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Upon initial glance, the UFC appears to have nothing in common with Formula One. The two represent the peak of vastly different sports. The UFC is the premier promotion in mixed martial arts, while Formula One is widely regarded as the end-all-be-all in the motorsport world.
Despite existing in different stratospheres, the two sports have similarities. Some mixed martial artists have personalities that are similar to certain F1 drivers and vice versa. Both sports yield hyper-competitive athletes with a burning desire to win at all costs.
But it is not just the drivers with whom UFC fighters have parallels. Some of the promotion's mixed martial artists bear similarities to F1 teams. This list covers five different UFC fighters who are most similar to five different Formula One teams for one reason or another.
#5. Tony Ferguson, UFC lightweight - Williams Racing
At one point in time, Tony Ferguson was the most feared lightweight in the world. He was at the helm of a 12-fight win streak that left most of his opponents looking as badly wounded as car-crash victims. His abilities enabled him to climb the divisional rankings en route to capturing a UFC interim title.
Unfortunately, those days are long gone, and 'El Cucuy' is now on the wrong end of a five-fight losing streak that has kicked him out of the divisional rankings. Similarly, Williams Racing was once a championship-level team in Formula One. It captured numerous Constructors and Drivers championships throughout the years.
As the sport advanced, however, the team's success waned to such an extent that Williams now struggles to even get any points in races, let alone win. It hasn't won a race since 2012, much like how 'El Cucuy' hasn't won a fight since 2019.
#4. Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson, UFC welterweight - McLaren F1 Team
Stephen Thompson is one of the greatest strikers in UFC history. He is also a former two-time title challenger who pushed Tyron Woodley closer to the brink than any other pre-Kamaru Usman opponent did. However, the older he became, the more his overall skill set declined.
Much like McLaren, he was once a hyper-successful force in his sport who rarely lost. But as the years came and went, their performance declined. While they are no longer as successful as they once were, they are still fairly successful. McLaren are now a frequent mid-tier success with occasional appearances in the top three.
Similarly, 'Wonderboy' has remained competitive against the welterweight division's elite fighters and is currently the number six ranked 170'er in the world.
#3. Jon Jones, UFC heavyweight - Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team
While Jon Jones was at the peak of his powers, he was a force unlike any other in UFC history. He is a former champion of the 205 lbs division, having reigned over the light heavyweight kingdom for nearly 10 years before he vacated the title in favor of plying his trade at heavyweight.
Just as Mercedes has the record for the most championship wins in F1 history, 'Bones' holds the record for the most UFC title wins in the promotion's history. Despite their dominant streak, both Jones and Mercedes have looked less than their best in recent years.
The former champion's wins against Thiago Santos and Dominick Reyes were lackluster, with many observers believing his foes did enough to earn victories. Mercedes' predicament is no different. They remain championship contenders but didn't look as exceptional as they usually do last season.
#2. Khamzat Chimaev, UFC welterweight/middleweight - Red Bull Racing
Red Bull is best defined by having a hyper-aggressive approach to F1. The team principal, Christian Horner, is known for his charisma during interviews.
Red Bull's number one driver is Max Verstappen, a youngster who is known for his fast and aggressive style on the tarmac. At times, he's been accused of being reckless, but he's remained successful nonetheless and is now a two-time world champion. This is somewhat similar to Khamzat Chimaev.
The Chechen phenom has a similar charisma and approaches every bout with a hyper-aggressive mindset. From the start of the first round, he fires on all cylinders. This led to some moments of recklessness against Gilbert Burns, but he still emerged victorious.
#1. Conor McGregor, UFC lightweight - Scuderia Ferrari
Scuderia Ferrari is the flagship team in Formula One. It is synonymous with it. Whether one is a fan of F1 or not, one is aware of Ferrari's connection to it due to the level of stardom enjoyed by the legendary Michael Schumacher. It is the most successful team in F1 history, but its recent streak has been questionable.
Ferrari has been plagued by poor decision-making from race strategists and former team principal Mattia Binotto. This led to inconsistent performances and disappointments at the championship level, which earned the team heated criticism. This predicament parallels Conor McGregor's recent history in the UFC.
'The Notorious' is the most successful fighter in MMA history. No one has sold the number of PPVs that he has. He is also the first simultaneous two-division champion the promotion has ever seen. Like Ferrari, the Irishman is the most well-known name in his sport, to the point that casual fans only know of him.
Despite his superstardom, the Irishman has made questionable decisions as of late. He tried to fight a far past-his-prime Diego Sanchez while somehow trying to earn a title fight. He has also engaged in erratic behavior outside the octagon that has led to significant criticism.
