Here’s a bold statement: the world of fighting games is fiercely divided, and no character type sparks more debate than the grapplers. Love them or hate them, these towering figures dominate the screen—and the conversation. But here's where it gets controversial... Longtime pro DFM|Itabashi Zangief, a self-proclaimed grappler enthusiast, recently dropped a tier list ranking his favorite Street Fighter characters, and it’s a heavyweight affair—literally. In a fun collaboration with Red Bull Gaming, Itazan takes us on a nostalgic journey through his main picks from Street Fighter 2 to Street Fighter 6, and the results are as beefy as you’d expect. And this is the part most people miss... While not all of his choices are textbook grapplers, each one boasts at least one special grab move that gets his adrenaline pumping. Let’s dive in.
Starting with Street Fighter 2, Itazan places his namesake, Zangief, in the B tier. Why? Because, as he admits, mastering Zangief in this iteration was a grind, but the challenge was part of the charm. Fast forward to Street Fighter 4, where Itazan’s competitive journey truly took off, and you’ll find Zangief in the A tier—a surprising placement, given the character’s significance to him. Meanwhile, T. Hawk lands in the B tier, a step below his usual main, which might raise a few eyebrows.
Street Fighter 5 marks a turning point, with Zangief finally earning an S-tier spot in Itazan’s heart. But he’s not alone—Abigail, the towering Final Fight crossover character, also makes the cut. Itazan’s love for Abigail’s sheer size and versatility is undeniable, and it’s hard not to see why. G, however, lands in the B tier, despite Itazan finding the character intriguing. Here’s the kicker... In Street Fighter 6, Zangief returns to S rank, with Itazan praising this version as 'really cool.' Marisa, the newcomer, lands in A tier, though Itazan hints she’d rank higher if she were more dominant in the game.
So, who’s his all-time favorite? Abigail takes the crown, simply because, as Itazan puts it, 'He is the biggest after all.' But here’s the question that’ll spark debate... Are grapplers truly the most rewarding characters to play, or do they just frustrate opponents? Let us know in the comments—we’re eager to hear your take! Check out the full video below for more insights from Itazan himself.
板橋ザンギエフのストリートファイター歴代使用キャラ好きランキング@ItazanKuma (https://twitter.com/ItazanKuma?refsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) #RedBull283Academy (https://twitter.com/hashtag/RedBull283Academy?src=hash&refsrc=twsrc%5Etfw) pic.twitter.com/g1WKvQlDRY (https://t.co/g1WKvQlDRY)
— レッドブル ゲーミング🎮️ (@RedBullGamingJP) November 24, 2025 (https://twitter.com/RedBullGamingJP/status/1992880875021733984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
