Tattoos have been of significance to warriors for thousands of years. They used to depict a skilled warrior’s position in the clan and also were an ode to his ferocity. The tradition of tattooing among warriors continues to this day, but it is a matter of self-expression now. As UFC 293 is right around the corner, we take a look at the tattoos of 2 of the fighters in the main and co-main event.
In the main event, we have Israel Adesanya taking on Sean Strickland for the middle-weight title. Adesanya is coming into this fight on the back of a victory against Alex Pereira, who himself has a wide array of tribal tattoos to pay homage to his roots. In the co-main event, Tai Tuivasa takes on Alexander Volkov of Russia. Volkov has one of the most impressive back tattoos in the UFC.
What do the tattoos of Israel Adesanya signify?
Israel Adesanya is a big fan of tattoos, this is evident from the numerous tattoos adorning his sculpted body. In the past, his advice for people contemplating getting inked was to just go for it without overthinking or hesitating.
This attitude may explain the reason why he himself has several tattoos, which isn’t a problem since he makes a fortune as a UFC champion. His collection of tattoos includes a range of mindboggling tattoos from the Avatar series, and a giant portrait of the Marvel character Deadpool on his rib cage.
These tattoos signify his love for anime and superheroes, not to mention he considers himself one, hence the name, “The Last Stylebender.” Apart from these, he also has the words “broken native” written across his collarbone, along with the image of the African continent on his chest to symbolize and represent his love and devotion for the motherland. Adesanya is of Nigerian descent and has utilized this very personal art form to showcase his heritage proudly.
What do Alexander Volkov’s tattoos represent?
Russian heavyweight giant Alexander Volkov has a tattoo to match his stature. Currently, the Russian fighter has a tattoo of a Samurai helmet covering the entirety of his massive back. Traditionally, the samurai helmet represented the identity of the samurai commander along with his status and wealth. Volkov, in adorning his posterior with the tattoo might want to signify his strength and status.
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Interestingly, this current tattoo of his covers up an old tattoo that he had prior to UFC 254. The older tattoo was of a manta ray done in a traditional Polynesian style. The giant manta rays are the biggest rays in the world. Hence the 6 foot 7 inches tall, 250 pounds of pure muscle in the form of Volkov might have chosen it as his first tattoo.
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Unfortunately, the comparison ends there because the manta rays are known as the gentle giants of the sea world, which is paradoxical to Volkov in every possible way. Who do you think has the better tattoo? Israel Adesanya or Alexander Volkov?