Surprising Friendships Between UFC Fighters and Celebrities

MMA and the UFC have grown in popularity and not only have a huge following, but the sport has also attracted famous personalities from different fields. Since UFC fighters are tough, hard-working individuals who have big personalities, it should come as no surprise that many have forged friendships with movie stars, musicians, actors, and athletes.

Here, we look at some of the most surprising and popular UFC fighters and celebrities’ friendships. These friendships show that MMA is indeed for everybody and how fighters who are considered warriors inside the cage have been able to form friendships with people from different strata of society.

Conor McGregor and Drake: The Rap Star and the Notorious One

Conor McGregor is an international celebrity who boasts and has one of the most powerful punches in the UFC. Drake, the Grammy-winning rapper, is also a big fan of combat sports, but his affiliation with McGregor came as a shock to many of his fans.

The two first came to the public limelight when Drake appeared at McGregor’s weigh-in before the boxing match against Floyd Mayweather in 2017. Drake was visibly excited and started hyping up the Irishman, and their relationship grew rather quickly to become the talk of the town. Before the fight, in the press conference, McGregor welcomed Drake as a proper Irishman even though Drake is Canadian, and the two hugged. Drake remained backing McGregor in other UFC events and also on the social media platforms where the two are known to engage each other.

It is for this reason that both are lovers of showbiz and thus respect each other. The cocky attitude and outrageous antics of McGregor have a nice synergy with the image of Drake as a hip-hop artist. Although McGregor has had his share of victories and losses in the octagon, his relationship with Drake remains intact, proving that they are more than just a selfie.

Ronda Rousey and Demi Lovato: The Need for MMA Love: A Friendship Story

UFC women’s bantamweight champion, Ronda Rousey, changed the face of women’s mixed martial art and is close friends with Demi Lovato. Although Lovato is mostly popular for singing and acting, she is also a very passionate fan of MMA. Lovato has been practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu for years, and he is quite a fan of UFC.

It is worth mentioning that Lovato has expressed her affection towards Rousey, and their friendship was built based on their common passion for the sport. The singer, who used to support Rousey in her fights, watched her matches from the first row. Rousey lost her fight to Holly Holm in UFC 193, and Lovato supported her friend during the worst period in her career.

The two have been seen in each other’s company many times, and it is not limited to MMA alone. Lovato has also said that Rousey is her inspiration due to her strength and confidence, while Rousey has said that she enjoys Lovato’s support and passion for MMA. It proves that regardless of the nature of the people’s work, MMA can be the unifying subject of their friendship.

Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone and Guy Fieri: The Fighter and the Foodie

Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, a UFC fighter who takes any fight at any time, and Guy Fieri, the host of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives on the Food Network. When one looks at it, one may not think that Cerrone and Fieri are friends, but these two love life, food, and the rush of adrenalin.

Cerrone has a rugged cowboy type of life, and in his spare time, he likes dirt biking and wakeboarding,  among other things. Fieri is known as the food lover and the adrenaline junkie, which makes him to support Cerrone’s idea of enjoying life. They first crossed paths at a UFC event, and since then Fieri has been attending many of Cerrone’s fights as a cageside supporter.

Moreover, Fieri and Cerrone are interested in similar things, and they have worked on television; Cerrone was the guest of Fieri in the show Guy’s Grocery Games. They have also been captured mingling outside the UFC organization, whether at events or even having meals together. Fieri even attended Cerrone’s fight against Conor McGregor at UFC 246, and was ringside to support his buddy.

Jorge Masvidal and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson: The Bond of the BMF

Jorge Masvidal, known for his street fight experience, was able to take his UFC career to the next level when he clinched the “BMF” (Baddest Motherf*****) at UFC 244 in 2019. This was made even more memorable by the guest appearance of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, who handed over the custom-made BMF belt to Masvidal after his fight with Nate Diaz.

This fight was a result of friendly relations between the Rock, a former WWE wrestler turned Hollywood actor, and Masvidal, who respect each other as fighters. Johnson has been a supporter of the UFC for a long time, and he came out in support of Masvidal before the fight while commending him for his fighting techniques and perseverance. The friendship between the two became tighter when Johnson handed the belt, saying that it was a dream come true for him.

After that fight, both Masvidal and Johnson have remained friends, and The Rock often posts about Masvidal’s fighting ability and hard work. Both have complimented each other in public, and Johnson has even said he would like to collaborate with Masvidal in the future, maybe integrating both the fighting and performance arts.

Khabib Nurmagomedov and Cristiano Ronaldo: The Eagle and Soccer Superstar

Khabib Nurmagomedov, the former UFC lightweight champion with the record of 28-0, is one of the most respected fighters in the history of the MMA. Some people may be shocked to learn that he is friends with Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the best soccer players in the world, but the two have become good friends.

The friendly relations between Khabib and Ronaldo started when the latter started developing an interest in MMA and started posting about UFC events and training sessions. Khabib loves soccer, and that is how he was able to relate to Ronaldo, especially being a great soccer fanatic. They’ve even gifted each other—Khabib gifted Ronaldo a Dagestani papakha hat, which Ronaldo has worn—and have been spotted to greet each other on social media platforms.

Even Ronaldo has said that he likes Khabib’s discipline and fighting approach, and Khabib has stated that Ronaldo is one of his role models. The friendship of these two is one of the best examples of how people who are interested in sports all around the world can appreciate each other regardless of the fact that they practice different types of sport.

Max Holloway and Jason Momoa: Hawaii’s Finest

Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway is one of the most entertaining fighters in the UFC. He was a Hawaiian man, and he is very relaxed, which made him very popular among his fans and other Hawaiian celebrities such as Jason Momoa.

Momoa, who played the character of Aquaman and was also cast in Game of Thrones, has a close bond with Holloway, as both of them are from Hawaii and love to embrace their roots. The two are very good friends, and Momoa has always been supportive of Holloway’s UFC fighting career, either by being present at the fight or passing encouraging messages on social media.

Consequently, Holloway has expressed love for Momoa’s Hollywood career, and the two have always appreciated each other’s work. The camaraderie that exists between Holloway and Momoa is an inspiring example of how people from the same cultural background can come together regardless of the industry they are from, and this has been warmly received by UFC fans as well as movie lovers.

Israel Adesanya and Kevin Hart: The Stylebender and the Comedian

The current UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, is a fighter who has his own unique fighting style and personality in and out of the Octagon. This personality has endeared him to the fans, and it was also noticed by comedian Kevin Hart.

Adesanya and Hart first met after the fighter gained popularity in the UFC, and Hart said he enjoyed watching Adesanya fight because of the skills he displayed in the octagon. The two began being friends, and Hart has been one of the most outspoken supporters of Adesanya in the celebrity world. Hart has been known to promote Adesanya on social media platforms, and they have been seen in each other’s company at different occasions, much as they appreciate each other’s talents.

Adesanya is a fan of Hart’s comedy, and they have been friends for some time since he has also shown his support for Adesanya. Their relationship proves that laughter and understanding can conquer the distance between stand-up and fighting.

Conclusion

Despite the fact that the UFC fighters are extremely talented in combat and can take a lot of punishment inside the octagon, they also have friends in the entertainment industry. Regardless of liking sports, adventure, or appreciating each other, these friendships underscore the MMA’s universality and how UFC fighters are becoming recognized personalities outside the cage.

These rather unexpected pairings show that, unlike what many might think, UFC fighters and celebrities are two different worlds that can come together through the love for fighting, entertainment, or sports. The close friendships that have developed between fighters and celebrities have been one of the many factors that have helped to expand the already vast universe of MMA.