Valentine’s Day: Highlighting 5 Bromances in MMA Today
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It is Valentine’s Day, and MMA Bromances are more present than ever before.
Much has changed since our first piece in 2020, including friendships that ended on bad terms. So in spirit of the holiday, we thought it was the perfect day for a follow up piece on Bromances in MMA. From teammates, to business partners, we’ve seen several friendships in the fight game grow over the years. Some that are built stronger than any amount of money in the world.
Honesty, dependability, loyalty, and shared interests are the very fabric of Bromances. Read about five that possess all of those traits. Some are always cornering each other, others are building the next generation together. Regardless, they continuously prove that it doesn’t have to be lonely when you make it to the top.
Paddy Pimblett & Molly McCann
Ever since Paddy Pimblett joined Molly McCann in the UFC, it has been one big party. Even more so if they’re booked on the same card. If they aren’t, one is drunk in the crowd cheering the other on. Despite both being married, and Molly liking women, people have speculated the two were “shagging” because of how close they are… But the truth is, they are best bros and always go hard for one another.
Their friendship has been quite admirable. It’s certainly the most different on this list if you look at it solely from a surface level. But if you dig deeper, it’s founded on wanting to see each other win and supporting one another every step of the way. It’s about elevating those around them while enjoying the ride. Whether they are doing interviews together, or signing business deals in the same room, there are few that are closer than “Meatball” Molly and Paddy “The Baddy”.
Rob Font & Calvin Kattar
I don’t play when it comes to my New England guys. This Bromance may not stick out amongst the group, but nine times out of ten, if you see one… The other is close by. From fighting on the same regional scene, to doing UFC appearances together, these two have been grinding and climbing the ranks of their respective divisions alongside each other for years. They have built an unbreakable brotherhood through hard work and dedication.
What’s even more admirable is the fact that they’re doing their part in building the next generation of fighters in New England. Since putting the East Coast further on the MMA map, and building a promotion for regional fighters, what these two have contributed back to the sport will truly never be forgotten. Seeing their success has shown us that you can get much further, together.
Aljamain Sterling & Merab Dvalishvili
There has never been a stronger bond in MMA than the one between Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili. It always gets a bit tricky when friends are in the same weight class. We’ve seen it time and time again on The Ultimate Fighter that you may have to fight your friend en route to the top. Those chances increase when you’re both at the top of the division. But both Aljo and Merab have refused to fight each other, even if it was for undisputed gold and the chance to make more money.
Is this the ultimate Bromance? I think so. Loyalty is so hard to find nowadays. Those that criticize their decision, only prove there’s a price to people’s integrity. Not only do these two train together every day, they’re always together outside of the gym. They’re also always in each other’s corners on fight night. We could all use a Bromance like this one…
Chito Vera & Luke Rockhold
This was such an out-of-nowhere pairing that literally no one saw coming. But when Luke Rockhold started training for his MMA return, this friendship formed. We started to see Chito Vera all over Luke’s social media, and they began preparing alongside each other for fight camps. Despite their differences in weight, it’s clear that they have bonded over their work ethic and mindset.
Ever since we saw them together, they have been inseparable. When one is fighting, the other is in attendance to support. Now I don’t know if Rockhold is the jealous type, but we all (unfortunately) saw Chito and Ian Garry showering together after UFC 292. Jokes aside, sometimes the best things come to us unexpectedly. Just like this friendship.
Gus Villamil & Roybert Echeverria
If you know me, you know I’m a huge fan of Goat Shed Academy. Their work ethic, combined with a high-level understanding of social media makes the gym unmatched in my eyes. They just get IT. In my time covering and watching the gym’s rise to relevancy, I instantly saw the brotherhood and camaraderie amongst the team. It’s something that is rarely seen in MMA today… Amongst the close knit group of savages training together, the duo of Roybert Echeverria and Gus Villamil stands out the most.
Both men are sacrificing to put on for their people and working towards that next level. They fight in the same weight class too, so you know they’re constantly pushing each other in the gym and in life. Their grind has built a genuine bond, strong enough that one is trusted with their dog when they have to be away. If these two aren’t out and about together in Florida, they’re making fun of each other on IG Stories like best friends do. If you aren’t following their journey now, tune in before the hype train takes off.
What are some standout Bromances we missed? Let us know in the comments.
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I loved writing this piece. So many bromances in MMA!