Two things always come to mind when I think of Rickson:
1) Everyone, including Royce, will say that Rickson can tap out Royce in about a couple minutes without really breaking a sweat, this much is obvious based on the testimony of hundreds of people. But had Rickson fought in the UFC when Royce did, could Rickson have gone thru UFC 1-4 without so much as a scratch? True Royce tired after Kimo, but that was an electrolyte issue, not a broken rib or smashed eye. People think the somewhat educated Japanese fighters Rickson beat were better than Royce’s UFC opponents, but I think Royce had some naturally tougher guys with sharper athleticism. Royce’s entries and clinching styles seemed more refined and modern compared to Rickson’s 1980’s Rio takedowns and I have watched all of their fights and challenge matches. It’s just my observation.
2) Rickson had a bad habit of burrowing his head for the takedown and at least got his head taken for a guillotine twice. I believe anyone with even high school wrestling might have given him major problems in terms of just getting things on the ground. There is no doubt on the ground he is legendary, but Royce never, ever got his head controlled by an adversary during his additional run and guys like Patrick Smith knew the guillotine and so did Shamrock. Like I said, Royce’s had a slightly better clinching game.
I’m not so quick to say Rickson would steamroll early UFC opponents. I even think Keith Hackney might have been able to KO him on a punch simply cuz Royce had problems taking him down despite being TALLER than Hackney, Rickson is way shorter and has worse defense from strikes on the feet than Royce.
Again, once on the ground, Rickson is better but that’s a given.
