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,
The Craziest Trash Talk Moments in UFC History
A lot can be said about trash talking, and it has become quite prevalent, especially within the combat sports industry, and the leading promotion in the industry is the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Promotion and psychological warfare are at the heart of it, as fighters engage in verbal battles to further enmity and gain attention from the public. The UFC, with its cast of characters and the very nature of the competition, has produced some of the greatest and most nonsensical trash talking in sports. Despite the fact that these fighters are superb athletes, the science of mind games may be as important as physical training. Here, in this article, we’ll look into some of the most outrageous cases in the history of the promotion, when fighters took trash talking to the next level and created some of the most memorable moments in the history of the sport. 1. Conor McGregor defeated José Aldo, UFC 194. Any list of trash talk moments has to include the preeminent trash talker in the UFC today, Conor McGregor. The most vicious and psychological battle of words took place in the build-up to McGregor’s fight against the then-featherweight champion José Aldo at UFC 194 in December 2015. Aldo had been unbeaten for a decade and was the champion of the featherweight category without any contest. But McGregor, who was steadily climbing his way up the ladder, embarked on a psychological warfare against Aldo that lasted for months. During the UFC’s world press tour, McGregor continued to provoke Aldo at any chance he got, including snatching the Brazilian’s belt during a press conference in Dublin and constantly referring to Aldo as ‘a broken man’. McGregor also applied psychological pressure and he did it continuously. McGregor had this overconfident Irish fighter personality, which was quite the opposite of Aldo’s calm personality. But when it was the night of the fight, McGregor’s psychological warfare seemed to have paid off. McGregor has been going at Aldo and other fighters for months with insults leading into this fight and the fight lasted 13 seconds. It has been described as one of the biggest rivalries in the history of UFC and McGregor’s taunting could not be said to have played no part in the victory. Chael Sonnen vs Anderson Silva, the fight that took place at UFC 117 and UFC 148. Chael Sonnen was the first man to rule the MMA trash talk before Conor McGregor came into the picture. His fight with Anderson Silva, the greatest middleweight champion of the Ultimate Fighting Championship was one of the most vicious trash talking bouts in the history of the sport. Prior to the two fighters’ first meeting in the octagon at UFC 117 in 2010, Sonnen was an expert in pre-fight psychological warfare. Sonnen continued to try to hit Silva, and the insults did not cease. He also made fun of Silva and his heart and even went ahead to disrespect Brazil which is Silva’s country. Sonnen delivered one of the greatest quotes ever and he said, “If Anderson ever beats me, I’ll leave the middleweight division, I’ll leave the UFC, I will leave this planet.” However, Sonnen followed the hype to the letter for most of the fight by outstruck Silva for four and a half rounds before being submitted in the last five minutes. The rivalry reached its peak before their second bout at UFC 148, where Sonnen said that Silva’s title was a fake. In the second fight, Silva would once again defeat Sonnen but Sonnen would make himself a celebrity and one of the most entertaining fighters in the history of the UFC. Nick Diaz vs. Georges St-Pierre, UFC 158 Nick Diaz has never been one to sugarcoat anything or even try to sweet talk an opponent, and his prefight banter is not exactly poetic. The promotion for Diaz’s fight with Georges St-Pierre at UFC 158 saw one of the most heated trash-talking incidents, and for the most part, Diaz was doing most of the talking. Throughout the pre-fight interviews, particularly during the press conferences, Diaz always labeled St-Pierre as a baby or a spoiled child of the UFC. He said that St-Pierre had been “protected” and that he was not a true fighter like Diaz himself. The line that Diaz used during the buildup of the fight was: “I think Georges is scared to fight me. I don’t think Georges is hurt; I think he’s scared.” The unashamed mouth that Diaz used to talk trash was not only directed to St-Pierre but also to the whole promotion machinery of the UFC. Regardless of Diaz’s attempts to provoke GSP to anger, the Canadian champion did not lose his temper and, as a result, won the fight by unanimous decision. Still, Diaz’s trash talk brought extra interest to the fight and further solidified his position as one of the most entertaining fighters in the UFC. McGregor Khabib Nurmagomedov UFC 229 This is not just the typical trash talking that is usually associated with the buildup to a fight, but it escalated to a level that was more personal than promotional. In buildup to the much-hyped fight, McGregor went for the jugular attacking Khabib on all aspects, including his origin, religion, and even his family. McGregor took it a notch higher by calling Khabib a “Dagestani rat” and making fun of his religious beliefs. Unfortunately, the trash talk did not end there. McGregor also went on to disrespect Khabib’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, and make unpleasant comments about Khabib’s father. Arguably, the most provocative of the instances that McGregor used was when he mentioned a political and personal conflict between Khabib and the Chechen leader. McGregor, on the other hand, continued to rage, and Khabib only replied back, “I will smash your face.” And that is the truth. Khabib had the better of McGregor inside the cage, finishing him by submission in round four. Following the fight, there was an all-out war between the two teams due to the
Most Heated Press Conferences and Trash-Talk Battles in UFC
The UFC has never been just about the bouts that take place in the cage; in fact, the fighting has always been just a means to an end. It is a show that entails introductions to the fight, animosity, and storylines that fans across the globe are keen to see. From these elements, press conferences are particularly distinguished as a platform for fighters to promote their persona, their fight, and occasionally attack their opponents verbally. These have been some of the most memorable moments in MMA history for so many reasons. This article focuses on the most memorable press conferences that are discussed in this article as the main moments in the history of the UFC. The Birth of the Modern UFC Press Conference However, to fully appreciate the details of certain press conferences, one must first appreciate the historical progression of the UFC press conference. In the early days of this promotional tool, press conferences were much more tame and consisted mostly of an announcement of future bouts and providing an opportunity for fighters to talk to the media. Nevertheless, as the sport developed, such events started to gain their own dynamics. Even promoters began to use press conferences to sell their bouts, connect with fans, and, sometimes, have a confrontation. This change was crucial in turning press conferences into events that people did not want to miss. Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz: UFC 196 Press ConferencePerhaps the most notorious press conferences in the history of the UFC happened before the UFC 196 event, where Conor McGregor was scheduled to fight Rafael dos Anjos for the light-weight championship. When Dos Anjos withdrew due to injury, Nate Diaz was to fill in the gap as a replacement. The press conference following was charged up. The rivalry between McGregor and Diaz can be described as intriguing due to the fact that the former was quick-witted and aggressive while the latter was rather calm and composed. McGregor’s line, “I don’t give a f*** about Diaz. He’s a little skinny, fat, little… whatever,” is still remembered today. UFC 202 Press ConferenceThis was a rematch at UFC 202, and the fight was even more explosive. It erupted into a debacle, during which Diaz left with his group, and a now-iconic bottle-throwing moment ensued. Such as the famous quote from McGregor, ‘Nate can only count to five’ and the reply from Diaz, ‘You’re on steroids’. This press conference not only built the fight but also established their enmity, one of the most memorable feuds in UFC history. Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor The UFC 229 press conferenceIt is easily the most hostile and personal in the entire history of the organization. The rivalry between McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov was evident due to a bus attack that happened earlier in the year. McGregor went ahead and insulted Khabib, his family, and his culture, which brought a level of animosity to the competition.The difference in character between McGregor, who was attacking throughout the press conference, and Khabib, who was calm and collected on the opposite side, was evident. Mcgregor’s statement, “I just thank the Lord Jesus Christ that that man did not have the balls to step foot off that bus,” and Khabib replying to that with, “We talk here. We talk here. Smash your boy,” reflected the heatedness. This fact led to a press conference for the fight, which became the UFC’s highest-grossing fight in history, and a post-fight brawl to add to the rivalry. Chael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva Chael Sonnen is among the best in the business when it comes to trash talking, and his rivalry with Anderson Silva sparked some of the best moments in the UFC press conference. Before the rematch of the bout at UFC 148, the trash talking was put to work by Sonnen. He provoked Silva at every turn, challenging his skills and threatening to call him out on his boasts. The line said by Sonnen, ‘Anderson Silva, you absolutely suck’ was catchy and paved the way for a very intense rematch. Silva, who is very calm most of the time, angrily replied that he would break Sonnen’s face and arms. This press conference raised the level of their animosity, making the fight one that all fans should look forward to. Jon Jones vs. Daniel CormierJon Jones and Daniel Cormier both share one of the most intense rivalries in UFC history, and their press conferences were proof of this. The UFC 178 media day brawl is one of the most famous ones, where the face-off escalated into punches flying and backdrops falling on them both. The tension did not decrease at all when the two fighters were face-to-face at the UFC 182 press conference. The verbal confrontation between Jones and Cormier is quite infamous, with Jones stating that he would ‘literally kill’ Cormier and Cormier promising to’maul’ him, which only added to the bitter rivalry between the two fighters and contributed to the highly anticipated nature of their fights in the UFC. Michael Bisping vs. Luke RockholdThe ultimate display of Michael Bisping’s ability to trash talk happened prior to the UFC 199 bout, where he faced Luke Rockhold for the middleweight championship. Bisping, who replaced Weidman at short notice, was on full display as he mocked Rockhold’s arrogance and how the latter beat him in the past. Bisping most vividly followed that line when he said, “I’ve got a pint of beer; I’m going to drink it” after the press conference, which reflected his non-rough, unapologetic nature. The desperation to keep on smiling in front of Bisping only served to intensify Bisping’s goading of Rockhold. This press conference laid the groundwork for that night’s stunning win, when Bisping defeated Alves to claim his first UFC title, and contributed another exciting story to the fighter’s exciting career. Ronda Rousey vs. Holly HolmIt is evident that the press conference for UFC 193—the Ronda Rousey and Holly Holms fight—was quite an eventful one. Rousey, the dominant champion, was furious; on the
Historic Rivalries That Defined UFC: From Silva vs. Sonnen to McGregor vs. Nurmagomedov
The Ultimate Fighting Championship today has evolved from being a relatively unknown sporting event to a mainstream sporting event, and a major portion of this can be attributed to the tensions that have characterized most of the events in its history. Conflicts in the UFC are not only professional to a certain extent but also personal vendettas, differences in the fighting techniques, and passions that the fighters introduce into the cage. These rivalries have set the era, attracted people’s unprecedented attention to the sport, and given MMA fans some of the most iconic moments. In this case, it is worth taking a look at the five most iconic rivalries that took place at the UFC. 1. Chuck Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz The Rivalry: It is arguably one of the biggest rivalries in the history of the UFC, representing the new era of the sport in the early 2000s. Liddell, referred to as ‘The Iceman’ and Ortiz, called ‘The Huntington Beach Bad Boy,’ both were prominent in the light heavyweight class. He and his opponent, Ken Shamrock, had personal enmity and completely opposite personal characteristics, so their strife went far beyond the Octagon. Key Moments: UFC 47 (2004): The first time Liddell and Ortiz faced each other was at UFC 47. The fight ended by TKO in the second round, and Liddell, as expected, was the knockout specialist. This win was crucial for Liddell, as he would later transform into one of the most famous fighters in the UFC. UFC 66 (2006): Their fight at UFC 66 was considered by many to be one of the most anticipated fights in the history of the UFC. Liddell once again came out on top; this time he won by TKO in the third round. This bout was extremely financially profitable for the UFC, which underlined the audience interest in their enmity. UFC 115 (2010): The two fought for a third time, although this bout was never confirmed during the fighters’ prime years. But eventually, they faced each other once again outside the UFC in 2018, where Ortiz prevailed, although in very different circumstances. Impact on the UFC: The Liddell vs. Ortiz rivalry was the perfect formula for the growth of the UFC, as it brought a lot of pay-per-view buys and media coverage. Their spectacular battles and magnetic characters helped to enlist new followers and promote the UFC’s position in the sphere of sports. 2. Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen The Rivalry: Anderson Silva, often considered one of the best mixed martial artists of all time, had his ideal opponent in Chael Sonnen, a loudmouth wrestler. Sonnen’s constant trash talk and his willingness to be the underdog brought out the best in his opponent and made for quite the rivalry that was fun for all to watch. Key Moments: UFC 117 (2010): The first bout between Silva and Sonnen in UFC 117 is remembered as one of the best fights in the history of MMA. Sonnen controlled the fight against Silva throughout the fight with his wrestling, but Silva hit a spectacular fifth-round triangle armbar submission to defend his middleweight belt. It was legendary because of the element of surprise and Sonnen’s appalling pre-fight attitude. UFC 148 (2012): Their next fight was again much expected and was held at UFC 148. Silva knocked out his contender in the second round to put an end to their rivalry in a TKO. The event became famous for having the largest live gate in UFC history at the time, which strengthened Silva’s position. Impact on the UFC: The conflict between Silva and Sonnen attracted a huge interest in the 185-pound division. Sonnen was great at marketing, while Silva was arguably the most talented fighter in the promotion, which ultimately drew a lot of attention, thus making the UFC financially successful and continuing to garner Silva’s popularity as an MMA fighter. 3. Jones vs. Cormier The Rivalry: Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier is easily one of the most intense personal rivalries in the history of the UFC. They shared the animosity that developed into a heated rivalry in and out of the cage: Jones, still regarded as one of the all-time greats of MMA, and Cormier, an Olympic wrestler and former Strikeforce heavyweight champion. Key Moments: UFC 182 (2015): In their first fight at UFC 182, Jones was able to retain his light heavyweight title via unanimous decision. The fight was very technical and intense, and there was visible hatred between the two fighters because before the fight they had exchanged words. UFC 214 (2017): This fight was another highly anticipated bout that took place at UFC 214. Jones knocked out the opponent in the third round, although the victory was changed to no contest due to Jones’s violation of anti-doping rules. This made the rivalry between the two companies even more bitter, with this controversy adding to the existing conflict. Impact on the UFC: The Jones vs. Cormier rivalry was instrumental in bringing out the light heavyweight division in the UFC. The fight encounters between them attracted a lot of attention, and people who paid for the fight to be aired through the pay-per-view system, which is an indicator of the popularity of the sport, It also brought out the issues of drug testing and athletes’ behavior in the UFC. 4.Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz The Rivalry: Conor McGregor, who gained recognition for his arrogance and KO power, and Nate Diaz, a no-nonsense fighter hailing from Stockton, California, brewed one of the most interesting enmities ever seen in the UFC. Their meeting was a rather surprising one and brought two of the most memorable fights in the history of the sport. Key Moments: UFC 196 (2016): Originally, McGregor was scheduled to fight Rafael dos Anjos, but he was replaced by Diaz at the last minute as dos Anjos was injured. Diaz defeated McGregor in what was arguably the most shocking upset in recent memory, a second-round submission win that saw the Irishman lose his first
The Role of Trash Talk in UFC: Does It Affect Fight Outcomes?
MMA, especially in the UFC, has become more popular in the last few decades. And this rise has been not only because of the skills of athletes and outcomes of the fight but also because of the personalities of the fighters as well as their interactions. Trash talk is one of the highlights of these interactions: fighters use aggressive, threatening, or plain rude statements towards their opponents. This behavior is also meant to pose threats, entertain fans, and create anticipation for the next match. This paper seeks to discuss the aspect of trash talking in the UFC and also analyze whether trash talking influences the outcome of the fight. The beginnings and intentions of trash talking in combat sportsThis trash talk is not exclusive to the UFC or MMA but has been used in sports for as long as one can remember. From Muhammad Ali’s legendary verbal sparring with his opponents to the theatrical antics of professional wrestlers, trash talk serves multiple purposes: Psychological Warfare: It is used to intimidate the opponent and psychologically demoralize him.Marketing Tool: It creates awareness and attracts more viewers, hence more pay-per-view sales and eventually more ticket sales.Personal Motivation: It can motivate the fighter who is involved in the trash talk, thus increasing the level of energy and desire to win. Trash talking is prevalent in the UFC, especially because the event is as much a spectacle as it is a sporting event. It has become very apparent that some fighters, such as Conor McGregor, Chael Sonnen, and Ronda Rousey, have taken this aspect of promotion to a whole new level, where they use it as a tool to psyche out the opponent. Psychological Impact on FightersThe psychological part of trash talking is very powerful, as it has consequences for both the participant involved in trash talking and the targeted one. To the trash-talker, it increases confidence and develops an attitude that makes the rest of the people afraid of him or her. For instance, Conor McGregor employs the use of his words to tackle his opponents psychologically before they even share a cage. He has not only threatened his foes with sharp words but also carved out a persona of a super-human being in the sport. In the same respect, for the opponent, the outcome of trash talking is unpredictable, as the following subtopics reveal. Some fighters may get carried away and start making stupid decisions during the fight, something that may make them lose focus. Some people may retaliate with a better performance that comes as a result of the insults the coach gave them. An example of the former is José Aldo, who, during the build-up to his fight with McGregor, looked stressed and angry and was knocked out in 13 seconds. On the flip side, other fighters, such as Khabib Nurmagomedov, have based their anger on the things that their opponents said to them and proceeded to demolish those opponents. Impact on Fight Promotion and RevenueThe first thing that cannot be argued about trash talking is its influence on the promotion of fights and the money made from them. It is important to note that, like any other sports organization, the UFC relies on fanship and, of course, financial remunerations. Trash talk is the fabrication of stories and animosities that engage fans, including the die-hard ones and those that occasionally watch the content. This can be seen from the pay-per-view figures of the fights that McGregor himself was involved in, especially those that involved a lot of trash talking. His fights are always popular with millions of viewers, not only for the fight but also for what he brings out with his mouth. Trash Talk and Fight Outcomes Some of the components of the promotion of a fight are press conferences, interviews, and social media exchanges, where the use of trash talk is common. The pre-fight confrontation between McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov before UFC 223 is perhaps one of the most vivid examples of how trash talk and subsequent actions can increase interest in the fight. The brawl erupted and continued with heated words later, making UFC 229 one of the most successful in the history of the organization. Thus, trash talk undoubtedly has consequences for the psychological and promotional facets of the sport, yet its influence on the fight results is less clear-cut. Many things can influence the fight: skill, training, planning, conditioning, and adaptation inside the fight. However, looking at specific cases can help in understanding if and how trash talk affects these variables. Case Study 1: Conor McGregor vs. José Aldo (UFC 194) The key to Conor McGregor’s popularity can be attributed to his incredible ability to boast and brag. During the build-up to his fight against José Aldo at UFC 194, McGregor did not spare his opponent’s heritage, skills, or even his looks. Aldo, who had not been defeated for a decade, looked visibly annoyed by the rants of McGregor. The fight only took 13 seconds and saw McGregor defeat Aldo via knockout. Certainly, the degree of skill and precision that McGregor possessed contributed significantly to the result, but Aldo’s psychological disposition and the build-up pressure from the trash talk probably compelled him to rush forward recklessly, which resulted in his swift loss. Case Study 2: Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm (UFC 193). Ronda Rousey was famous for her spectacular and dominating fights and extremely cocky pre-fight insults. Before her fight with Holly Holm, Rousey underestimated Holm and was sure of a win in the ring. But, over the course of the fight, Holm did not get carried away and stuck to her strategy, and that is why she knocked down Rousey in the second round. In this case, Rousey’s trash talk backfired on her and did not instill the impact that she was probably expecting them to have. It may have worked to Rousey’s disadvantage, as it made her overconfident and took her by surprise when Holm started using her striking skills. The situation with
