Instances when two legends collided early in their careers

[bisquit]

Fedor Emelianenko (3-0) vs. Ricardo Arona (2-0)

 

[bisquit]

Arlovski (0-0) vs Datsik (0-0) - Datsik KOd Arlovski <45>

 

[SmoothPies]

Rich Franklin vs. Lyoto Machida

 

[bisquit]

Werdum (2-0-1) vs Gonzaga (2-0) in Jungle Fights 2011. They fought again years later in UFC.

 

[Elvis.]

Anderson Silva fought Hayato Sakurai in 2001 , admittedly it was Sakurai’s 20th fight but he would fight 30 more times afterwards so it’s somewhat early in his career
Anderson has less than 10 fights at this point , I don’t think a lot of people even resize this fight ever happened

 

[HCS]

Arlovski (0-0) vs Datsik (0-0) - Datsik KOd Arlovski <45>

This was actually my first thought. Datsik is a legend in his own way lol

 

[Yep]

CM Punk (0-1) vs Michael Jackson (0-1)

Legendary

 

[tat2man5k]

BJ vs Machida

 

[tat2man5k]

Luke was beating Weidman before the wheel kick anyway

And yes, Luke is absolutely a legend.

Strikeforce and UFC MW champ, only person to ever win a belt in both orgs

What about Cyborg and Ronda?
DC won a tournament belt and then 2 belts in UFC

 

[Post 2 Decision]

Someone should link this thread anytime someone complains about the UFC setting up 2 'prospects' against each for 1 to get 'knocked off'

If they are destined for greatness, one loss against another top guy isn't the end of the world... This isn't boxing

 

[blaseblah]

Poirier v. Holloway
Machida v. BJ Penn

 

[The Chosen]

Johny Hendricks defeats Ben Askren their senior year of high school

 

[d2s]

RDA vs Khabib to a lesser extent

 

[Elvis.]

Carlos Newton had a war with Dan Henderson
It was Newton’s 6th fight and Henderson’s 4th

 

[TeTe]

Jeremy horn 7–2–1 vs Dan Severn 15–3–1

What crazy is for those two 10-19 fights is still early on. For some great fighters their career is half way or more than halfway over after that many fights these days.

 

[Ch31ck]

Jones vs Bader

Bader isn't a legend.

 

[Handsome Goku]

Leon Edwards and Usman?

 

[tech99]

Rockhold is a legend ?

 

[HHJ]

What are the instances you can think of when two fighters fought early in their careers, and both of them became legends and had an amazing success in MMA?

Max Holloway (7-2) vs Conor Mcgregor (13-2)
BJ Penn (5-1-1) vs Takanori Gomi (14-1)
Lyoto Machida (2-0) vs Rich Franklin (14-0)
Vitor Belfort (4-0) vs Randy Couture (2-0)
Vitor (5-1) vs Wanderlei (5-1)
Hendo (7-0) vs Big Nog (6-0)
Nick (8-2) vs Robbie (8-1)
Frankie Edgar (5-0) vs Jim Miller (5-0)
Karo (6-0) vs Sherk (7-0)

Luke Rockhold (7-1) vs Jacare (14-2)
Lombard (7-1) vs Gegard Mousasi(13-2-1)

To a much lesser degree, since Lombard shit the bed when he got to the UFC, and Luke played around against Bisping and then got ktfo and never been the same.

Karo Gomi Franklin sherk and Jim Miller are legends now? K

 

[muaythaidon1]

Chris Weidman ( 2 - 0) vs Uriah Hall (4 - 0)
Granted Hall is no legend, but the fact they are rematching at the end of there careers is pretty unique.