While all of the many UFC stars of today are treated with the same respect as many other professional athletes and celebrities, that wasn’t always the case. For a long time, the UFC and MMA as a whole weren’t seen as anything particularly special to a wide audience. As the popularity of MMA continues to grow around the world, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that even celebrities have at times taken notice.Related: 10 Georges St-Pierre Quotes That Are Fit For A ChampionOccasionally, celebrities noticing some of the biggest stars of MMA can lead to some surprising, and at times, tumultuous relationships. Dating someone who fights for a living likely isn’t the easiest thing in the world, but many professional fighters find long and happy relationships despite a life filled with violence, hardships, and excitement.
8 Chuck Liddell - Willa Ford
With how popular Chuck Liddell became in his prime, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that there were plenty of rumors about him dating multiple celebrities. At one point, the man practically was the face of the UFC and the reason for its popularity.
Willa Ford, a designer who rose to prominence after a relationship with Nick Carter, dated Liddell for two years from 2004 to 2006. While there isn’t a lot of information on the relationship, he was also linked to other notorious adult actresses and even an Oscar winning actress.
7 Tito Ortiz - Jenna Jameson
MMA fans likely know all about Tito Ortiz and his celebrity relationship with adult film star Jenna Jameson if they were a fan of the lead-up to his bout with Chael Sonnen. While many fans look at him in a more infamous light now, Ortiz was a legend in his prime.
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This relationship was more than a simple fling as the couple does have multiple children together. However, it’s clear that their relationship isn’t the greatest. In recent years, Jameson has called for some peace in order for their children to have normal, happy lives.
6 Luke Rockhold - Demi Lovato
For a long time, it felt like the pop star and actress Demi Lovato was absolutely everywhere. It seems that even MMA fighters took note of that since at one point Luke Rockhold was romantically linked with the popular singer.
While MMA relationships tend to end in a dramatic fashion, their relationship seems to have ended pretty amicably. They only dated for a short while, which may have played a role in that. That short relationship did however lead to the two getting a pair of matching tattoos at one point.
5 Henry Cavill - Gina Carano
While it’s rare for MMA fighters to date someone with significant star power, Gina Carano managed to do exactly that. Many MMA fans may be surprised to learn that for a while she was dating one of the most famous actors of the modern generation in Henry Cavill.
The two dated on and off for a few months and even ended up getting a dog together. By all accounts, the relationship seems to have ended in a way that left both parties better off, as there wasn’t much trouble surrounding the dog remaining with Cavill.
4 Brendan Schaub - Whitney Cummings
While many fighters eat, sleep, and breathe fighting for their entire lives, others pivot toward other pursuits once their career is over. Brendan Schaub is one such fighter as he now tends to focus on podcasting and comedy.
It can be difficult to gauge just how friendly or agitated the pair are with one another in interviews and appearances since they are no longer together, and they both work in comedy. While both take shots at each other from time to time, it does seem to be some form of good fun.
3 Luke Sanders - Becky Lynch
While Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins seem to be the talk of the combat sports world of love, there was a time when she dated an MMA fighter. Luke Sanders and Becky Lynch dated for what wasn’t an insignificant amount of time.
The two seemed to have only split due to Lynch’s busy WWE schedule and Sanders’ desire to spend more time with his daughter. While many wrestling fans would have called Sander’s crazy for breaking up with Lynch, many agree his reasoning was both noble and respectable.
2 War Machine - Christy Mack
The man known as War Machine has had a rollercoaster of a career thanks to some of his personal choices. With some of his poor choices and more adult ties, it’s not a shock that he ended up in a tumultuous relationship with adult star Christy Mack.
This relationship doesn’t have a happy ending unfortunately as War Machine is currently serving a life sentence in prison for the terrible abuse he put Mack through. What Mack was subjected to is something no person should ever have to go through, so it’s likely that many MMA fans are glad that War Machine is behind bars.
1 Travis Browne - Ronda Rousey
There may be many MMA fans who don’t care too much for Rousey anymore, but it’s hard to argue that she isn’t a mega-celebrity. Her celebrity status has led her to dive into films, games, and even the WWE, yet she still ended up as an MMA fighter.
Travis Browne and Ronda Rousey seem to be in the midst of a wonderful relationship as the two have since settled down and had a child. The two have been together since 2015, and it seems like they couldn’t be happier with each other.
