MMA’s Most Legendary Feuds That Went Beyond the Octagon
As much as we love the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA), there are bound to be rivalries. It is based on rivalry, self-esteem, and arrogance, and sometimes athletes who have opposite temperaments or fighting techniques meet in ways that extend beyond the Octagon. Some of these rivalries have escalated to hatred-filled feuds, characterized by verbal attacks, psychological warfare, and, in some instances, physical confrontations that extend to the streets, the gym, or even the social media platforms. While many fighters take their frustrations to the cage, there are some that have had animosity that has spilled over well past the final buzzer. These are the rivalries that fans cared about that defined fighters’ careers and occasionally even the course of MMA history. It is high time to discuss some of the toughest rivalries in MMA that did not end inside the cage. Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier The animosity between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier can be considered one of the most tense and long-standing in the history of the UFC. This fight that wanted to be a light heavyweight championship bout soon became much more than that and turned into a bitter, long-lasting rivalry that played out over the course of two legendary fights. The rivalry between them started in 2014 when they both fought for the first time at UFC 182. Jones and Cormier had bitter words for each other during their press conferences, and the two fighters came to blows at a media event. Jones accused Cormier of being a ‘fake champion’ because of his Olympic wrestling background, while Cormier accused Jones of being a bad person on and off the cage, including criminal charges and steroid use. It was a genuine hatred, and they soon let it out by turning into a verbal battle. In the first bout in the Octagon, Jones defeated Gustafsson by unanimous decision, but their rivalry began when Jones lost the title because of legal troubles. Cormier won the belt while it was vacant, and many fans as well as fighters regarded him as a ‘paper champion’ until he defeated Jones. The second fight was held at UFC 214 in 2017, and Jones knocked out Cormier with a head kick, but the victory was changed because Jones took steroids. Thus, the constant soap opera aspect of this particular rivalry—both in and out of the cage—helped to make this one of the most compelling stories in the annals of the sport. Tito Ortiz vs. Chuck Liddell Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell are two of the earlier UFC fighters, and their fight was instrumental in bringing the sport into the limelight in the mid 2000s. The hatred that fueled their rivalry was not just professional, but both men have shared training camps with each other and actually have been friends. Ortiz, the brash light heavyweight champion, did not want to fight Liddell, saying they were related. Liddell, on the other hand, was of the opinion that Ortiz was avoiding him because he knew that Liddell would be the winner. Their rivalry boiled over at UFC 47 in 2004, when Liddell KO’d Ortiz in the second round, thus shutting up his opponent and becoming the most dreaded fighter in the division. The two would later fight again in UFC 66 in 2006, in which Liddell would again knock down Ortiz in the third round to retain his light heavyweight belt. Although the rivalry was one-sided, fans were entertained, and the hatred between Ortiz and Liddell became a significant plot in the initial years of the UFC. But little did fans know that the two legends would meet for one last time in 2018 under Golden Boy Promotions, with Ortiz emerging as the winner of the trilogy fight, albeit in what can be described as a fight that happened in the twilight of both fighters’ careers. Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor McGregor is not a stranger to rivalry, but the rivalry with Khabib Nurmagomedov was something that the public had never seen before. When two of the most famous UFC fighters agreed to fight each other, the fight was about culture, ego, and fighting style, but it became one of the biggest rivalries in the UFC history. The hatred between McGregor and Khabib was taken to the next level before their fight at UFC 229 in October of 2018. The marketing genius who likes to take to social media and brag, McGregor used the abuser’s language to disrespect Khabib, his religion, his family, and his country, Dagestan. The rivalry only intensified with the incident in which McGregor attacked Khabib’s bus in Brooklyn and threw a dolly through the window. The fight itself was one of the greatest in the history of UFC: Khabib was dominating McGregor and eventually submitted him in the fourth round. But the melee that occurred after the fight, where Khabib jumped over the cage to attack McGregor’s team, escalated the rivalry into a complete catastrophe. The two camps fought, and the brawl extended to the crowd, and in that regard, the fight was suspended and both fighters were fined. After the fight, bitterness between McGregor’s and Khabib’s teams remained; the fighters themselves continued to insult each other on social networks. As Khabib retired without a loss, the sour taste of this rivalry is still felt to this date in the MMA fraternity. Ronda Rousey vs. Miesha Tate The battles between Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate were one of the first to become popular in the category of women’s MMA. The fact that Rousey is the brash and confident Olympic judo medalist who had no problem telling anyone who would listen that she was the ‘baddest woman on the planet’ while Tate, the far more reserved but no less tough wrestler, actually seemed to despise Rousey only added to the appeal of their rivalry. It started in Strikeforce, where Rousey beat Tate to the women’s bantamweight title through armbar submission in 2012. The two faced each other again in the UFC,
F1’s Most Heated Rivalries: What the 2024 Season Has in Store for Fans
Rivalries are the lifeblood of Formula 1, giving events an air of personal drama and often far greater levels of excitement that transcend even the sport itself. From legendary clashes involving Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost through the intense battles of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, he remembers how rivalries shaped F1’s history and captured the imagination of worldwide fans. This is no different for the 2024 season, where a new cast of heated rivalries will look to define the fight for this year’s Championship. As teams and drivers push for every advantage possible, these rivalries are poised to create some of the compelling stories of the season. With the following article deep-diving into the hottest 2024 F1 rivalries this season, it takes a look at the background and key flashpoints of each before turning its attention to the implications those might have for the championship fight. From daredevil veterans rekindling old grudges to fresh-faced youngsters stirring the pot, these will be pivotal in the on-track battles, as well as laying threads through the narrative atmosphere of the whole season. Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton have been the protagonists of one of the most intense rivalries in recent F1 history. Their 2021 championship battle was one for the ages, culminating in a quite controversial final race in Abu Dhabi. While Verstappen has since emerged as the dominant force in F1, Hamilton’s resurgence in 2024 has re-ignited their rivalry, setting the stage for another thrilling chapter in their ongoing saga. A. History of the Rivalry The contrast marking them out as the Verstappen-Hamilton rivalry is one of contrasts in style and personality. Verstappen is the brash young Dutchman, never backward in coming forward and often pushing the limits on track to the bare limits of what can be considered aboveboard. Hamilton is the crafty, seven-time world champion who knows well how to mix incredible skills with calculation. Often enough, their collision course is riddled with high-octane drama and sprinkled with controversy. Past Flashpoints: The 2021 season was the height of their rivalry that featured several incidents on the track, with crashes at both Silverstone and Monza. These teed up a narrative of mutual distrust, intense competition that has trickled into subsequent seasons, even as Verstappen pulled ahead in the championship standings. B. 2024 Season: A New Battleground A rivalry that had only recently started to dissipate at the commencement of the 2024 season, Hamilton and Mercedes managed to close that gap to Verstappen and Red Bull, and the rest is history. Both drivers have won races, so the championship fight is shaping up to be a tightly contested one. Early in the 2024 Season Tension: The tension between Verstappen and Hamilton has already been conspicuous in the early races of 2024. A notable incident at the Spanish Grand Prix, where the two made contact while battling for the lead, reminded fans of the fiery nature of their rivalry. While neither driver backed down, both were quick to point fingers, blaming each other for the clash. Mind Games: The rivalry also played itself off the track with strategic mind games. Verstappen often criticized Mercedes’ pit wall for their strategy calls, while Hamilton had subtle digs at Red Bull’s aggressive approach. This, all in itself, is another layer added to the psychological game between these two as each driver tries to gain an edge wherever possible. C. Impact on the Championship This isn’t just a personal Verstappen-Hamilton rivalry that has carried over into 2024, but also one that’s going to be key in the fight for this year’s title, with both drivers capable of fighting for wins and, ultimately, the championship. Tensions of the Championship: Literally, every battle between Verstappen and Hamilton on track is a potential flashpoint, with collisions or even strategic mistakes that can affect the tide of the drivers’ and constructors’ championships. As the season keeps on going, so do the stakes; with every race comes another opportunity to win some valuable points or to kill that advantage. Team Dynamics: The rivalry also extends into the team dynamic, particularly in Mercedes, because Hamilton’s teammate is Charles Leclerc, who has shown very strong pace. Therefore, managing internal competition between Hamilton and Leclerc will be crucial as Mercedes seeks to challenge the dominance of Red Bull. A. History of the Rivalry Teaming up at Ferrari in 2021, Leclerc and Sainz rapidly set into place one of the most balanced and powerful partnerships on the grid. Complementary in driving style and evoking mutual respect, Ferrari was able to rebuild with them and recover competitiveness. But as Ferrari’s performances went up, so too did the stakes for the two drivers vying for top dog at the Italian outfit. Past seasons: With a few minor exceptions, Leclerc and Sainz have steered clear of direct disagreement to this point, instead throwing their collective energies into helping Ferrari climb back towards the front of the grid. For all that, the odd on-track spat and disagreement over strategy calls in sunlight betrayed how there was teak-tough competitiveness lurking just beneath the surface. B. The 2024 Season-Where the Rivalry Gets Much Hotter This has moved the tussle in the competition between Leclerc and Sainz to the forefront going into the 2024 season, with each driver angling for favor with the team to set him up with the best chance for a championship challenge. Same Tools, Different Results: With similar machinery for both drivers, their results have often been different in the fact that Leclerc has usually out-qualified Sainz, although Sainz does attain more consistent race results. This disparity has often led to tense moments within the team, with each driver feeling that he should be given priority. Strategic Conflicts: Ferrari’s strategy calls have more often than not set the two drivers at each other’s throats, and none as much as when decisions to do with race strategy are in question. At Monaco, one such strategic call was made to prioritize Leclerc’s pit stop timing over that of Sainz,
