5 times bitter rivals in the UFC squashed their beef
The UFC likes nothing more than putting on a spectacle to generate views and revenue from fan interest. Unfortunately, the most lucrative MMA fans, who tend to be part of the casual fanbase, favor drama. Thus, rivalries and feuds tend to be guaranteed methods of drawing PPV buys.
The most profitable rivalry that the UFC has ever had was the feud between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor. Their issues led to the most successful PPV in the promotion's history. While many rivalries eventually die down and others persist, the rare few end up being resolved.
While it's unlikely that there will ever be a friendly conclusion to the Irishman's beef with 'The Eagle,' other rivals have managed to settle their differences. After Jon Jones recently expressed his willingness to bury the hatchet with Daniel Cormier, this list details five bitter rivals who squashed their beef.
#5. Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber
The exact reason behind Dominick Cruz's past hatred for Urijah Faber isn't known. Before the UFC had featherweight and bantamweight divisions, WEC was the premier promotion for sub-lightweight fighters to compete in. This is where the feud between 'The Dominator' and 'The California Kid' first emerged.
VIDEO: Urijah Faber, Dominick Cruz squash rivalry after #UFCSacramento. thesco.re/2hXlxLm https://t.co/UyPHPvQ6nv
The poster for their initial bout only featured an image of Faber instead of Cruz. So as the future UFC bantamweight champion signed the posters, he signed his signature over Faber's face. The animosity heightened after Faber handed Cruz his first-ever career loss.
The pair faced each other two more times, with 'The Dominator' winning their final two outings. After years of feuding, the two men shook hands at UFC on Fox 22 after 'The California Kid' defeated Brad Pickett and retired from the sport. For his part, Cruz later described Faber as a good man before declaring their feud over.
#4. Michael Bisping and Luke Rockhold
There was never anything personal between Michael Bisping and Luke Rockhold. Instead, their feud was the result of competitive fires running a little too hot. The two men first locked horns at UFC Fight Night 55. Their initial bout was preceded by trash talk from the AKA standout.
Are Michael Bisping and Luke Rockhold friends now?
#UFC #MMA https://t.co/P9qcUptPQx
He took exception to Bisping publicly discussing the results of a sparring session between them. Meanwhile, 'The Count' painted his rival as oversensitive. Their first clash went Rockhold's way, with the Californian dropping and choking him out in the second round. Their rematch, however, was much different.
Their next outing took place years later for the UFC middleweight title. Rockhold was the defending champion but failed to turn Bisping away, losing via KO in the first round. Bisping's conduct after winning enraged Rockhold, but the pair have since buried the hatchet and have even trained together several times.
#3. Jon Jones and Rashad Evans
At one point in time, Jon Jones and Rashad Evans were close friends and teammates training under the guidance of MMA mastermind Greg Jackson. But as Jones' title aspirations grew, a clash became inevitable. After 'Sugar' suffered a knee injury, he was removed from a title bout with Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua.
His replacement was none other than Jones himself, who dominated 'Shogun' en route to being crowned the new 205 lbs king. Thus, a bout with Evans was booked. After Greg Jackson announced his intention to be in Jon Jones' corner, 'Sugar' shifted his allegiance to a different gym.
From friends to enemies and back again: Jon Jones, Rashad Evans forge bond ahead of UFC 239 - CBSSports.com dlvr.it/R7t33L https://t.co/d5TUm7PryT
Within seconds, trash talk and mutual animosity turned former friends into bitter rivals. Subtle accusations were thrown between the pair about unspoken things they each did in the gym that could allegedly tarnish their reputations. The pair finally clashed at UFC 145, with 'Bones' emerging victorious.
Years later, at UFC 172, Jon Jones defeated Glover Teixeira in his seventh title defense. At the time, 'Sugar' was cornering the late Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson as a coach. At the weigh-ins before the event, Evans and Jones engaged each other in conversation and reconciled, with 'Bones' admitting to missing him later.
#2. Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen
The great Anderson Silva was once one of the most feared fighters in the world. At the peak of his reign in the UFC middleweight division, 'The Spider' was widely regarded as invincible by the general MMA community. One fighter, however, showed no fear of 'The Spider.' He was none other than Chael Sonnen.
To build interest in their bout, 'The American Gangster' used vitriolic trash talk that targeted his rival in every way, even taking jabs at the Brazilian's nationality. Their first bout saw Silva dragged to the brink of defeat before a last-minute submission forced Sonnen to surrender in one of the greatest comebacks in UFC history.
#PaulSilvaAnderson Silva calls out Chael Sonnen for never accepting his barbecue invitation 😂 #PaulSilva https://t.co/vIXklBNyOD
Their rematch was preceded by even more trash talk. Sonnen targeted Silva's wife, prompting the Brazilian legend to promise to break his rival's teeth and all of his bones in a beating he swore would change the image of the sport forever. As was the case in their initial matchup, Silva emerged victorious, this time by TKO.
After their bout, 'The Spider' invited his rival to a family barbecue, and the pair eventually squashed their beef. Before the Brazilian's boxing match against Jake Paul late last year, Chael Sonnen hosted a pre-fight press conference, and the pair joked about the barbecue invitation from years earlier.
#1. Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz
Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz may never be friends, but their heated feud has become a thing of the past. The former Strikeforce welterweight champion was adamant about fighting 'GSP' for two years before the pair finally clashed inside the octagon. A bout was eventually scheduled.
Nick Diaz walks into his locker room and he's greeted by Georges St-Pierre. That was super cool to see #UFC266 https://t.co/knlABtoDBC
During the leadup to the fight, trash talk was rife as Diaz needlessly needled his rival at every turn. After 'GSP' won the bout, Diaz accused the former champ of poisoning him by claiming that the Canadian used an IV to administer a toxic agent.
His younger brother, Nate Diaz, even accused 'GSP' of steroid use. At UFC 266, Nick Diaz made his long-awaited return to the octagon. Backstage before his fight, the former Strikeforce welterweight champion crossed paths with St-Pierre, and the pair shook hands in an amicable moment that was unthinkable years ago.