We’ve all read the comics and watched the movies, but have you ever thought about which MMA fighters could be Marvel Superheroes? It could be said that the athletes who put their lives on the line for our entertainment are superheroes in their own right but today, we’re going to list out various fighters from major MMA organisations and their Marvel counterparts. Sure, there are the easy ones but we think we’ve got a few surprises up our sleeves. Let’s get on with the heroics.
Wolverine/ Yoel Romero:
We’ve all seen the clip of Joe Rogan talking about how the UFC doctor took one look at Yoel Romero and concluded that the man was superhuman. He was shocked to see Romero’s broken orbital bone already starting to heal after his second war with Robert Whittaker. The man is built differently, so much so, that even his tendons and ligaments are tougher and stronger than a normal human. Much like his comic book counterpart, Wolverine, it seems that Yoel’s got a healing factor of his own. He can also take a ton of damage and keep on ticking. Romero is 42 years old and looks like he’s still carved out of granite. If you ever want to feel bad about being unathletic, please do yourself a favour and watch his insane open workout from a few years ago.
Sergei Pavlovich/Colossus
Apart from the Russian origins, Sergei has more in common with our steel-plated friend than we might first believe. Sure, they’re both from Russia but it’s also the stoic demeanour, stone-faced killer instinct and determination that sets them both apart from their peers. Pavlovich has cut through the UFC’s heavyweight division, laying waste to all but two of his opponents. Even though he lost by vicious knockout to Tom Aspinall, Pavlovich is still a dangerous power puncher in a division where you need only one connection to change the outcome of a fight.
Anderson Silva/ Spider-Man
The nickname says it all. Anderson Silva is the embodiment of playful, balletic violence and has demonstrated the ability to take a licking and keep on ticking; evidenced by his comeback victory against Chael Sonnen. Much like Marvel’s wallcrawler, Silva has had a hard life and channelled his rage and skill into multiple UFC championship fights. For fans who’ve missed out on Silva’s handiwork, his entire run through PRIDE FC and the UFC is truly a sight to behold. Like his masked counterpart, he’s also gone up against bigger, stronger opponents and with a combination of technique and skill, dismantled them thoroughly.
Dominic Cruz/ Nightcrawler
One moment he’s here, another he’s there, Cruz is Nightcrawler. Another X-Men staple, Kurt Wagner is a mutant who possesses the ability to teleport. This is especially useful in battle as he’s able to pop in and out of position to deliver a beating. If that doesn’t describe Dominick Cruz, we don’t know what else does. The ability to dart in and out of position, peppering you with strikes and evading almost all incoming damage are all trademarks of Cruz’s style. His fight against TJ Dillashaw is a masterclass of evasive movement and counterstriking. Fans may know him as a regular in the commentary booth, but Dominick Cruz was nearly untouchable in his prime.
Jon Jones/ Apocalypse
A mutant with no equal, Apocalypse is the final boss of all final bosses in the X-Men franchise. If there’s one fighter who personifies the threat of impending doom, it’s Jonny ‘Bones’ Jones himself. The man was the head honcho at light heavyweight only to relinquish the title and move up to heavyweight to take out the number one contender in Cyril Gane. As it stands, Jones is, for all intents and purposes, undefeated. You can argue the Reyes fight, but in the end, he did enough to get the nod. The qualities that make Apocalypse so dangerous, apply to Jones as well. They’re both ruthless and intensely focused and while a few setbacks may have diverted their course, their will to succeed almost always comes out on top.
Dana White/ Kingpin
Probably the most apt comparison on this list, Dana White is Wilson Fisk made flesh in every conceivable way. He even looks like him! The man has been the tip of the spear in the world of MMA, with the lion’s share of the market in the hands of the UFC. He’s not above a few shady tactics either, with debates about the treatment of fighters, revenue sharing, iron-clad contracts and a whole gamut of unsavoury practices. The latest is the saga of one, Francis Ngannou. In a cut-throat world, the man with the most scalps stands on top and that man is Dana White.
