5 UFC fighters with siblings who are also fighters
The UFC is the pinnacle of MMA, where individualism is a prized personality trait among fighters determined to succeed in one of the world's most difficult sports. Thus, mixed martial artists do not often feature for solidarity, with squabbles even occurring with teammates from their own gyms.
It is an unfortunate truth, and perhaps a necessary condition, that most fighters subscribe to the mentality of 'every man/woman for themselves'. However, some fighters enter the UFC with a colleague to whom they're close.
In such cases, these fighters train together and even set aside their championship ambitions in order to avoid stepping on their colleague's toes.
A well-known example would be Daniel Cormier's early-career decision to abandon the UFC heavyweight division in favor of its light heavyweight alternative. This was in order to avoid a clash with the then reigning champion Cain Velasquez.
Sometimes such colleagues are not merely friends, they are siblings who come into the sport together and are invested in each other's successes.
This list looks at 5 active fighters whose siblings fought alongside them under the UFC banner.
#5. Gilbert Burns and Herbert Burns
Gilbert Burns is a former UFC lightweight and current welterweight top contender. While 'Durinho' has not yet captured UFC gold, he's proven significantly more successful at welterweight than he did at lightweight, having previously embarked on a 6-fight win streak that earned him a title fight against former teammate and reigning welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.
Família 🇧🇷
Gilbert Burns carries his exhausted brother Herbert Burns out of the Octagon after losing to Bill Algeo. https://t.co/WkdzmgLCXI
While 'Durinho' failed in his first attempt at championship success, he has remained a staple at the top of the division.
His younger brother Herbert Burns, however, has not yet enjoyed similar success in his resident division: featherweight. Currently 2-2 in the UFC, the younger Burns brother suffered a recent TKO loss to Bill Algeo at UFC on ABC 3, with his older brother carrying him out of the octagon due to the former's injured knee.
Perhaps in time, Herbert Burns will find his feet in the promotion and build towards a win streak like the one his brother enjoyed when he made the jump from lightweight to welterweight.