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The UFC has had its fair share of feuds. However, most feuds are between two fighters who have never seen eye to eye. Whether there's a simple clash of opposing personalities or a feud arises from something more personal, it is not uncommon to see two fighters squabble.
Even when there's no ill-will or an incompatible pair of personalities, the competitive nature of MMA can breed enmity between opponents. Sometimes, however, disagreements happen between two fighters who were once known for being close friends.
Such feuds capture fan intrigue like nothing else. Many became curious as to how two fighters who were once close could turn on each other so suddenly from the public's perspective. This list explores such feuds by compiling five times that close friends turned against each other in the UFC.
#5. T.J. Dillashaw vs. Urijah Faber
Many fans will remember how frequently Conor McGregor once targeted T.J. Dillashaw for his alleged disloyalty, calling him a "snake in the grass." In the 22nd installment of TUF, the Irishman's statements were headscratching. Now in 2022, many understand what 'The Notorious' was implying.
Urijah Faber is credited with mentoring T.J. Dillashaw during the latter's formative days as an MMA fighter. According to the former bantamweight champion himself, 'The California Kid' was once a close friend. He spent a considerable amount of hours training at Team Alpha Male.
He even credits the time he spent there with helping him grow as a person. Unfortunately, after he made the decision to train mainly with Duane Ludwig at Elevation Fight Team, it led to an ugly falling out with Urijah Faber.
Despite expressing an interest in occasionally training at Team Alpha Male, Dillashaw was outright banned from the gym. Faber engaged in a public crusade disparaging his former friend's character.
While there were once rumblings of a fight between the two, nothing ever came of them. Years later, the feud still persists, with both men occasionally speaking ill of each other. For example, 'The California Kid' has branded his former pupil a cheater.
#4. Dana White vs. Tito Ortiz
Dana White and Tito Ortiz have a historically contentious relationship. At one point, the two were close friends. Furthermore, the UFC president was once the former light heavyweight champion's manager. However, after White convinced the Fertitta brothers to purchase the UFC, the dynamic changed.
As he was appointed president of the promotion, White could no longer function as Ortiz's manager. Thus, 'The Huntington Beach Bad Boy' accepted another manager suggested by White himself. According to the UFC legend, his new manager, who was a close associate of White, led to a conflict of interest.
He rarely challenged any of the UFC's contracts, which Ortiz perceived as an unwillingness to challenge White. Naturally, this upset him as a manager's primary duty is to the fighters they represent. Afterwards, 'The Huntington Beach Bad Boy' never enjoyed an amicable relationship with his new boss.
As he ascended through the promotion's rankings as a star, the two began butting heads. Ortiz wore a shirt that described his former friend in a colorful and insulting manner. A feud erupted and both men had seemingly agreed to a boxing match before the former 205 lbs champion withdrew from the bout.
Years later, 'The Huntington Beach Bad Boy' extended an olive branch to his former friend. Unfortunately, the UFC president is yet to respond.
#3. Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans
Before Jon Jones emerged as arguably the greatest fighter of all time, Rashad Evans was a rising force in the light heavyweight division. Fighting under Greg Jackson, 'Sugar' was undefeated. Unfortunately, he never achieved the level of stardom that he probably deserved for his efforts.
Fans soured on him after he defeated beloved fighters like Chuck Liddell and Forrest Griffin en route to capturing the divisional title. Meanwhile, Jon Jones was storming through the division. Soon afterwards, 'Bones' signed with Jackson-Wink MMA, the same gym that 'Sugar' represented.
The two men became fast friends. However, after losing his undefeated record and title, Evans seemed less marketable than a younger and more exciting fighter like Jones. After 'Sugar' earned enough wins, he opted to sit out and wait for the title fight. Unfortunately, after being booked for a title fight, an injury arose.
Forced to withdraw, he could no longer fight Maurício 'Shogun' Rua. Jon Jones was chosen as his teammate's replacement. After 'Bones' became the youngest champion in UFC history, he expressed a willingness to face 'Sugar'. This came as a shock since Jackson-Wink fighters often avoided fighting each other.
With no choice but to answer Jones in kind, Evans later felt slighted upon learning that his head coach would be in his teammate's corner instead. Thus, he left Jackson-Wink and began a rivalry with 'Bones'.
The two engaged in heated trash talk, eventually culminating in their showdown at UFC 145 where Jones emerged victorious in dominant fashion.
#2. Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal
The exact reason as to why Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal are no longer friends isn't known. Both fighters offer contrasting explanations for the disolution of their friendship. However, years prior, they were best friends and training partners at American Top Team.
Their bond was so strong that 'Gamebred' allowed his former friend to sleep on his couch during hard times. However, according to 'Chaos', it was not Masvidal's home but the home of the Floridian star's wife. Regardless, the two were close and there's ample footage of their friendship across the internet.
The turning point, according to the Floridian, was after the former interim champion had neglected to pay one of their coaches. This also came after 'Gamebred' expressed disapproval over his former teammate's comments about a train accident involving UFC legend Matt Hughes.
According to Covington, however, the enmity arose due to Masvidal's alleged jealousy over the amount of attention he was receiving relative to everyone else. Regardless, the two were no longer friends and 'Chaos' soon left American Top Team.
Both men continued jawing at each other until a fight was finally scheduled. While Covington emerged victorious, he was later the subject of an out-of-cage assault after Masvidal sucker punched him. Now they're both engulfed in legal issues revolving around the assault, keeping both men away from the octagon.
#1. Conor McGregor vs. Artem Lobov
No one could have predicted that one of the most shocking feuds to emerge in 2022 would involve Conor McGregor and Artem Lobov. The Irishman was instrumental in affording 'The Russian Hammer' an opportunity to fight in the UFC. Everyone has seen the Russian featherweight's record.
Before signing with the UFC, Lobov had a very poor record of 11 wins and 10 losses. Under no circumstances other than being McGregor's close friend would he have been chosen to participate in the 22nd season of TUF. Furthermore, 'The Russian Hammer' lost his first bout on TUF.
Conor McGregor later brought him back but he ultimately lost in the finale to Ryan Hall. Yet, he was still signed to the UFC afterwards and remained a fighter in the promotion for the next two years despite losing four out of six fights. Furthermore, 'The Notorious' leapt to his teammate's defense against Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The Dagestani phenom cornered and slapped Lobov due to disrespectful comments he'd made about him in a prior interview. Footage of the incident made the rounds online and McGregor responded by assaulting a bus full of fighters, including Nurmagomedov.
For his troubles, McGregor was arrested and even sued by other fighters on the bus. Despite the loyalty the Irishman showed him, Lobov stunned the MMA world by filing a lawsuit against him. Lobov claims he was instrumental in securing deals that led to the success of McGregor's Proper 12 whiskey brand.
However, he cites a lack of compensation despite once claiming to decline an offer of $1 million from his former friend. In the wake of the incident, McGregor branded his former friend a rat and challenged him to a fight at SBG.
