While the WWE receives a lot of flak and criticism for ‘fake fights’ and ‘over the top storylines’ which often translate to more talk and less action, mixed martial arts and UFC in particular, are no different when it comes to fights involving the top-tier talents.
The UFC is a hotbed for cutting-edge promos and verbal altercations going into the fights, something that bears a striking resemblance to WWE’s storylines. Some of the major UFC rivalries that are reminiscent of the classic WWE-styled storylines are:
#5 Chael Sonnen v/s Anderson Silva - Christ Benoit v/s Kurt Angle
The gift of flamboyant repertoire gives Anderson Silva the same leverage that Muhammad Ali was bestowed with; the only difference between the two is that Silva doesn’t prefer verbal tirades!
But when Chael Sonnen earned the opportunity to face Silva, the focus of the MMA-universe shifted to the middleweight division, this was courtesy of the hysteria that had encompassed the anticipation.
Sonnen didn’t mince words in insulting Silva, something that Silva didn’t retort to. He made fun of Silva’s black belt and poked numerous insults at him, which gave an upthrust to the amount of hype the fight was receiving.
Also read: 5 MMA rivalries that felt like pro-wrestling feuds
The match was a treat to watch with Sonnen’s blitzkrieg being too heavy for Silva to handle. Silva was outclassed and overpowered, but in the very final round, reversed with a triangle choke victory! The rematch, a few events later, was easily won by Silva, thereby helping him cement his place in the middleweight division.
The rivalry is often reminiscent of Kurt Angle’s rivalry with Chris Benoit. Angle, owing to his trash-talking which usually included his 3 I’s rant, tried to get into Benoit’s head. Benoit wasn’t known for his talking on the mic and usually relied on his in-ring skills to shut his opponents up.
The two met on more than one occasion, with Benoit picking up one of his most famous wins in an “Ultimate Submission” match at Backlash 2001. Benoit, quite like Silva, was known for his impeccable in-ring skills, replete with submission holds and martial arts takedowns!
#4 Georges St-Pierre v/s Matt Hughes - The Rock v/s Stone Cold Steve Austin
Georges St-Pierre and Matt Hughes are two of the most iconic names in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and their names are often taken in the same breath. Their rivalry catapulted the welterweight division onto a higher paradigm, winning more fans for the sport itself from around the world.
Replete with the skill-set and the ability to move crowds, their rivalry stands unparalleled till date! Their first encounter was way back at UFC 50 when Hughes dominated the division and no one had the audacity to topple his dominance until a certain Georges St-Pierre came along.
The two of them fought some of the most memorable matches (3 in total), with GSP emerging victorious on two occasions.
Reminds you of The Rock v/s Austin rivalry, doesn’t it? Austin ruled the roster, till a rookie named Rocky Maivia threatened to thwart his hegemony and make his name as one of the top main-eventers.
Both Austin and Rock were adored by fans from around the world, and the duo put up some of the most iconic matches for the fans to behold!
#3 Daniel Cormier v/s Jon Jones - Brock Lesnar v/s The Undertaker
The tug-of-war between Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones could be heralded as one of those rivalries which had the ingredients of a WWE-esque storyline.
Their feud came to the forefront during the build-up to their UFC 182 match, where they spewed cusses at each other on live television, even resorting to exchanging blows in the lobby of the MGM Grand! However, they had explicitly expressed hatred for each other during a promotional event for UFC 178 where they had first locked horns.
An analogous rivalry was seen in the form of Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker, the seeds of which were sown in 2002 when Brock first tore onto the scene.
Lesnar, during his reign as the WWE Champion, had successful title defences against The Undertaker, which included him defeating The Phenom is his preferred torture-chamber (Hell in a Cell).
Both Lesnar and The Undertaker feuded like two rabid maniacs, leaving no stone unturned in expressing their dislike for each other, quite like DC and Jon Jones. Taker would further forfeit his 21-0 WrestleMania record to Lesnar in 2014.
#2 Sakuraba v/s Royce Gracie - Rey Mysterio v/s Randy Orton
The most dominant family in mixed martial arts history has been the Gracie family, something which needs no assertion. Yet, there are times when the claws of dominance are weakened, often at the behest of new, raw talents.
Such was the ascension of Japanese MMA fighter Sakuraba, who not only feuded but held the distinction of beating members of the prestigious Gracie family (notably Royce Gracie), receiving the nickname “The Gracie Hunter”.
A similar storyline frothed to the very brim in the WWE, when cruiserweight Rey Mysterio stepped up to the challenge of facing Randy Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship. Rey’s dream run began with him winning the 2006 Royal Rumble, despite being the second entrant in the 30-man main event.
A run-up to WrestleMania saw him exchange verbal blows with Randy Orton, who made disparaging remarks about his late best friend Eddie Guerrero. This added fuel to the fire and an enraged ‘underdog’ (Mysterio) went on to beat Orton for the belt!
#1 Ronda Rousey v/s Miesha Tate - Trish Stratus v/s Lita
Saving the best for last, the intense rivalry between the two female powerhouses created all the hysteria in the women’s division. The feud between Tate and Ronda goes way back in history when they both started out humbly in Strikeforce.
Tempers frayed as both tried to edge each other out of competition, which included headbutting each other and embroiling in verbal spats, both in person and on social media! Ronda definitely had the upper hand when it came to fighting in the octagon, which helped establish her dominance over Tate.
On similar lines was the storyline involving Trish Stratus and Lita, two of the most talented performers in the Divas’ roster. Their feuds weren’t your average cat-fights, they were proper matches replete with the Attitude Era/Ruthless Aggression-prototype build-up.
Their rivalry intensified in the year 2004 when Stratus dropped the title to Lita in the main event of December 4th’s Raw, the first time when the main event featured a Women’s Championship match!
Did we miss out on any rivalry which you think deserves to be on the list?
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