Who had hardest and most successful start to their MMA career?

[Guile]

Some guys get thrown to the wolves right away and not many have success but some do. What are some examples of fighters who had a tough lineup of opponents at the start of their MMA career? (8 fights or less)

Mark Hunt: started his career 5-1 with wins over Wanderlei, Cro Cop and Kohsaka

Joe Warren: started his career 7-1 with wins over Beebe, Kid Yamamoto, Karakhanyan, Patricio Freire, Soto and Marcos Galvao.

Muhammad "King Mo" Lawal: started his career 7-0 with wins over Travis Wiuff, Mark Kerr and Gegard Mousasi.

Brock Lesnar: started his career 5-1 with wins over Herring, Mir, Couture and Carwin.

Ronda Rousey: started her career 8-0 with wins over Julia Budd, Tate x2, Kaufman and Carmouche.

 

[Sapp]

Hard to top Bork.

Sokoudjo also had a murderers row. Glover, Little Nog, Arona, and Machida all in his first 6 fights.

James Toney too, haha. Pretty tough debut. Hardest, but not most successful, clearly.

 

[A.S. Deep]

Out of those I actually give it to Lesnar.

First fight was a can (Silver medaling Judo guy, but still a MMA can), but after that he got Mir, Texas Crazy Horse, Randy, Carwin, Mir again, Cain, UBEReem, and then Hunt. Other than his debut he only fought top guys.

 

[The Schmoop]

Lesnar. Pretty impressive kick off to his short career.

 

[MuyThaiElbows]

Jon Bones Jones

 

[Chomsky Honk]

BJ fought

Din Thomas
Caol Uno x2
Pulver
Serra
Gomi
Hughes

In his first 9 MMA fights

 

[welcometohavoc]

Out of those I actually give it to Lesnar.

First fight was a can (Silver medaling Judo guy, but still a MMA can), but after that he got Mir, Texas Crazy Horse, Randy, Carwin, Mir again, Cain, UBEReem, and then Hunt. Other than his debut he only fought top guys.

But TS's question is about success not SOS. If we're talking about SOS Mark Hunt is probably the best

 

[Kvolcom]

Joe Warren beat beebe and prime Kid to start his career

then he fought Bibiano in his 3rd fight who is probably the most underrated fighter in MMA ever

 

[Willek]

Feel a bit sorry for Marcus Brimage.

He was Cody Gabrandt's and Conor's first fights in the UFC. Getting KTFO on the undercard by future champions.

 

[OrigFan255]

NOT your Avatar, that is certain!

Joe Schmoe after Joe Schmoe.

He is still very young though....Many years to improve.

 

[Gambit MMA]

lesnar
joe warren
vitor

 

[welcometohavoc]

In GSP's first 28 fights, he went 26-2 with wins over

Bisping
Hendricks
Diaz
Condit
Shields
Hardy
Alves
Pennx2
Hughesx2
Fitch
Serra
Sherk
Trigg
Parysian

 

[JoeRoganade]

Some guys get thrown to the wolves right away and not many have success but some do. What are some examples of fighters who had a tough lineup of opponents at the start of their MMA career? (8 fights or less)

Mark Hunt: started his career 5-1 with wins over Wanderlei, Cro Cop and Kohsaka

Joe Warren: started his career 7-1 with wins over Beebe, Kid Yamamoto, Karakhanyan, Patricio Freire, Soto and Marcos Galvao.

Muhammad "King Mo" Lawal: started his career 7-0 with wins over Travis Wiuff, Mark Kerr and Gegard Mousasi.

Brock Lesnar: started his career 5-1 with wins over Herring, Mir, Couture and Carwin.

Ronda Rousey: started her career 8-0 with wins over Julia Budd, Tate x2, Kaufman and Carmouche.

It's quality over quantity. Ronda shouldn't be on that list seeing how she was fed cans that catered to her one dimensional fighting style.

 

[A.S. Deep]

But TS's question is about success not SOS. If we're talking about SOS Mark Hunt is probably the best

Lesnar became HW champ with 2 defenses (tied the record until Stipe)

 

[jonathan274]

Some guys get thrown to the wolves right away and not many have success but some do. What are some examples of fighters who had a tough lineup of opponents at the start of their MMA career? (8 fights or less)

Mark Hunt: started his career 5-1 with wins over Wanderlei, Cro Cop and Kohsaka

Joe Warren: started his career 7-1 with wins over Beebe, Kid Yamamoto, Karakhanyan, Patricio Freire, Soto and Marcos Galvao.

Muhammad "King Mo" Lawal: started his career 7-0 with wins over Travis Wiuff, Mark Kerr and Gegard Mousasi.

Brock Lesnar: started his career 5-1 with wins over Herring, Mir, Couture and Carwin.

Ronda Rousey: started her career 8-0 with wins over Julia Budd, Tate x2, Kaufman and Carmouche.

Brock considering his late start etc.

 

[The guest]

Hunto started in kickboxing before he ever entered MMA. Ronda was an Olympic medalist in Judo. Lesnar a Pro Wrestler. That also got interest from the NFL.

Do you see where I’m going here ? All performed at high levels in related combat sports. It’s not like they were complete noobs.

 

[Pakman]

gotta go with Brock. Then Joe Warren imo.

Hardest start to a career might go to Pawel Nastula though. Big Nog, Aleksander Emelianenko, Edson Drago, Josh Barnett to start his career. Went 1-3. Which is still somehow impressive lol.

 

[RedRaven]

Seriously.

No body mentioned Phillip Jack Brooks?

 

[Guile]

It's quality over quantity. Ronda shouldn't be on that list seeing how she was fed cans that catered to her one dimensional fighting style.

the girls Ronda beat were not cans in WMMA. They were the best. Don't know why you think Tate is a can? 15-1 Kaufman?

 

[Bork Neslar]

CM Punk.