Least naturally/genetically talented fighter to take the title?

[Vampire life]

forrest griffin would be up there. still weird that he actually took a belt. seemed like one of the least naturally athletic guys of all time, like a big clumsy oaf who was just big and nothing else.

Anderson Silva bright out the worst of that in him

 

[Luffy]

Tom Aspinall — hyped as "the strongest fighter" ... Reality, I'd be surprised if he went to a 5th round vs Poatan, let alone a decision. Likely gets stopped like Charles was vs Topuria. Most overhyped fighter by faaaaarr... When he decides to fight Alex Pereira or JJ and stop his gimmick, then it'll be visible. The hype has gone on for toooo long. Likely one of the biggest trolls of UFC

 

[BullyKutta]

Nate Diaz wasn’t going to win any bodybuilding competitions, that’s for sure.

From everything I’ve heard, that dude just worked his ass off in the gym nonstop to turn himself into the cardio monster he was.

No natural gifts there. Just an insane work ethic.

 

[Luffy]

Nate Diaz stands for Pereira nowadays btw... That's why Pereira and Nate Diaz took a picture together. And were seen walking together in a power slap promo.

 

[Chagaev]

Nate Diaz wasn’t going to win any bodybuilding competitions, that’s for sure.

From everything I’ve heard, that dude just worked his ass off in the gym nonstop to turn himself into the cardio monster he was.

No natural gifts there. Just an insane work ethic.

Nate is a tall lw, a southpaw with HW reach and had a granite chin. Pretty durable guy overall, I don't remember really bad injuries in his career. Those are important natural gifts for a fighter.

 

[Gigacardio]

Benson Henderson especially since he defended his belt three times I think.

 

[Limeade]

Benson Henderson especially since he defended his belt three times I think.

Another terrible pick. He played sports and did martial arts since a young age and he was NAIA all american wrestler. Very gifted and natural athlete.

 

[SalvadorAllende]

DC maybe too especially at heavyweight although he is just strong as shit

What? DC was a freak athlete.

He was just old at the end of his career.. but he was athletic as fuck.

 

[JBJ was here]

dudes fuckin 6'8 he's got SOMETHING going for him

6'8" is actually a pretty bad height for a professional athlete: not tall enough to be an advantage in the current NBA, but tall enough to be a disadvantage at just about anything else except maybe MLB pitching or professional volleyball. Tall and heavy like Sylvia means slow-squared and begging for joint and back problems. Once you're over 6'4" or so, the speed and joint-pressure disadvantages from the extra height and weight generally start to outweigh any leverage/reach/strength advantages unless you're a beanpole dealing with a 10' rim.

 

[HHJ]

:: thread where people just guess at who they think are ugly and dont have alot of muscle mass ::

 

[HHJ]

6'8" is actually a pretty bad height for a professional athlete

Someone sticky this post so we's can always know where it is, when we need a laugh

 

[godhatesacoward]

6'8" is actually a pretty bad height for a professional athlete: not tall enough to be an advantage in the current NBA, but tall enough to be a disadvantage at just about anything else except maybe MLB pitching or professional volleyball. Tall and heavy like Sylvia means slow-squared and begging for joint and back problems. Once you're over 6'4" or so, the speed and joint-pressure disadvantages from the extra height and weight generally start to outweigh any leverage/reach/strength advantages unless you're a beanpole dealing with a 10' rim.

I wish this was true but prob not lok

 

[KillerIsBack V2]

Tim Sylvia.

Have you lost your damn mind?
He is taller than the average NBA player.
I even double checked that before typing it.

Forget Jones, he’s freagin taller than Volkov.

 

[Gigacardio]

Another terrible pick. He played sports and did martial arts since a young age and he was NAIA all american wrestler. Very gifted and natural athlete.

The way the OP phrased the thread title makes it sound a bit unclear about what he's asking.....I think he's asking both in terms of athleticism but also level of talent for MMA and in that case Benson Henderson fits the latter.

 

[godhatesacoward]

This guy is absolutely one of the least explosive and least athletic men to ever hold an undisputed belt imo.

Additionally he has no worthwhile pedigree.
No black belts I am aware of.
Not an NCAA wrestler or even juco


View attachment 1107921

Bro's style is boxing and nothing else and he ain't even that good at it (sidenote: have you guys noticed that the people the best at 1 aspect of MMA usually aren't completely one dimensional

 

[godhatesacoward]

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Sean O'Malley so far...

Kids got knockout power

 

[godhatesacoward]

Tom Aspinall — hyped as "the strongest fighter" ... Reality, I'd be surprised if he went to a 5th round vs Poatan, let alone a decision. Likely gets stopped like Charles was vs Topuria. Most overhyped fighter by faaaaarr... When he decides to fight Alex Pereira or JJ and stop his gimmick, then it'll be visible. The hype has gone on for toooo long. Likely one of the biggest trolls of UFC

Ok but tom is obviously a genetic freak

 

[mkt]

Tim Sylvia.

Timmeh may have been awkward, but being 6'8" with an 80-inch reach is hardly a genetic weakness in MMA or boxing.

 

[mkt]

Forrest Griffin or tim

Forrest was quite a high school athlete from what I heard.

 

[mkt]

Nate is a tall lw, a southpaw with HW reach and had a granite chin. Pretty durable guy overall, I don't remember really bad injuries in his career. Those are important natural gifts for a fighter.

Why all this Nate talk when he never held a belt? That's what this is about. I'll grant the Diaz bros aren't great athletes at all besides cardio (probably some genetic and a lot from hard work) and chin/durability.