Pre Zuffa Era champions that beat 2024 champions

[NoBiasJustMMA]

Thought of this idea from reading the Ortiz vs Shamrock thread when I saw someone trashing prime Ortiz.

I feel pretty strongly that Ortiz from the Pre Zuffa era would beat Poatan.

Anyone else got a pick from a champion in the UFC or ant other organization from 2000 or earlier that would beat their 2024 division champion counterpart?

Edit: To open up the discussion more include any champion from 2000-2012 from any of the major MMA promotions(Pride/UFC/Strikeforce/Bellator/EliteXC) including tournament champions.

 

[DougieJones]

Dave Menne would be UFC's Anatoly Malhkin, book it

 

[HHJ]

Tito cant beat Chuck but he can beat Poatan? Hm.

 

[Bend NvR Break]

I saw Izzy wrestle Potan around. There's a good chance prime Tito could double leg Potan and smash Potan unconscious.

 

[BJJ4Tone]

Pat Miletich heel hooks Belal.

 

[Michael Wetzel]

Severn might be able to outwrestle Aspinall.

 

[Goutfather]

idk about pre-zuffa, but definitely some pre-endeavor (zuffa era) champs would be champs today.

 

[Corrado Soprano]

Vitor vs Pereira would be fun.

 

[AstralPanda]

Thought of this idea from reading the Ortiz vs Shamrock thread when I saw someone trashing prime Ortiz.

I feel pretty strongly that Ortiz from the Pre Zuffa era would beat Poatan.

Anyone else got a pick from a champion in the UFC or ant other organization from 2000 or earlier that would beat their 2024 division champion counterpart?

Poatan would send Tito to the dark dimensions

 

[Bullitt68]

Thought of this idea from reading the Ortiz vs Shamrock thread when I saw someone trashing prime Ortiz.

You didn't get it from the dozens of ignoramuses trashing prime Shamrock?!?!

I feel pretty strongly that Ortiz from the Pre Zuffa era would beat Poatan.

It's not out of the realm of possibility. I certainly wouldn't bet on it, but Pereira has struggled throughout his career stopping TDs, even from guys much smaller. Tito was a very big and very strong LHW and he'd push the wrestling attack on him hard.

Anyone else got a pick from a champion in the UFC or ant other organization from 2000 or earlier that would beat their 2024 division champion counterpart?

I'd love to see some older HW champs like Ken, Dan Severn, Mark Coleman, Kevin Randleman, Randy Couture, Josh Barnett, and Ricco Rodriguez take on any of the recent UFC HW crop.

Tito cant beat Chuck but he can beat Poatan? Hm.

Do you honestly believe that Pereira's meh TDD is even remotely close to Chuck's top-tier sprawl-and-brawl? We're not talking a kickboxing match here.

 

[SuperAlly]

Tito cant beat Chuck but he can beat Poatan? Hm.

My first thought too

Chuck used to fuck him right up with the fists

 

[Rockapotomuss]

Frank Shamrock in his prime beats this version of Jon Jones

 

[Vile]

Tito cant beat Chuck but he can beat Poatan? Hm.

Chuck had D1 wrestling though, which helped to neutralise Tito. Something Poatan does not have. Poatan is better elsewhere though.

 

[NoBiasJustMMA]

My first thought too

Chuck used to fuck him right up with the fists

Chuck had top tier takedown defense Alex doesn't.

 

[HHJ]

Do you honestly believe that Pereira's meh TDD is even remotely close to Chuck's top-tier sprawl-and-brawl? We're not talking a kickboxing match here.

Even if he got him down its no guarantee he will finish.

Or he would even survive long enough to take him down.

 

[TheBulge]

That's too far back. Matt Hughes was pretty damn good for his time but at that point he was green. Mark Kerr maybe for this era. A roided up HW wrestler shouldn't do too bad now.

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

Prime Randy on any given night could be 205 or heavyweight champion

 

[Bullitt68]

Even if he got him down its no guarantee he will finish.

Or he would even survive long enough to take him down.

Agreed. That's why I wouldn't bet on it. But Pereira wouldn't have as easy a time as Chuck did because he doesn't have the TDD that Chuck had, while on the flip side Tito had much stronger wrestling and much better GNP than anyone Pereira's ever faced.

 

[Dr. Rose]

You didn't get it from the dozens of ignoramuses trashing prime Shamrock?!?!

It's not out of the realm of possibility. I certainly wouldn't bet on it, but Pereira has struggled throughout his career stopping TDs, even from guys much smaller. Tito was a very big and very strong LHW and he'd push the wrestling attack on him hard.



I'd love to see some older HW champs like Ken, Dan Severn, Mark Coleman, Kevin Randleman, Randy Couture, Josh Barnett, and Ricco Rodriguez take on any of the recent UFC HW crop.



Do you honestly believe that Pereira's meh TDD is even remotely close to Chuck's top-tier sprawl-and-brawl? We're not talking a kickboxing match here.

A 1999 Pedro Rizzo, although not a champion, would be interesting in the current mix of fighters. Bas fighting at LHW might be interesting, but he would be wiser to learn some better TDD for todays scoring.

 

[Fedorgasm]

Wouldn't surprise me if Jon Jones calls out Mark Coleman next, so we may actually get to find out if the hammer can beat today's champion.