMA have a history of fighting outside the cage or ring.

10 Kimbo Slice

Kimbo Slice
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

You cannot talk about MMA and street fighting without mentioning the late great Kevin Ferguson, better known as Kimbo Slice.

RELATED: Every Kimbo Slice Fight In MMA History, Ranked From Worst To Best

In the early days of YouTube, videos of Kimbo Slice fighting in his backyard went viral. To this day, a YouTube search of Kimbo Slice will result in street-fighting videos with millions of views. Without fighting professionally, Slice managed to become one of the biggest names in MMA. Due to his popularity, MMA promoters wanted the viral fighter on their cards. Once he became a professional fighter, Slice went on to fight for EliteXC, UFC, and Bellator MMA before tragically passing away in 2016 at the age of 42.

9 Jorge Masvidal

Jorge Masvidal
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Kimbo Slice’s street fights in his backyard gave other fighters in Miami, Florida an opportunity to show off their skills. Among these fighters was a young Jorge Masvidal.

Early in his fighting career, Masvidal participated in street fights where he would defeat men much larger than himself. That grit has led to Masvidal having an extremely successful career in the UFC. The only winner of the UFC “Baddest Motherf**ker” Championship has notable wins in the octagon against the likes of Nate Diaz, Ben Askren, Darren Till, and Donald Cerrone.

8 Tank Abbott

Tank Abbott
via UFC

MMA pioneer Tank Abbott had a history of being in street fights prior to fighting in the UFC. Abbott began training in MMA after being involved in multiple street fights at a young age. At one point, Abbott was sentenced to six months in jail after charges were pressed against him following a fight at a liquor store. Abbott attempted to appeal the decision but was denied due to his history of street fights. The judge of his case even stated, “Mr. Abbott, you are a maniac. I can't believe you haven't killed somebody.”

In MMA, Abbott fought 18 times in the UFC. Later in his career, he fought fellow street fighter Kimbo Slice in EliteXC.

7 Bas Rutten

Bas Rutten
via UFC

MMA legend Bas Rutten is known for being one of the most lethal strikers in the world. When not fighting, Rutten is also known for teaching self-defense, and he is not shy to practice what he preaches.

In an interview with Submission Radio, Rutten once told a story about fighting three men at the same time while in Japan. According to Rutten, the three men claimed to be Navy SEALs, but Rutten did not believe them. The three men were causing issues at a bar and challenged Rutten to a fight. According to Rutten he knocked two of the men out instantly. With just one man left, Rutten decided he wanted to submit this guy instead of knocking him unconscious. Rutten used multiple submissions including an armbar and knee-bar, but every time he would submit the guy, he would just attack Rutten again. As a result, Rutten decided he simply needed to choke him out.

6 Eddie Alvarez

Eddie Alvarez
Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Prior to becoming a champion in the UFC, Eddie Alvarez had fought many times on the streets. According to the “Underground King,” he had fought in 100 street fights before he ever stepped into a cage or a ring.

In an interview with Ariel Helwani, Alvarez claimed to have fought so much on the streets of Philadelphia due to there not being amateur fights available to him. According to Alvarez, he paid $250 to get his first professional MMA fight. His scrappiness in the streets translated well in the sport of MMA. In 2016, Alvarez won the UFC Lightweight Championship by knocking out then-champion Rafael dos Anjos.

5 Roger Huerta

Roger Huerta

Three-time UFC fight of the night winner, Roger Huerta has a history of showing his fighting skills on the streets. In 2010, Huerta made headlines when he fought former Texas Longhorns' linebacker Rashad Bobino. Outside a club, Bobino was seen hitting a woman. Despite being outsized, Huerta defended the women and fought off the linebacker.

Since 2003, Huerta has fought regularly in the sport of MMA. Among his biggest career highlights is a submission victory over Clay Guida in 2007.

4 Bruce Buffer

Bruce Buffer
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Even though he is not a professional fighter, legendary UFC announcer Bruce Buffer has a history of fighting out in public. On the UFC Fight Pass series Fightlore, Buffer and UFC President Dana White told the story about a time Buffer fought UFC Hall-of-Famer Frank Trigg in an elevator.

According to Buffer, Trigg chopped him in the throat after Buffer complimented White’s watch. Apparently, Trigg had been talking when Buffer made the compliment. After being hit, Buffer began throwing punches at Trigg until the two got out of the elevator. After the fight, the two men apologized and Buffer went to get stitches on his hand.

3 Urijah Faber

Urijah Faber
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

In 2006, UFC Hall-of-Famer Urijah Faber’s life was on the line when he found himself in a street fight in Bali. According to Faber, a local challenged him to a fight after Faber had been seen dancing with local girls. At the time, Faber was the WEC featherweight champion and had no problem accepting the man’s challenge.

Faber had won the fight but was attacked from behind by another man with brass knuckles. Then, multiple men with weapons began attacking Faber. Luckily for “The California Kid”, he was able to escape the club he was in and run into a taxi in order to get away safely.

2 Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor endeavor
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

In recent years, Conor McGregor, who is a former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion, has been in many altercations outside the octagon.

RELATED: Conor McGregor's 5 Best UFC Performances (& 5 Worst)

Ever since he lost his professional boxing debut to Floyd “Money” Mayweather, McGregor has had a rough time staying out of trouble. In 2019, McGregor was seen punching an older man in a pub in Dublin, Ireland. According to court documents, McGregor punched the man after he had refused a shot of McGregor’s Proper 12 Irish Whiskey. Even celebrities have not been safe from McGregor. In 2021, McGregor threw a punch at rapper Machine Gun Kelly at the MTV Video Music Awards, but the shot did not land. Later that year, McGregor struck Italian music artist Francesco Facchinetti resulting in him breaking his nose.

1 Diaz Brothers

Diaz Brothers
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Nick and Nate Diaz are known for being two of the scrappiest fighters to ever step into a cage. When it comes to MMA and street fights, no one’s style more represents a street fight than the Diaz brothers.

The two brothers got into a fight with undefeated UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov and his entourage at an MMA event in 2015. According to Nate Diaz, the issue began when Nurmagomedov and his team were taking pictures and laughing at Diaz. During the altercation, Nick Diaz threw a drink at Nurmagomedov. Luckily, security stepped in before anyone got seriously hurt.