35-year-old UFC veteran Andre Fili will make his comeback in the Octagon this weekend at UFC Vegas 114. He aims to build on the momentum from his last win over Christian Rodriguez at UFC Vegas 109 last August. Now, the seasoned featherweight wants to make his UFC journey even more competitive and secure his roster spot. This time, he faces rising prospect Jose Delgado, a matchup that promises excitement for fans.

Fili has compiled a 13-11-1 record in the UFC, stepping into the Octagon 25 times for the promotion. A familiar face to fans, this Syndicate MMA fighter delivers more than just technical skill inside the cage. Beyond his fighting, ‘Touchy’ draws attention with his bold tattoos, which cover much of his body. Some reflect influences from Hindu mythology, others from Buddhism, while several depict fierce and intimidating monsters. Let’s inspect Andre Fili’s signature tattoos and what they reveal about the featherweight.

What does Andre Fili’s chest tattoo mean?

Andre Fili’s chest commands attention, not just for his physique but for the striking tattoos that cover it. Dominating this space, he displays a depiction of the Indian goddess Kali, which naturally catches fans’ eyes. But who is Goddess Kali?

In the Indian subcontinent, people revere her as one of the most powerful divine feminine figures. With her fierce and fearsome appearance, she destroys evil to protect the weak, therefore killing monsters to save lives. At the same time, she embodies ego, fear, and ignorance. Pop culture even highlights her influence, as seen in the American horror-fantasy series Supernatural.

On Fili’s chest, the tattoo shows Kali as a black-skinned deity holding a severed head in her left hand, representing a conquered monster from Hindu mythology. She grips a golden trident in her right hand, her weapon for destroying evil. A full moon rises in the background, which enhances the dramatic effect. Tattoo artists and fans associate Kali with power and fearlessness, often linking her to the night goddess of darkness—but in a positive, empowering sense.

For a fighter like Andre Fili, this tattoo reflects courage and strength because it symbolizes facing danger without fear. The tattoo also symbolizes women’s empowerment, independence, and freedom from material constraints. For Fili, who grew up in America with Samoan and Hawaiian roots, the Kali tattoo emphasizes fearlessness rather than aesthetics.

‘Touchy’ continues this theme on his stomach, with tattoos featuring mythological creatures and legendary figures from Hindu lore. Tattoo artists Shannon O’Keeffe and FactCatTattoo916 created these designs. Together, Fili’s chest and stomach tattoos tell a story of strength, fearlessness, and mythological power, thereby transforming his body into a living canvas of art and symbolism.

What are the other tattoos on Andre Fili’s body?

Calling Andre Fili fond of tattoos would be an understatement. The UFC fighter has a staggering 32 tattoos, placing him among the most inked fighters in the organization. Many of his largest tattoos draw inspiration from flora and fauna. For instance, he inks two wolves on his left biceps, with one towering over the other, and one of the wolves has no eyes or teeth. Clearly, the American star favors intense and dramatic designs.

He also inks a carnivorous plant, or flytrap, on his right biceps, and it features an American eagle lunging toward its prey. On his left arm, he inks a snake swallowing a rat, which fits the violent theme of his collection. It gets even darker on his left forearm, where he has a tattoo of a clown, but not just any clown, a weeping one.

Another standout piece is his ‘Darth Vader’ tattoo. Andre Fili inks the iconic ‘Star Wars’ character on his left arm, so it is safe to say he is a big ‘Star Wars’ fan.

He inks even more striking designs on his legs, including a “biomechanical” dragon, a spider mask reminiscent of traditional Japanese masks, a fighting frog inspired by Muay Thai, and the evil counterpart of Santa Claus, the Grinch, on his calf. He also inks an apple, a crying baby, a devil with a mask, and a portrait of Bill the Butcher.

Yet the tattoo that captures the most attention during fights appears on his back. Whenever AndreFili turns his back to the fans in the cage, it creates a fearsome sight. He draws inspiration for his back tattoos from Buddhist deities, with the central figure being ‘Makhala,’ a deity common in Hindu and Buddhist mythology, depicted with three eyes, much like Kali symbolizes the destruction of evil.

However, there is one particular tattoo that carries a significant underlying meaning.

Andre Fili explains the origin behind Urijah Faber’s tattoo

The UFC fighter was brought on board to be a professional fighter by former UFC star, Urijah Faber. For a long period, he was under his guidance and is very grateful to him. To pay for his homepage, Fili got a massive tattoo of Faber’s face on his leg.

Faber was a lifesaver for ‘Touchy’ , as he was a troublemaker and had nothing going on for him in his life. However, after being taught by him at ‘Alpha Male,’ he rose to the UFC caliber and is today an established fighter. Not to mention, he was also on Faber’s team during his ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ season. Safe to say, this tattoo means a lot to him.

That being said, several other tattoos are quite bold and arguably questionable. What do you make of his tattoos? Share with us your thoughts and opinions in the comments below.