"I Love You, Man": Ranking the Top 6 MMA Bromances

Without the kind of dependent camaraderie inherent in team based sports, mixed martial arts is bound to nurture those special bonds between two men commonly referred to as a "bromance".

When you cannot blame your performance on anyone else but yourself, sometimes it is good to have a nice big muscular shoulder to cry on.

Whether they are based on professional respect, personality compatibilities, or sometimes just intense manly adoration; these are the top six bromances in MMA.... 

Honorable Mention

Shinya Aoki and Masakazu Imanari

Wanderlei Silva and Mauricio Rua

Matt Hamill and Rich Franklin/Tito Ortiz

Kenny Florian and Kurt Pellegrino

Chris Leben and Nate Quarry

Rashad Evans and Everybody

Tell me who I am missing and I will add them.

6. Rashad Evans and Keith Jardine

When it comes to mma bromances, Rashad Evans gets around.

As Dana White pointed out recently, Rashad Evans has at least one BFF in every division from welterweight to heavyweight.

His number one bromance, however, would have to be Keith Jardine.

The two men shared four common opponents in the UFC: Chuck Liddell, Forrest Griffin, Thiago Silva and Quinton Jackson.  In every case Jardine faced the opponent first, going 2-2, then Evans came in and went undefeated against the common opposition.

I would love Jardine too for giving me the blueprint on facing nearly every major opponent in my UFC run. 

5. Josh Barnett and Fedor Emelianenko

It is hard to get Fedor Emelianenko to say much of anything, but thankfully Josh Barnett has openly talked about his friendship with the Russian.

"When we were in Japan we spent time together, we'd go out and have dinner and hang out together, we'd wish each other happy birthdays, and do the stuff that regular friends do."

That sounds really nice.  

They are two of the baddest men on the planet and yet anyone would be lucky to have a friend like that.

4. Pat Barry and Mirko Filipovic

Last June, devastating striker Pat Barry fought his combat sports idol, the legendary Mirko "CroCop" Filipovic.

The matchup proved to be a brutal battle, but the real story was Barry's adoration for the MMA icon.

In interviews leading up to the fight, Barry gushed over his chance to meet Mirko and get his autograph. The respect was evident on both sides.

During the fight the two combatants took the time to acknowledge each other with a hug and even share a little discourse about the state of the fight.

Their friendship obviously continued after their UFC 115 meeting as Filipovic invited Barry to train with him out in Croatia.

3. Seth Petruzelli and Tom Lawlor

Tom Lawlor and Seth Petruzelli have not talked much about their obviously "special" relationship, but it is still highly documented.

From Lawlor walking Petruzelli to the octagon on a leash to countless party pics and erotica poses, it is clear that these two men love pushing the boundaries of "bromance".

Petruzelli was released from the UFC after his most recent loss.  He is a talented fighter and I hope to see him rebound, so it is comforting to know that he at least has Lawlor around to make him feel better.

2. Rich Franklin and Jorge Gurgel

Lightweight fighter Jorge Gurgel is former UFC champion Rich Franklin's long time friend and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu teacher.

Based out of Cincinnati, the two fighters have been close throughout each others' development and career.

Confidants, travel companions, cornermen, and best buds, Rich Franklin and George Gurgel's friendship is one of the tightest in the business. 

1. Anderson Silva and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

News recently broke that in 2003 when Anderson Silva was disillusioned with MMA, he nearly quit in order to start a car-wash business.  

Nogueira intervened and was able to simultaneously reignite Silva's career and start the number one bromance in the business.

Together under the "Team Nogueira" banner, Silva and Big Nog started up the Black House Gym in California.  The gym became famous for housing the most elite fighters in the world.

Having love and respect for each other's fighting and helping each other take their already impressive careers to new places in the UFC, Anderson and Nogueira discuss their relationship with much fondness.

In the video above you can catch a glimpse of their significance to each other as they banter like an old married couple.