MMA of Old

[Darkstar]

Do you think any of 'yesterdays' MMA fighters could have stood up to the UFC guys we have in now? Would Royce Gracie be up to taking on Randy couture? Could Severn have beaten ortiz?

Really, Im interested.

[Telf]

IMO, I doubt it

I've seen UFC 1-5 and there seem to be a lot more styles around nowadays which I think would give the new guys the edge

I would have thought the conditioning of temporary MMA fighters is much better considering the increased amount in competition. Back in the old days, you were the fighter that you were (if that makes sense) as a 500 pounder could have fought a 200 pounder. The introduction of the weight division makes styles a little bit more specific

[The Gentleman]

I think the fighters of old would not have a chance against the fighters now. Royce Gracie (as good as he was) weighed aroung 180lbs. Current 185lbs champion in UFC Rich Franklin would destroy Gracie if they were to meet in the octagon. Franklin has already beaten a fighter of old in Ken Shamrock and that was at 205lbs.

Dan Severn again was an awesome fighter, but with his lack of jiu jitsu and striking ability, he would not stand a chance against the likes of Frank Mir and Andrei Arlovski.

Fighters now are more complete, almost all are trained in Muay Thai, Jiu Jitsu and Wrestling, making the mtrue Mixed Martial Artists. So i think (IMO) that the fighters now are much better!

[Joe Reilly]

The gentleman pretty much summed up what I think.

[loosecannon]

The only reason why Royce dominated those early UFC's is because there was no competition. Back then, you were either a good wrestler or a good striker, very few hybrid fighters, if any when the sport was in it's infancy. Gracie being such a good takedown artist and being highly skilled in submissions meant that he was always going to dominate. Now, not only Gracie, but fighters like Don Frye, Mark Coleman, Tank Abbott, etc have struggled against the new wave of fighters. MMA has probably evolved faster then any other sport IMO.