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5 UFC fighters who have refused to fight their friends

Kamaru Usman refuses to fight his friends in the UFC.
Kamaru Usman refuses to fight his friends in the UFC.

The UFC is a breeding ground for opportunities. It is a place where championships are won and lost in the blink of an eye. Understandably, in a business where success can be fleeting, it's obvious for fighters to be on their toes.

From verbal bashing to physical punishment, fans have witnessed fighters leaving no stone unturned for success. Amidst all the pounding and personal attacks, there are also instances of fighters valuing their bond with each other over money and fame.

That's not to say that the octagon hasn't witnessed two friends fighting each other and remaining on good terms. With that in mind, here are five fighters who have abstained from fighting their friends in the UFC.


#5. Khamzat Chimaev - UFC welterweight contender

Within his short time in the promotion, Khamzat Chimaev has established himself as one of the most exciting fighters in the 170 lbs division. Quick and unorthodox, Chimaev has been on a callout spree since 2021. From Conor McGregor to Colby Covington, 'Borz' has called out almost everyone on social media.

But aside from his love for finishing opponents, the Chechen-born fighter also shares a deep sense of brotherhood with fellow UFC fighter Darren Till. Their friendship dates back to 2021 when Chimaev offered to help Till following his loss to Derek Brunson. Since February 2022, the two have been training together at the Allstars Training Center in Sweden.

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Till was recently seen at Chimaev's corner during his fight with Gilbert Burns at UFC 273. While the octagon has witnessed friends fighting each other, 'Borz' has shot down the idea of fighting 'The Gorilla'.

The two appeared on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani when Chimaev was asked about the prospects of fighting his friend in the future. Responding to the question, 'Borz' said:

"No. Not me. I know this guy wanna fight me, but not me. I can’t fight with my brothers. The guy [Darren Till] don’t care. He fight for money."

The Brit responded to Chimaev's statement by saying:

"You know what I’m like with my teammates, Tom Aspinall and Team Kaobon back home. It’s the same with Khamzat now."

Watch the full interview here:


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