Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Derek Hough are both returning to Dancing with the Stars after having exchanged blows in the past, so will a rivalry continue between these two longtime pros?

ADVERTISEMENT

With 22 seasons of Dancing with the Stars in the rearview mirror, the stats say it all for Chmerkovskiy, who joined the show back in Season 2: Hough, who first appeared on DWTS back on Season 5, has won a whopping six mirrorball trophies.

Chmerkovskiy used to seem jealous and resentful over the fact Hough was typically paired with celebrities on the show who had the most popularity or potential.

"The producers have changed and it's different now," Chmerkovskiy told Us Weekly, suggesting DWTS producers absolutely favored Hough at one time. 

Chmerkovskiy, known for being the outspoken badboy of the ballroom, only has one DWTS victory under his belt, and it didn't happen until Season 18 with Meryl Davis.

"I don't have a rivalry with Derek. Derek may have a rivalry with me, but I don't have one," Chmerkovskiy, 36, told Us. "I just literally said everything that everybody else thinks. Listen, I don't have a problem with Derek... It's different now."

Hough admitted luck is one ingredient to being successful on the show, but he's not about to downplay his talent and hard work.

"I've been very fortunate with partners," Hough, 31, confessed.

"But I will also say that it's not rigged. Production has said to me honestly, 'People are complaining, so we're going to give you this partner, because it seems more difficult.' Then I ended up winning."

Hough certainly has no desire to focus on drama when the upcoming 23rd season of Dancing with the Stars premieres Monday, September 12 at 8PM ET/PT.

"Whatever somebody else says about me, that's only a reflection on how they feel and how they are," Hough told the magazine. "I just say, 'Look, I'm putting in the work. I don't want to get caught up in it. I don't need extra drama.'"

Cheryl Burke -- who, like Chmerkovskiy, joined DWTS all the way back for Season 2 -- stood up for Hough because she's been in his shoes before.

"People are like, 'Derek has six mirrorball trophies!' But that's because Derek is talented," Burke insisted. "When I won my first two seasons, people thought it was being rigged for me!"

Despite expected backlash and potential feuds, Chmerkovskiy will never stop speaking his mind.

"I'm the person who will say something and just move on. It's like the Trump effect. This guy says some sh-t and then everybody is like, 'Oh, my God, what did he say?' and he just goes on with his life," Chmerkovskiy said.

"But I've benefited tremendously from speaking my mind. I've also turned off a lot of people. I have a new understanding that there is more than one way of getting things done. We'll see if I can exercise that. If not, I'll go back to saying crazy sh-t!"

The full cast for Dancing with the Stars' next season was just announced on Tuesday by ABC.

Chmerkovskiy will be paired with talk show host Amber Rose, Hough will be working with actress and author Marilu Henner, and Burke will be dancing with Olympic gold swimmer Ryan Lochte.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON GOOGLE NEWS