Honest question, is English not your first language?
Your posts would not lead most people to conclude that this was what you were talking about.
Yes, there were well rounded guys out there 20 years ago. There just wasn't that many. Now days, every top level fighter is well rounded. Even fighters like Ngannou are far more well rounded than they get credit for because of the training.
Anyways, the problem with the fighters you are mentioning is that they didn't put it all together as well as the guys do now because of the training. There is a big difference between being a high level amateur wrestler or submission guy with a legit striking background and being great at MMA.
Babalu is a perfect example. The guy was a legit wrestler and a muay tai fighter on paper, but he wasn't putting it all together in the late 90's or even early 2000's as well as the guys now or even himself in the later part of his career. He's a guy that had he been able to keep his chin, he could have had a lot more success into his 30's because there where far superior gyms and training available out there at that time than what was out there in his physical prime.
In his day he was good, but I'm not so sure an early 2000's Babalu could beat anyone in the current top 10 at LHW or MW in 2019.
Great, great, mate... but tbh, Im not interested in your general view on that matter, this is rather... 'cliché.'...
Ya´re not bringin´any real 'substance', Im afraid...
Sayin´somethin´like "Yes, there were well rounded guys out there 20 years ago. There just wasn't that many" lacks real understandin´of the context: back then, and especially in the Vale Tudo/NHB era, tournament spots or events were pretty scarce, which limited the fighters´dedication to the sport, somehow...
That´s the reason why they were less 'visible' or less numerous..
But this is by no means a matter of mindset.
Meanwhile, [potential] "well-roundedness" can also be
a mere adaptation to a specific Fight Configuration.
For instance, one of these fighters that ya´re praisin´ can be thrivin´ within a modern [UFC] Fight Configuration, but could have been out of his element in a Rings or Pride one, where the Scorin´System requires a different skill set.
Ya said that Lee´s got in his résumé "more well-rounded guys than the dudes who were competin´back then".
Consequently, this implies that ya do have a legit knowledge of these dudes´skill set.
Not so long ago, for instance, Lee fought Barboza, and others like Iaquinta etc.
If we follow your logic, Barboza´s more well-rounded than someone like...
Suloev or Ebenezer Braga.
Then let me repeat my request:
can ya please gimme a quick [2 lines] assessment of their skill set?
Ya cant realistically dismiss them without really knowin´them, that would not be serious, wont ya agree?
About Babalu, ya fail to understand that when he started his career, he had to fight :
> @ OW
> in specific Fight Configurations & Scorin´Systems & [Vale Tudo : IVC or BVF.. / Rings]
Babalu had a Wrasslin´, MT & Luta Livre Budokan background, under Master Joao Ricardo.
[Luta Livre ~ Catch Wrasslin´+greco-roman wrasslin´+JJJ].
He then added BJJ to his skill set.
But, ya dont adapt your skill set to these specific Fight Configurations the same way ya would adapt it to a modern one.
In Rings, he fought the likes of :
Valentijn Overeem
Tariel Bitsadze
Illoukhine
Tamura
Hendo
Let me ask ya: how do ya think they would prepare themselves, these current "well-rounded" fighters, for such specific Fight Configurations?