Andre Lima’s left arm carries a small tattoo tied to one strange UFC debut: an uneven bite mark surrounded by the words “I Got Fucking Bit Bonus.” The incident brought him sudden attention, but it’s only one part of his collection. He already had shaded chest portraits, a circular target and a mix of illustrated work and lettering on his arms.

The bite-mark tattoo on his left arm

The bite mark sits on the inside of Lima’s left upper arm, just below the bold “1970” lettering. In the studio photo, he raises his forearm to show an irregular oval ringed with dark tooth-like marks. Curved script above and below reads “I Got Fucking” and “Bit Bonus.” The close-up makes the joke clear; in a wider fight photo, the mark can look like a dark patch.

On March 23, 2024, Igor Severino bit Lima in the second round of their UFC fight. Severino was disqualified and Lima was awarded the win. UFC later described the tattoo as a record of the incident, while Brazil’s Combate reported that Lima had it done over the bite mark that same evening. Dana White first planned a $25,000 bonus, then raised the total to $50,000 after seeing the tattoo; those figures describe the increase, not two separate payments.

The tattoo-studio image came after the fight, not during the Octagon incident. It shows the mark beneath the older numbers, with space between the two designs. Lima’s dark humor is built into the lettering, so there’s no need to assign the image a broader meaning.

The chest tattoos and target design

Lima’s chest pairs two different designs. On his right pectoral, dense shading surrounds several faces or figures, including one wearing a broad decorated hat and another shown in profile. On the left, thin rings sit inside a broken circle, with short dark bars pointing inward from four sides. Small central marks are visible, but their meaning hasn’t been explained.

A post-fight photograph shows both pieces while Lima raises his arms in a brown leather hat with star-shaped decorations. The portrait identities and Lima’s reason for choosing them aren’t established in the reporting about the bite tattoo. The circular piece can invite guesses about fighting or focus, but those remain interpretations. The photo was taken after the debut and before his studio appointment, so the bite and the tattoo are from separate moments.

The right-arm tattoos

When Lima punches Daniel Barez, his right arm stretches across the frame. Shaded images cover the outer upper arm, with a row of angular marks running from the shoulder toward the chest. Outlined shapes and darker patches continue down the forearm; the extended arm makes that coverage easier to see than in a posed portrait.

Another photograph shows the cursive name “Carla” above a small red heart on Lima’s right arm. The lettering is lighter than the surrounding illustrations, and the heart is a rare spot of color in these mostly black-and-gray images. The name alone doesn’t establish who Carla is. The “1970” on the opposite arm is clear too, but its personal reference hasn’t been confirmed.

In the Barez image, Lima is on the right with blue wrist tape; the other fighter is on the left. Tattoos visible on opponents in other photographs belong to them, not to Lima. For another fighter with broad chest and arm coverage, see Alessio Sakara’s tattoos.

Career context: his UFC debut

This debut photo shows Lima in white shorts on the left, throwing a punch at Severino. UFC’s preview of UFC 302 also noted Lima’s first-round submission attempts and active striking, details that can get lost when the disqualification becomes the whole story.

Lima reached the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2023. The order here is simple: the fight came first, then the bite, the disqualification and the tattoo appointment. The tattoo followed his UFC debut; it wasn’t how he earned his contract.

Life inside the Octagon

A later photo against Barez catches Lima reaching with his left glove as Barez’s red-taped glove enters the foreground. It’s a closer view of Lima’s expression and upper-body movement than the debut shot.

After the Severino incident, Lima told MMA Fighting that he wanted people to remember his striking and potential as well as the viral moment. In Guilherme Cruz’s interview ahead of UFC 302, he acknowledged the extra attention but said it didn’t replace his ambitions in the cage.

Career context: grappling beyond the headlines

A ground photo shows Lima grappling with Felipe dos Santos. Their blue and red wrist tape helps tell them apart, and much of the prominent tattoo coverage in the foreground belongs to dos Santos.

In a June 2026 UFC interview, Lima discussed returning after a long stretch away and looked back at his third-round submission of Barez in March 2025. The official interview below follows his September 2024 appearance at UFC Vegas 97. Together, the photographs and interviews place the well-known bite tattoo alongside the rest of his fighting career and his broader mix of linework, portraits and lettering.

Tom Nolan has a steam locomotive tattooed on his left pectoral, with smoke rising toward his collarbone. It’s a direct visual match for his Big Train nickname, though he hasn’t confirmed a personal story behind the design. His right arm has fuller black-and-gray coverage, including a reported samurai figure and a larger dragon-like sleeve.

The steam-train chest tattoo

The engine faces forward at a slight angle. Its round boiler front dominates the piece, with a smaller lamp above and short lines beneath suggesting track. Smoke spreads upward in an uneven cloud, dark in places and broken by lighter gaps. The machinery is sharply outlined, while the smoke’s edges loosen toward the shoulder.

A seated cage-side photo gives a clear view of the rounded front, upper lamp and shading around the lower engine. Black-and-gray contrast makes the smaller light areas stand out, and the open skin around the train keeps it readable. An August 2024 EssentiallySports report linked the locomotive to the Big Train nickname, but also noted Nolan hadn’t confirmed theories about his tattoos. The visual connection is clear; his own explanation isn’t in that report.

The right-arm sleeve tattoos

Photos after Nolan’s September 2025 fight with Charlie Campbell show the right-arm work from two angles. In the profile image, the shoulder, upper arm and outer forearm are exposed. A large dragon-like creature fills the upper arm, its open mouth and sharp contours set against looping background shapes that curve toward the elbow. Pale breaks keep the darker areas from becoming one solid block.

In the exchange photo, Nolan is on the right in purple shorts with red wrist tape; Campbell is on the left in yellow shorts with blue tape. Nolan’s raised arm shows how the sleeve wraps over the shoulder and shifts as he moves. Its coverage is greater than in a 2023 cage-side image, but these photos don’t establish when each section was added. A small dark mark at the back of his neck is too indistinct to identify.

The right-forearm tattoo

A Contender Series photo with Bogdan Grad puts Nolan’s right forearm across the frame as he works above Grad on the canvas. The August 2024 report identified the figure near the wrist as a samurai. Here, the armored face and lighter rays around it are the clearest details; the angle doesn’t show enough to name a weapon or smaller armor features.

The forearm piece has to read along a narrow area that bends and turns, so its appearance changes with the position of the wrist. Nolan also has substantial shading on the left forearm. Some reports describe a lion and skull there, but these selected images don’t show them clearly. For another fighter with extensive chest and arm work, see Alessio Sakara’s tattoos.

Career context: the Contender Series breakthrough

A wider photo after Nolan’s win over Grad shows him on the left in burgundy shorts, reacting as the referee and event staff gather near his opponent. The tattoos are visible, though the image is mainly about the moment after the finish.

In a January 2024 UFC interview, Nolan said he earned his contract with a first-round knockout on Contender Series in August 2023. He’d started training at 14, first alongside rugby, and named Anderson Silva as an early influence. Those details trace his route into the UFC without assigning a meaning to the train or arm designs.

Life inside the Octagon

In Sydney, Nolan kicks toward Viacheslav Borshchev, who is closer to the camera on the left. Nolan is on the right in purple shorts and red wrist tape. As he turns, the chest piece curves away from the camera and parts of the locomotive fall into shadow.

Nolan’s UFC debut against Nikolas Motta in January 2024 ended in a loss. Before his next fight with Victor Martinez, he told UFC he was focusing on his own strengths instead of worrying as much about the opponent. That interview speaks to his approach in competition, not to the meaning of his tattoos.

Career context: fighting in Australia

A photo with Alex Reyes shows Nolan in red shorts working at close range. The train is visible above his gloves, though the crowded angle makes the fight action the main focus.

In a June 2026 UFC interview, Nolan discussed Brisbane’s Team Compton, relationships among Australian fighters and putting more attention on the quality of training than on proving how hard he could work. The official interview below follows his decision win over Reyes at UFC 305 in Perth.

Payton Talbott’s torso tattoos rely on two stark shapes: a solid black circle below his chest and a larger horned mask along his left ribs. The circle is spare; the mask uses small gaps of bare skin to define its face. Talbott has also explained the circles he wears on his front and back, giving that design a clearer story than its unusual appearance alone.

The black circle below his chest

The front circle sits on his upper abdomen, below the sternum and above the navel. It’s filled with dark ink, without lettering, a border or a scene inside. The close-up makes the placement clear, with open skin between the circle and the larger mask on his left side.

A wider photo after his November 2023 fight with Nick Aguirre shows the same shape against his chest and shoulders. The edge stays easy to pick out because there’s bare skin around it. The wider frame also gives a better sense of its actual size than a tight crop.

The Hannya mask tattoo on his left ribs

The Hannya-style mask covers a larger area along Talbott’s left ribs. In a fight photo with Cameron Saaiman, Talbott is on the right in black shorts, lifting a knee as the mask faces the camera. Pointed horns rise above a broad lower face. Thin gaps of skin separate the eyes, nose, cheeks and teeth within the dark silhouette.

Those open spaces carry much of the expression, while the curved placement means the mask looks different from a straight-on view. Tattoo reports identify it as a Hannya mask, but Talbott hasn’t given a personal reason for this piece. Its meaning shouldn’t be inferred from the expression alone. The clean strip of skin between the mask and circle keeps the two dark designs distinct.

What Talbott has said about the circles

In a January 2025 Yahoo Sports interview, Talbott called the circles on his front and back “holes.” He spoke about circles having no beginning or end and connected them with the ouroboros and the universe. That’s his explanation for the design.

Some online discussion compares the circles with imagery in Bleach. The resemblance can be noted, but it doesn’t replace what Talbott said. The shape can make an impression on its own, while its personal meaning comes from the person wearing it.

Life inside the preparation room

A UFC 303 preparation-room photo shows Talbott getting his hands wrapped in a black UFC jacket and headphones. His torso is covered and one wrapped hand is raised toward the camera, so the frame is about the pre-fight routine rather than the tattoos. In the weigh-in portrait, he makes a heart shape with his hands while keeping his face visible. His changing hairstyle and septum ring also stand out in the preparation-room image.

Career context: skating with Tony Hawk

When Talbott met Tony Hawk in June 2024, they stood beside their boards at a ramp. Talbott wore a black hoodie and ripped jeans; Hawk stood to the left holding his skateboard. The second photo catches Talbott in the air in a white shirt as the board moves beneath him and Hawk watches.

Both skating photos keep Talbott’s torso covered. They show a different side of his life and make a clear contrast with the fight and studio images used to examine the ink.

Why the dark shapes hold up in photographs

The black circle reads as one solid shape from a distance. The mask takes longer to study, but its horns and broad outline remain visible before the finer openings come into view. Both designs have open skin around them, which keeps them separate on the torso.

For another approach to extensive fighter coverage, see Alessio Sakara’s tattoos. Talbott’s photographed torso uses fewer, darker shapes with more space around them. The UFC 303 interview below follows his June 2024 win over Yanis Ghemmouri, returning the still images to a fight-night setting.

Sean Woodson’s largest tattoo stretches across his lower abdomen: a St. Louis skyline with the Gateway Arch behind the buildings and script above it. Higher up, “Fear no Man” runs across his neck, while shaded portraits and other designs sit on his arms. The skyline anchors the collection, with clear skin separating it from the smaller pieces.

The St. Louis skyline tattoo across his stomach

A fight photo with Collin Anglin gives the clearest view. Woodson is on the left in white shorts with red tape around his gloves; the city scene runs horizontally above his waistband. Rectangular buildings, small window marks and the Arch’s broad curve make up the skyline.

The large, flowing cursive above it appears to read “Born Ready.” They follow the same wide band as the buildings, rather than climbing toward his chest. The Arch makes the St. Louis reference clear; the smaller marks inside it aren’t distinct enough here to identify as other landmarks.

A May 2024 fight photo with Alex Caceres shows the design from an angle as Woodson reaches across the frame in blue shorts. The curve of his torso compresses the skyline, but its placement and overall shape remain easy to follow.

After UFC 297, a celebration photo shows Woodson smiling as his team carries him. The letters and Arch are still recognizable above his white shorts, though the busy scene makes this a less direct view than the Anglin photo.

The neck script and upper-arm tattoos

The script across the front of Woodson’s neck reads “Fear no Man.” In the raised-arm photo, the phrase is fairly level; when he tilts his head in the celebration image, more of it shows beneath his beard. The words are clear, but the photos don’t give a date or explain why he chose them.

His raised arms also reveal separate designs on the inner upper arms: a dark horned face on the right and a hooded female portrait on the left. They’re shaded illustrations, not a connected sleeve. Their contrast may prompt religious or good-versus-evil readings, but the images alone don’t establish that’s what Woodson intended. Script on his left chest and additional forearm work are partly hidden in these angles.

Hometown context: fighting in St. Louis

Woodson fought Caceres at St. Louis’s Enterprise Center in May 2024, putting the city pictured on his abdomen into a hometown setting. In an April 2025 UFC interview, he recalled attending a UFC event there in 2018 and hoping he’d one day compete in that arena. When the promotion returned in 2024, he was on the card.

The skyline is a clear St. Louis reference. The photos and interviews don’t say which personal memories Woodson connects with it, so the city’s meaning beyond home remains his to explain.

Life inside the preparation room

A backstage photo from UFC 278 in August 2022 shows Woodson warming up toward a pad in a black UFC shirt. His torso is covered, while parts of the arm tattoos remain visible. It’s a view of his preparation, not a close look at the skyline. A separate weigh-in portrait shows him making a heart with his hands, his face visible.

Woodson’s UFC profile says he started training and had his first boxing match at eight. It also says people at his gyms called him “The Sniper” because of how he picked his shots. Those details describe his sporting background without turning the tattoos into explanations of his fighting style.

How Woodson’s collection fits together

Woodson’s larger pieces use different shapes: long, sweeping lettering at the neck, a wide architectural band on the abdomen and shaded figures on the arms. Clear skin separates them, so the portrait work doesn’t merge with the chest or throat lettering.

For a contrast in placement, see Alessio Sakara’s tattoos. Sakara’s fuller coverage creates a more continuous surface, while Woodson’s designs sit in distinct areas. The official UFC Shanghai interview below gives a moving view of Woodson in August 2026, with his posture and the camera changing how the tattoos appear.

Steven Asplund’s collection mixes a forward-facing owl on his neck, a lion on his left chest and several skulls on his right arm. The larger designs are separated by open skin across the torso, while the left arm carries denser coverage. “My Brother’s Keeper” is lettered below the owl across his upper chest.

The lion tattoo on his left chest

The lion sits on Asplund’s left chest, which appears on the right side of this front-facing photo. In the celebration image after his December 2025 fight with Sean Sharaf, he raises both arms and leaves the portrait unobstructed. Dark shading forms the mane around the face and open mouth, with lighter areas picking out the muzzle.

The portrait stays within the left side of his chest. Much of the center and right side remains clear, leaving space between the lion, neck tattoo and arm work. The photograph shows the subject and placement; it doesn’t give a date, artist or personal explanation for his choice.

The owl tattoo across his neck

The owl faces forward at the center of Asplund’s throat, just below his beard. Its two dark eyes draw attention first; feather-like lines spread outward and the beak narrows toward the bottom. Open skin between the darker areas keeps the face legible, and the design follows the curve of his neck rather than sitting inside a frame.

Dark, curling shapes continue around the sides of his neck and over the shoulder, creating a different texture from the owl’s finer lines. Below it, across the upper chest, the script reads “My Brother’s Keeper.” The words are readable, but the photographs don’t establish the dedication behind them. Familiar symbols and phrases can have personal meanings that aren’t visible in a picture.

The skulls and patterns on his right arm

In the action photo, Asplund is on the left in blue shorts, punching toward Sharaf. His right upper arm shows a cluster of skulls surrounded by thick curling shapes. Several faces are visible within the group, with dark forms separating their eye sockets and teeth. A web-like pattern sits near the outside of the elbow, and shaded designs continue down the forearm.

The skulls and web give this arm a different rhythm from the single lion portrait. The image also helps separate the fighters: the owl and chest lettering identify Asplund, while both men have visible tattoos. The designs alone don’t show whether the skulls refer to a particular event or count of wins.

How his tattoos sit across the body

An official full-body photo, with Asplund standing in blue UFC shorts and his gloves lowered, makes the layout easier to see. The owl occupies the throat, the lion stays on the left chest, and both arms have more coverage than the abdomen. His left sleeve includes a winged figure near the upper arm and rose-like forms farther down; some of the work turns out of view from the front.

Smaller marks appear on his legs and feet, including a round, smiley-like design on one thigh. They’re less prominent than the neck and chest pieces. For a comparison with fuller torso coverage, see Alessio Sakara’s tattoos. Asplund’s photos leave wider gaps through the center of the body.

Career context: the Contender Series

This September 2025 face-off photo was taken before Asplund met Anthony Guarascio on Dana White’s Contender Series. Asplund stands on the right with an official between the two fighters. The UFC recorded a 16-second finish and a contract for him; his professional career had begun in 2023.

His nickname, Concrete, has a direct background connection: Asplund’s UFC profile says he works in concrete and shares the name with his father, Kevin, who also fought MMA. That context is more specific than guessing what the skulls or dark patterns mean.

Life outside the fight itself

A later interview photo shows Asplund in a black UFC shirt holding a microphone after his August 2026 bout with Guilherme Pat. In interviews, he has spoken about providing for his child, encouraging young people who doubt themselves, and adding equipment to his home gym after a defeat. Those are his stated priorities and training choices, not evidence that a particular tattoo marks a turning point.

A separate March 2026 fight-week portrait shows him smiling in a camouflage cap and gray overshirt. The UFC Vegas 112 Octagon interview below follows his December 2025 win over Sharaf and gives a moving view of how the owl changes as he turns his head.

Daniel Zellhuber has a compass on his left chest, a three-line quote on the right and a red-accented sleeve built around a samurai-style figure on his left arm. The collection is heavier on one side, with the lettering and open skin balancing the denser artwork. The photos show the shapes clearly, though not every design’s personal backstory is known.

The compass tattoo on his left chest

The compass sits high on Zellhuber’s left chest. A dark pointed shape fills its circular center, with red accents and feather-like shading extending toward the shoulder. In a celebration photo after his September 2023 fight with Christos Giagos, the front-facing angle shows how the chest piece connects visually with the upper arm.

Open skin separates the compass from the lettering across the opposite pectoral. Small Roman-numeral marks appear below the left chest as a separate design, but this photo doesn’t establish a date or family reference. A compass can suggest direction, yet Zellhuber hasn’t linked it to a move, fight or other life event in the material here.

The words on his right chest

The words on his right chest read: “Be strong when you are weak. Brave when you are scared. And humble when you are victorious.” They’re arranged in short lines above the pectoral, with room between the text and the compass. A February 2024 photo from Mexico City makes the full wording easier to read than a fast-moving fight image.

The quote’s message is plain, but the photos don’t say when Zellhuber chose it or what prompted him. Its lettering creates a quieter counterpoint to the shapes and color on his left side.

The samurai and floral tattoos on his left arm

A samurai-style helmet and armored face anchor the upper part of Zellhuber’s left sleeve. Dark shading defines the face, while red curves and accents break up the gray around it. The helmet gives the shoulder design a clear silhouette, though no photo shows the entire wraparound piece at once.

During a February 2024 exchange with Francisco Prado, Zellhuber is on the right in red shorts with his left arm crossing his body. The angle reveals how the darker upper-arm work continues toward the forearm. Red floral shapes interrupt the gray shading and connect the sleeve’s different sections.

A separate punching photo gives a longer view of the outer arm. Black, gray and selected red areas carry the design down the sleeve. The flowers aren’t identified by species, and the images don’t name a specific historical samurai or artist. For another fighter with connected chest and arm work, see Alessio Sakara’s tattoos.

Career context: the Contender Series

This September 2021 Contender Series photo shows Zellhuber on the left in blue shorts against Lucas Almeida. It predates his UFC debut, but the angle and lighting don’t establish when any of the tattoos were added. A partly hidden design shouldn’t be treated as absent.

In a September 2024 UFC interview, Zellhuber discussed his development after a difficult promotional debut and the confidence he’d gained since. That gives context to his career without assigning a story to the compass or samurai.

Career context: competing at Sphere

At UFC 306 in September 2024, Zellhuber fought Esteban Ribovics. Zellhuber is on the left in red shorts and Ribovics on the right in green; Ribovics won by split decision. The action photo favors Zellhuber’s less tattooed right side, while a turn the other way brings more of the left sleeve into view.

Before the fight in New Orleans

Before his July 2025 fight with Michael Johnson in New Orleans, Zellhuber wore a black tracksuit and held the Mexican flag. The photo was reused in a February 2026 UFC feature, so those dates refer to the fight and later publication, respectively. His clothing covers most of the tattoos.

In that feature, Zellhuber spoke about commitment and continuing to work when motivation is low. The UFC Mexico interview below is from February 2024, after his win over Francisco Prado. Together, the images add career context while the closer chest and arm photos show the tattoos themselves.

Jake Matthews pairs two different sleeves: shaded illustrations on the right and bold knotwork and angular patterns on the left. A smaller reference to the manga Berserk sits behind his right ear. The photos show how the pieces differ in style and placement, though they don’t explain every personal reason behind them.

The Berserk tattoo behind his right ear

A backstage photo from UFC 302 in June 2024 shows the angular Brand of Sacrifice behind Matthews’ right ear as he prepares his wrapped hands. The small mark is easy to miss in a front-facing portrait. EssentiallySports identified it in a May 2024 report as a symbol from Berserk, the manga created by Kentaro Miura.

The thin lines sit between his beard and the back of his neck, without a shaded panel around them. Its compact scale contrasts with the larger arm work. The reference is recognizable, but the choice alone doesn’t say how Matthews relates to every part of the story.

The illustrated sleeve on his right arm

In a July 2023 fight photo against Darrius Flowers, Matthews wears red gloves and extends his right arm across the frame. The sleeve combines dark shapes with pale gray shading, with a larger figure near the shoulder and detailed work continuing down the forearm.

Published reports describe Norse-inspired imagery in the sleeve, including Thor, Fenrir and a Valkyrie. One report also links a caption Matthews shared with his Valkyrie image to the strength of women. Those attributions are more specific than reading a whole battle story into the shaded shapes.

A May 2026 weigh-in photo opposite Carlston Harris shows Matthews on the left, with the right shoulder turned toward the camera. A helmeted figure and feather-like details are clearer here, along with another shaded image on the forearm. Together, the two views show the sleeve wrapping around the arm; no single pose captures it all.

The knotwork and symbols on his left arm

After his February 2025 fight with Francisco Prado, Matthews raised both arms, exposing the left sleeve. Broad bands of interlacing blackwork surround angular marks, with a three-pointed motif on the upper arm and rows of signs farther down the forearm. The style is more graphic than the soft shading on his right arm.

His nickname, “The Celtic Kid,” can lead people to treat the entire sleeve as one cultural tradition. But reporting has also discussed Norse references in his collection, and the visible patterns don’t establish an exact origin or translation. The lines and contrast are clear; a specific meaning isn’t supplied by these photos.

How the tattoos sit together

A photo after Matthews’ July 2025 win over Chidi Njokuani in Nashville shows both arms, smaller upper-chest designs and outlined work along the sides of his lower torso. His gloves and shorts cover parts of the image, but the center of his chest and abdomen remain largely open.

A branching black design reaches from the upper left chest toward the shoulder, while curved outlines sit along the flanks. The photo shows where they are, but not enough to identify their source. The right arm uses shaded figures; the left leans on heavier lines and patterns.

For another broad collection, see Alessio Sakara’s tattoos. Matthews’ sleeves remain the main focus, with open skin through the center keeping them distinct.

Winning in Newark

Matthews has his hand raised after beating Phil Rowe at UFC 302 in Newark in June 2024. He wears a white shirt that covers the torso, while the arms remain visible. It’s a post-fight image, not a close view of the tattoos.

He made his UFC debut in 2014. Ahead of his February 2025 appearance in Sydney, he spoke to UFC about years of wins, losses, injuries and family changes, and about training more intelligently and making room for recovery. Those interviews give context to his career, but don’t date the tattoos or explain them.

The official UFC Nashville interview below follows his first-round submission of Njokuani in July 2025. It puts his own voice alongside photographs from several stages of his career.

Jonathan Martinez’s right arm carries most of his visible tattoo work: a shaded lion near the shoulder, “LA” lettering on the forearm and palm trees lower down. A small outlined “A” sits above his shorts, while the middle of his chest and much of his left side remain open. The mix of sizes and spacing is easier to see when the photos show both sides of him.

The lion and lettering on his right arm

In an October 2022 fight photo against Cub Swanson, Martinez is on the left in white shorts. His lion sits high on the right arm, with a crown-like outline above the face and black-and-gray shading around the eyes, muzzle and mane. The curve of the mane follows his shoulder rather than ending at a straight edge.

The letters “LA” farther down the right forearm use thicker strokes than the shaded portrait. An EssentiallySports report from May 2024 connects them with Los Angeles, where Martinez was born. The lion’s personal meaning hasn’t been established in the reporting. Swanson is on the right in red shorts; his more extensive torso tattoos belong to him, not Martinez.

For another fighter with extensive coverage, see Alessio Sakara’s tattoos. Martinez leaves more skin open, so the right arm stands out as the main cluster.

The palm-tree tattoo on his right forearm

This raised-hand photo shows several palm trees near Martinez’s right wrist, above a darker curved area of shading. Their narrow trunks and spreading fronds use the length of the forearm, with the darker work connecting them to the larger sleeve.

The palm trees and “LA” lettering both point visually toward California, a connection also discussed in the published tattoo report. The images identify the scenery, but don’t name a neighborhood or give a separate personal meaning for each tree. Flags in this photo cover most of his torso; they’re part of the moment, not tattoos.

The outlined A tattoo on his lower abdomen

An outlined “A” sits low on Martinez’s right abdomen, just above the shorts. In this photo after his October 2022 win over Swanson, his right hand is raised and the letter’s pointed border is visible around open skin. It’s much smaller and lighter than the arm work.

A report has suggested the initial could refer to his wife, Amber, but Martinez hasn’t confirmed that. The waistband and his pose partly obscure the design, so the photograph is clearest about its placement, not its private reference.

Career context: the Yanez contest

This October 2023 photo shows Martinez on the left in red gloves during his fight with Adrian Yanez. His less-tattooed left side faces the camera, while the detailed right arm is turned away. Martinez won by second-round TKO.

Before the fight, he told UFC he was getting more comfortable with the attention that came with winning. The interview adds career context, but doesn’t explain the lion or palm trees.

Career context: facing Jose Aldo in Rio

At UFC 301 in May 2024, Martinez is on the right in red shorts, extending a kick toward Jose Aldo in blue. Aldo won by unanimous decision. His tattoos dominate the foreground, while the action partly hides Martinez’s right arm.

In a November 2024 UFC interview, Martinez reflected on the fight and discussed moving his training back to Texas, working with Ohana Academy and his own MTZ Fight Club. The photos from different events show why a turned-away arm can make the same collection look much smaller.

Career context: his leg-kick game

A wider view of the Yanez fight shows Martinez on the right in red shorts, throwing a low kick. Leg kicks were central to his stoppage wins over Swanson and Yanez. In this full-body photo the tattoos are smaller in frame, but the open chest and left side make the right-arm sleeve’s scale easier to judge.

The UFC Vegas 81 interview below follows his October 2023 win over Yanez. It gives a post-fight view alongside the close-ups that show the lion, palm trees and lettering in more detail.

Ricky Simon’s tattoos include a large sasquatch on his right thigh, feathered shading and lettering on his left arm, and several lines of script on his right ribs. The thigh design has a documented connection beyond the cage: Backwoods Brewing and Glow Creative both say it inspired the ChupaLagre beer collaboration and can artwork. That doesn’t explain why Simon originally chose the creature, but it gives the tattoo a clear public link.

The sasquatch leg tattoo

In a shirtless training photo, a dark, hairy-looking head fills a large area of Simon’s right thigh. Lighter lines and shaded details surround it, while the solid dark center keeps the creature visible when he moves. The upper edge disappears beneath his shorts; the lower part reaches toward the knee.

A fight photo against Raphael Assuncao shows the same thigh as Simon kicks. The angle and fabric obscure parts of the design, while the stretched leg changes its proportions. The darker central shape is still easy to spot.

Backwoods Brewing credits Simon’s sasquatch tattoo as the inspiration for its ChupaLagre collaboration. Glow Creative also describes the leg tattoo as the starting point for the can design and campaign. Those accounts confirm the link between the tattoo and the artwork, but don’t tell us the creature’s personal origin for Simon.

In another training photo, Simon smiles and lifts his shorts enough to show more of the vertical design along the front and outer thigh. His bare left leg makes the heavier shading on the right easier to see.

A wider stance photo shows the tattoo between patterned shorts and shin guards. The smaller lines soften at this distance, but the dark-and-light composition still reads as one large piece. The close and wide views show different things: the creature’s detail and how it sits on his leg.

The feathered left-arm tattoo

During his fight with Rani Yahya, dark feather shapes spread across the outside of Simon’s left upper arm. Their pointed tips make a clear edge, while finer shading continues toward the shoulder. His right arm is mostly bare in this view, which makes the left side stand out.

A later celebration photo, with Simon’s blond hair and both arms spread, shows more shaded work and lettering down the left arm. Flowing lines give the lower coverage a different texture from the larger feather shapes. The arm is more heavily tattooed than the opposite side, while his chest remains comparatively open.

The shapes are visible, but the photos don’t identify a particular bird or explain the lettering. For another fighter with much denser overall coverage, see Alessio Sakara’s tattoos.

The right-rib script tattoo

Several lines of script sit on Simon’s right ribs, below the chest and beside the abdomen. The block of text is compact compared with the arm and thigh designs. In this mitt-work photo, Simon’s body is turning and a glove crosses the area, so the curved lettering can’t be transcribed reliably.

The placement and multiline style are clear; the full wording and its meaning aren’t established by this image. With the chest mostly open, the script has space around it and comes into view as Simon turns.

Training at the Performance Institute

December 2021 training photos at the UFC Performance Institute show Simon talking with a partner and working drills on the red mats. In one, he wears a white graphic T-shirt and much of his upper-body ink is covered. The photos show his preparation routine, not close views of the tattoos.

Ahead of the Assuncao fight, Simon spoke to UFC about persistence and his goal of returning to the rankings. A later image shows him kneeling beside his partner, still wearing gloves, patterned shorts and a white shirt. His mullet and headband belong to those dated training photos; they aren’t a fixed part of his look.

Career context and the changing look

After his July 2022 submission win over Jack Shore, Simon celebrated near the fence with one arm raised. The wide photo shows the overall layout, though it’s better for career context than for reading small details.

By April 2023, Simon was preparing for his first UFC main event against Song Yadong. A UFC feature also discussed becoming a father and buying a house with his wife, Jade. Those milestones are part of his life at that time, but Simon hasn’t tied them to a particular tattoo.

The official UFC interview below follows his December 2021 knockout win over Assuncao, also shown in the kicking photo above. It gives a post-fight view alongside the close-ups of the sasquatch, feathers and rib script.

Aaron Tau’s mataora is the most prominent part of his tattoo collection. Curved lines frame his nose and mouth, with spirals across the cheeks and darker patterning beneath his chin. Smaller pieces include “Dylan” on his left chest and a short inscription at the back of his neck. Tau has spoken about the mataora as part of his Māori identity, so the cultural context belongs alongside what the photographs show.

His mataora face tattoo

In this smiling interview photo, Tau turns slightly toward the camera. The angle brings one cheek spiral forward while leaving the central lines around his nose and mouth clear. Rounded forms cross the chin, with tapered marks continuing below it. Bare skin between the lines keeps the pattern distinct rather than merging into a solid dark area.

Te Ao Māori News reported in May 2023 that Tau received his mataora at the end of March in Kaitāia, surrounded by whānau and friends. The artist was Anikaaro Harawira. Tau described the tattoo as a way to carry his whānau, hapū, iwi and te ao Māori with him. The report identifies his Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Toro descent and connects the design with his whakapapa through Rāhiri, Āhuaiti and Whakaruru.

Those details give the mataora a specific context. A photograph shows where the curves sit on Tau’s face, but it can’t decode each one as a separate label. The full-body view later in the article makes the chest lettering and open space easier to compare; the smiling interview photo shows how the mataora moves with his expression.

The Dylan chest tattoo

The name “Dylan” is written in large cursive on Tau’s left chest, with a smaller date beneath it. The full-body photo shows it above the left nipple, on its own patch of skin. The name stands out before the small numbers do.

The image doesn’t identify who Dylan is or why the date matters. It’s safer to describe it as name-and-date lettering than to guess at a memorial or family connection. Its flowing script also has a different visual language from the curves and spirals of the mataora. For a contrast in overall coverage, see Alessio Sakara’s tattoos.

The small neck tattoo

A Contender Series fight photo shows the back of Tau’s neck beneath his braided hair. A short line of Roman-numeral-style marks runs across the nape. The letters are too angled and small in this moving shot for a reliable transcription; a single unclear stroke could change the reading.

Tau is the braided-haired fighter in the foreground, turned away. Elijah Smith faces the camera, and the larger tattoos on Smith’s arms and chest belong to him. The nape inscription is usually hidden in front-facing photos, so this is a useful view of its placement even without a readable date.

Competing with the same identity

In this Road to UFC photo, Tau throws a punch at Yin Shuai. His mataora and chest lettering are visible, though the gloves and action make it a different view from a studio portrait. UFC recorded Tau’s decision win over Yin in Shanghai in August 2025. Earlier in the tournament, he stopped Rio Tirto in the first round.

Those appearances followed a September 2024 decision loss to Elijah Smith on Dana White’s Contender Series. The events mark different stages of Tau’s route through the sport; they don’t change what the mataora represents to him.

In a June 2024 interview with Te Ao Māori News, Tau spoke about the values his grandparents taught him and carrying those values after moving to Australia as a teenager. He also wanted public appearances to make room for a broader understanding of Māori culture. The mataora is present in both public and competition settings, but its significance comes from Tau’s own account.

A wider view of Tau

A wider competition photo shows Tau under strong overhead lights, with his hair tied back and gray shorts visible. He looks away from the camera, and the lighting throws some of the facial lines into shadow. The chest lettering remains visible, but less evenly than in the full-body view.

The Te Ao Māori News video below adds Tau’s voice alongside photographs from different settings.