TJ Dillashaw effusively celebrates his victory over C. Garbrandt at UFC 217 Photo: Instagram
The main fight of UFC 270 between Francis Ngannou e Cyryl Gane will mark the 'reunion' between the former training partners, in a duel valid for the heavyweight belt (up to 120,2kg). However, this confrontation between 'intimate enemies' is nothing new in MMA. To heat up the clash between the two giants, the SUPER FIGHTS recalls great disputes between fighters who were once part of the same gym.
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1 – TJ Dillashaw x Cody Garbrandt
There is no denying the enormous change that coach Duane Ludwig has made in the Team Alpha Male, team captained by Urijah faber. The North American managed to transform a group of athletes with an almost unique specialty in grappling into good and dangerous strikers. His departure from the gym caused a huge uproar when the former bantamweight champion (up to 61,2kg) TJ Dillashaw, one of those who evolved the most at his side, wanted to accompany him in his new destination.
The confrontation against cody garbrandt, new leader of the division and creation of Alpha Male, has been surrounded by taunts and insults since he was tagged. Dillashaw's former partners started to hate him and called him a 'traitor', TJ wanted to show that he only wanted the best for his professional future and that it was nothing personal, however, the verbal attacks affected the former champion.
At UFC 217, in November 2017, the two athletes finally took to the octagon to resolve their differences. In the confrontation, TJ prevailed and beat Garbrandt by knockout in the second round. The iconic photo that illustrates the article was taken immediately after the referee's interruption and perfectly sums up Dillashaw's feeling with the entire circus set up before the fight.
2 – Jon Jones x Rashad Evans
J. Jones and R. Evans face off before UFC 145 Photo: Instagram/UFC
When Rashad evans was injured shortly before the duel against the then light heavyweight champion (up to 93kg) Mauritius Shogun, 'Sugar' did not expect that his replacement in the clash would be his training partner, who is only 21 years old Jon Jones. The former division leader's disappointment became even greater when 'Bones' ran over the Brazilian and took over the throne that was once his.
Rashad felt betrayed by Jones and the other members of the 'Jackson's Wink MMA' gym and left the team. The confrontation between him and Jon was just a matter of time and it happened in April 2012. At UFC 145, the two former friends met in a confrontation surrounded by tension behind the scenes. In the end, an easy victory for 'Bones' and also the end of a friendship of many years.
3 – Chuck Liddell x Tito Ortiz
T. Ortiz and C. Liddell exchange punches in a UFC fight Photo: Disclosure
The rivalry between Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell is considered by many to be the greatest in MMA history. When the 'Iceman' began to stand out in Ultimate, the owner of the light heavyweight belt (up to 93kg) was his friend and training partner Tito Ortiz. Since the beginning of the speculation, the two athletes rejected the possibility of facing each other due to the partnership that existed between them in the gym.
However, after Tito lost the belt to Randy Couture in September 2003, a confrontation with Liddell became inevitable in the quest to regain his reign. And after years of requests from fans, the two athletes finally stepped into the octagon to measure strength. At UFC 44 in April 2004, Liddell showed he was the better of the two former friends and knocked out the bad boy in the second round. However, the rivalry created would not end there.
Just over two years later, Chuck was the undisputed light heavyweight champion and was challenged again by Ortiz. The bad boy said during fight week that he had 'got emotional' in the first duel and that wouldn't happen in the rematch. However, the end of the second confrontation was not very different. Liddell showed why he was the best in the world in the 93kg division and knocked out Tito again.
4 – Anderson Silva x Vitor Belfort
A. Silva and V. Belfort faced each other at UFC 126 Photo: Disclosure/UFC
When Ultimate scaled Anderson Silva x Vitor belfort as the main fight of UFC 126, the 'Spider' did not hide his dissatisfaction with the marriage of this fight. The then middleweight champion (up to 83,9kg) had been his compatriot's training partner at 'Black House' and Team Nogueira and did not want to face him. However, the 'Phenomenon' wanted nothing to do with friendship and insisted on being the next challenger in the category.
Confrontation scheduled, fighters prepared… it was time to step into the Octagon. After a start of a lot of study and little action, Spider landed a beautiful front kick and took Belfor to the canvas. The final blows were protocol and Anderson managed his eighth consecutive defense of the middleweight title. The scene would be immortalized among MMA fans, with the right to be shown at the official opening of Ultimate events for many years.
5 – Kamaru Usman x Gilbert Durinho
K.Usman and G. Durinho shared the gym for many years Photo: Instagram/UFC
Training companions at Sanford MMA for many years, Kamaru Usman e Gilbert Durinho were forced to cross their paths in February 2021. After the confrontation became official, the welterweight champion (up to 77,1kg) changed city and went to train in Denver, Colorado (USA) with coach Trevor Wittman and to side of stars like Rose namajunas e Justin gaethje.
The backstage scenes that preceded the confrontation did not have a milder tone in terms of provocations, however, the fact that the two athletes knew each other intimately made the atmosphere tense at all times. Inside the octagon, the Brazilian fighter had a good start, but soon succumbed to the momentum of the Nigerian who knocked him out in the third round and continued as champion of the 77,1kg division.
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