8 MMA Fighters You Didn't Know Appeared In Big-Budget Movies

His moniker of The Ice Man sounds like it belongs in a comic-book property of some kind. That's exactly what transpired in 2013's Kick-Ass 2, in which MMA pioneer Chuck Liddell starred as himself in the widely popular superhero black comedy film.

The cult classic sequel saw superheroes Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Chloë Grace Moretz respectively, join the ranks of other new heroes in order to defeat their resurgent nemesis in Chris D'Amico, played by Christopher Mintz-Plasse. To aid in his comeback to thwart the heroes, D'Amico hires his own roster of villanous talent, as well as the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion to aid in his schemes.

Liddell stars as himself, as a trainer, who aims to build D'Amico into mixed martial artist greatness. When D'Amico's sparring session goes awry, he simply foregoes the training in favour of hiring muscle instead. Liddell's name is also used in various comedic moments throughout the film, particularly by D'Amico, who replaces his Ice Man moniker with a hilarious, insulting, nickname instead. This, of course, aggravates Liddell, who rushes towards him in hopes of laying a beating on him.

Although Liddell in the movie says that winning in MMA is like chess, if you have all the right movies, the sentiment doesn't really end up showcasing D'Amico's brute force. Showing Liddell post-first retirement in Kick-Ass 2 was, on the other hand, demonstrative of him having the right moves outside the Octagon, to the point of landing a role in a well-known IP.