They've shared a gym, training classes and now they'll share an octagon as the UFC makes its return to Canada with a highly anticipated main event bout between Canadian Rory MacDonald and American Stephen Thompson at UFC Fight Night Ottawa on June 18th.

The event can be see Saturday, June 18th on TSN5 and tickets for the event, being held at TD Place Arena in Ottawa, go on sale this Friday.

MacDonald and Thompson are in the midst of a tour promoting their bout, but unlike what you would expect from two fighters that will enter the cage with bad intentions for each other, they have a friendly relationship.

Thompson has spent time at Tristar Gym in Montreal where MacDonald trains and the two have even learned and grappled together in the past.  Their history however, is not going to prevent them from doing their jobs, according to the 26-year-old Canadian.

“It makes no difference at the end of day, it’s just competition,” MacDonald told TSN.ca. “We’re friends going into this and we’re just competitors trying to get to the same goal and we’ve both reached that spot where we really have no choice but to compete against each other and it should be a good test.”

The Simpsonville, South Carolina native agrees with MacDonald’s sentiment that their personal feelings will not affect the fight or change after one of the men gets their hands raised.

“Those guys at Tristar are like family to me, I love those guys,” Thompson told TSN.ca. “My goal is to be champion, Rory’s goal is to be champion and we’re going to be friends before the fight and after as well, win or lose.”

Thompson currently owns a 12-1 MMA record and has put together an impressive six fight win streak that has included victories over top UFC talents like Patrick Cote and Jake Ellenberger.  It was his most recent victory that had the American fighter believing he had already done enough to earn a shot at the belt.

“After defeating Johny Hendricks, especially in the first round, someone that has never been finished I thought they were going to give it to me,” said Thompson about a shot at the title. “There’s a lot of things in the works in the welterweight division that makes the division very exciting, Conor McGregor moving up and Nate Diaz and I know they kinda want one of the winners of that to face Robbie Lawler so I know that’s going to play a big part on if I’m going to get it.”

MacDonald is coming in off a five round war with current champion Robbie Lawler, a fight that many saw as the Fight of the Year in 2015, he’s looking to make a statement in front of his fans.

“Canada’s my favourite place to fight, I love fighting in front of the Canadian fans, they always show a lot of support,” said MacDonald. “Every fight, it’s natural for me to want to go out there and put on a good show.  I always go out there looking for the finish and devastating moves, that comes natural, I don’t need to force it.”

The 33-year-old American is no less excited to fight in the Canadian capital.

“I’ve never fought in Ottawa before, but to fight someone as good as Rory, the number one contender in his backyard what a better guy to fight than Rory MacDonald? I’m just excited to be here,” said Thompson. “Ottawa is a beautiful city.”