Who had the best opponent for their pro debut?

[gabe1k]

James Toney

Pretty much.

 

[Nova44]

Rulon Gardner.

He won a gold medal in the Olympics.

He faced Hidehiko Yoshida in his debut and won!

And now he's one of the fattest people in the USA.

 

[FedorsJiuJitsu]

Rulon Gardner.

He won a gold medal in the Olympics.

He faced Hidehiko Yoshida in his debut and won!

And now he's one of the fattest people in the USA.

It's insane to think one of these men is one of the greatest Olympians of all time who scored perhaps the second most famous upset in the history of the olympics.

 

[itsjustme***]

Anyone mention James Toney.....

 

[bjpenngoat]

Mike Whiteheads first opponent was Tim Sylvia I think. Timmay back in the day was a formindable guy.

 

[t2revell]

gsp.. fighting ivan menjivar

 

[Dutchy]

Struve vs Dos Santos?

 

[Sinc3r3]

It's insane to think one of these men is one of the greatest Olympians of all time who scored perhaps the second most famous upset in the history of the olympics.

What's number 1 for you?

 

[THECYNDlCATE]

In the UFC Discussion.

That is owned by Zuffa, who also owns Pride.

 

[oaklandr8ersfan]

Wasn't much of a "Pro Debut" but James Toney got Randy Couture..

 

[bandicoot]

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.

Yeah, because he wasn't a pro wrestler that was sent in to lose or anything. Legit debuts, please.

 

[SamiMMA]

Like other said Toney, Nagata and Lesnar all had hard UFC debuts.
Amother one that comes in mind is when Papy Abedi that faced Thiago Alves in his UFC debut in a ME.

 

[clayj]

Kenneth Willians also didn't have a very good run in MMA, 0-2. He fought Rampage and Chuck.

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

Edit: GustavHolst did it on page 4

 

[Just Creed]

didn't that mexican wrestler guy fight Cro cop in his debut and get head kicked within a few minutes?

 

[BJJFAN4LIFE]

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 guys manager should be fired!!

 

[MMun]

In the UFC Discussion.

Trying to argue this is ridiculous. You misunderstood the point of the thread, that's fine. Now give it up.

 

[Black Joto]

Yuji Nagata

 

[Y2Khaos]

Basically anyone on this list but my pick is Joe Warren because he beat Chase Beebe then Kid Yamamoto

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Valeri-Ignatov-216
http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Israel-Albuquerque-1585
http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Joe-Warren-43429
http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Moti-Horenstein-139
http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Carlton-Jones-12475
http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Jarvis-Brennaman-8008
http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Adam-Fearon-10308
http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Steven-Goss-620
http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Yuji-Nagata-3422
http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Kenneth-Williams-2370
http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Pawel-Nastula-12277

 

[CajunOutlaw]

First two that come to mind are James Toney and Forrest.

 

[ali2013champ]