Within the context of combat sports, the concept of teams is virtually unique to MMA. Sure, there are plenty of professional kickboxers who come from the same gym, but the dynamic is vastly different.
In some ways, MMA is looked at almost as a team sport. Indeed, we often talk about success and failure in terms of teams.
When the Blackzilians endured a rough patch, they were criticised as a collective. When Duane “Bang” Ludwig guided Team Alpha Male to a period of unparalleled success, we talked about the collective every bit as much as the individual.
It is for this reason that teammate vs. teammate bouts are so intriguing in MMA. The fighters don’t merely occupy the same space; they view themselves as part of something larger, counting their teammates’ successes as their own.
Fighting is a tension-filled occupation at the best of times. The additional tension that comes from fighting a teammate is often a recipe for fireworks both inside and outside the cage.
Read on for the five teammate vs. teammate fights we’d love to see.