5 times that former sparring partners faced off for UFC gold

#2. Kamaru Usman vs. Gilbert Burns – UFC 258

Training partners Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns remained respectful going into their UFC title fight in 2021

Not all UFC title battles between former sparring partners are filled with bad blood. The clash between UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and top contender Gilbert Burns at UFC 258 stands as an example of that.

‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ was a teammate of ‘Durinho’ for years in the Blackzilians and Sanford MMA teams. Prior to their clash last year, Burns even claimed to have sparred well over 200 rounds with Usman.

However, after beating the likes of Gunnar Nelson, Demian Maia and former champion Tyron Woodley, it was clear that the Brazilian had his eyes on the UFC welterweight title. That inevitably meant a showdown with his training partner.

Neither man chose to talk any trash in the build-up to the fight, with both Usman and Burns stating their admiration and respect for the other. However, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ did intimate that ‘Durinho’ knew he couldn’t win the fight.

While the two stars didn’t snipe at one another in the media, they held nothing back in the octagon. Burns took the fight to Usman early on, dropping him in the first round. In the end, Usman’s powerful striking proved to be the difference, winning him the fight via TKO.

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#1: Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans – UFC 145

Rashad Evans brought Jon Jones to his training camp, only to see 'Bones' take his place after winning the UFC light-heavyweight title

While the rivalry between Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell was arguably the more seismic one in terms of the effect it had on the UFC’s fortunes, it’s probably fair to suggest that the clash between Jon Jones and Rashad Evans featured even more bad blood.

That was because Evans, who had been training with coaches Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn since the very beginning of his MMA career, was the one who invited a young Jones into their Albuquerque-based camp when ‘Bones’ began his UFC career, feeling he’d make a great sparring partner.

Unfortunately for ‘Suga’, though, that decision turned out to be a terrible one. Not only did Jones supplant him in terms of success in the octagon, but essentially, he also forced him out of his own team.

The relationship between the two fighters initially appeared to be paying off for both. Evans captured the UFC light heavyweight title in late 2008 and Jones swiftly rose towards the top of the division.

However, things went sour in 2011 when Evans, who had lost his title to Lyoto Machida in 2009, was forced out of a planned clash with then-champion ‘Shogun’ Rua due to a knee injury. Jones was offered the title shot instead and capitalized fully, defeating Shogun via TKO to claim the gold at the age of just 23.

With Evans still positioned as the top contender to the title, it was clear that something had to give. Incredibly, despite Evans being with them for far longer, coaches Jackson and Winkeljohn decided to stick with Jones. With that in mind, ‘Suga’ left the camp to form his own team in Florida.

The two men eventually faced off for Jones’ title at UFC 145 in 2012. Despite his best efforts, Evans simply couldn’t handle his former protégé and was defeated by unanimous decision. While Jones won, though, the feud unfortunately turned him into a polarizing figure with the fans, a reputation he’s never truly shaken off.

While the two did bury the hatchet in 2014, Evans has gone on record to state that while he’s now on speaking terms with ‘Bones’, they will never be as close as they once were.