Nate Diaz is one of very few fighters who have successfully honed their craft while competing on the largest stage possible. Refining one’s skills is a daunting task on local circuits, to be forced to learn on the job while tangling with the world’s elite crop of fighters is a borderline crime, but it certainly serves to separate the men from the boys, and in few cases, produces truly spectacular competitors. Nate Diaz is a young man who fits the spectacular bill however, it hasn’t been an easy road to maturation, as I’m certain Nate himself would testify.

Ultimate Fighter 5th Season

In a sport known for its excessive violence and countless alpha male personalities, it’s nice to discover a fighter who possesses a genuinely kind heart and endearing attitude away from the cage. It’s not the most common of occurrences, but it does happen every now and then, and one need only look to heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos for proof.

This year fans got the chance to see plenty of dos Santos’s personality shine through, as he coached the thirteenth season of “The Ultimate Fighter”, opposite former heavyweight champion, Brock Lesnar. During the shows airing dos Santos proved himself a caring coach with a big heart and an understanding of the fighter’s mindset. He also showcased a great sense of humor (at one point Ramsey Nijem even dry humped dos Santos while engaging in some friendly banter, to which dos Santos simply pushed Nijem off, all the while laughing heartily) and a desire to connect with the shows contestants. In regards to pure personality, JDS is the most approachable and likeable man to ever coach on the popular reality show.

Written By: CR Hess

At 6’2, 184 pounds, Anderson “The Spider” Silva is without a doubt the most successful mixed martial artist to date. From his debut in the UFC in June of 2006 against hard hitting knockout artist Chris Leben, to top Japanese contender Yushin Okami in 2011, Silva has carried the weight of everyone’s expectations from the start.