With lifelong training in mixed martial arts, could Tyson Fury be a heavyweight champion in MMA?

Yes. If he never trained.

Gane's legs would have been destroyed by leg kicks, if he had never trained.

Lewis' legs would've been destroyed by leg kicks if he had never trained.

Ngannou's legs would have been destroyed by leg kicks if he had never trained.

Miocic's legs would have been destroyed by leg kicks if he had never trained.

From what we have seen of Deontay, the dude is willing to put the work in. He's more tested than any of them.

He struggles with Boxing because it's a ridiculous hard sport. For Indians most sports are difficult. But really nothing ever overwhelmed me like Boxing. It's like being a chef in charge of an entire kitchen.

Boxing was meant for people like Jofre, Gomez, Pep, Mayweather. Not ogre's like Deontay.

Defending kicks and takedowns isn't that difficult. It's hard work, which Deontay has proven willing to do.

 

You have to check leg kicks to condition your shins and that doesn't come right away, also if Wilder learned takedown defence or grappling for 2-3 years that still wouldn't beat the years of Wrestling experience guys like Stipe Miocic, Alexander Romanov or Curtis Blaydes have.

Ngannou has always trained in grappling since he started MMA but it still wasn't enough to stop Miocic's Wrestling experience in their first fight. Yes Ngannou did stop Miocic's takedowns in the rematch but he also had about a 30 pound weight advantage on Miocic and I believe Miocic didn't start going for the takedowns until he was getting beaten up.

 

With the exception of 2-3 fighters, the UFC heavyweight division is devoid of heart, cardio, ring IQ and overall technique. I think Fury could be an MMA champion right now, he just has to avoid the panic takedown early in the 2nd round when his opponent is completely gassed.