Who had the best opponent for their pro debut?

[Fluffernutter]

Which fighter (current or past) had the most difficult opponent during their debut?

 

[Meathead Jock]

I'm sure there are cases where a fighter took on a future champ in their early stages that would rank ahead, but as far as already established 'best' Prado fighting Phil Davis has to be close to it.

 

[c.m.a freestyle]

Forrest Griffin/Dan Severn

 

[R0bert0Lu0ng0**]

nagata

but that was in the weak era of mma

 

[Idonotbelieveit]

nagata. prime mirko in his debut, then prime fedor..

brutal!

 

[MMADammone]

Forrest Griffin/Dan Severn

first thing I thought too

 

[eXtv]

Others have pointed it out, but it's Yuji Nagata, by far.

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Yuji-Nagata-3422

Prime Fedor and Prime CC in your first and only 2 fights. It doesn't get tougher than that.

 

[Danespina]

UFC debut or simply pro debut?

In terms of UFC debut, Joe Lauzon faced and defeated Jen Pulver, who was seen by some as the current UFC Lightweight Champion.

 

[Woody1975]

Akira Vs Dion Staring

 

[eXtv]

Most difficult UFC debut?

Probably Brock vs. Mir, Lesnar was only 1-0 at the time.

 

[Danespina]

Stephan Bonnar vs. Brian Ebersole (both made their pro mma debut together).
Forrest Griffin debuted against Dan Severn.

 

[XRaided]

Others have pointed it out, but it's Yuji Nagata, by far.

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Yuji-Nagata-3422

Prime Fedor and Prime CC in your first and only 2 fights. It doesn't get tougher than that.

that

special mention to kenneth williams

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Kenneth-Williams-2370

0-2 with his 2 opponents being rampage and chuck liddell, neither rampage or chuck were in their prime but still worth a mention.

 

[RaggedyRooster]

James Toney

 

[Idonotbelieveit]

frank shamrock fought bas rutten in his debut.

 

[Danespina]

George St. Pierre faced Ivan Menjivar in his debut.

 

[MMun]

Mike Pyle fought Rampage (UD loss) in his debut and Fitch (RNC win) in his second fight.

 

[MMATyc00n]

James Toney

/thread

 

[MMun]

George St. Pierre faced Ivan Menjivar in his debut.

A little iffy, that stoppage.

 

[Danespina]

Both Yuji Nagata and Choi Hong-man faced Fedor and Mirko CroCop in 2 of their first 3 fights.

 

[Fluffernutter]

Stephan Bonnar vs. Brian Ebersole (both made their pro mma debut together).

That's cool.

I just looked at that fight card and saw Miguel Torres fought and won two times that night.