Holy crap, his trainer would be too smart to let Mike go in a tournament without grappling experience? That's not smart dude that's MMA. That's like saying if Tyson became a swimmer his trainer would be smart enough to make sure Tyson trains in a pool. Yes its a EXADURATION but seriously, what a brain dead comment. And Tyson would not have won some of those early tournaments. Sure he could of beat many a fighter in shocking quick fashion dude. However, as soon as he got taken off his feet all his LEVERAGE is gone correct? ? Thus as soon as Tyson gets taken to the ground and pounded out his confidence is going to suffer tremendously correct? You think in his next fight he will be unleashing his hands as freely and confidently knowing that the very last fight he did that and missed he was taken down and beat the hell up? Don't forget we're not talking weaklings taking him down, were talking the best of the best that will take him down and hold him down correct? How powerful were James toneys strikes when Couture had him pushed into the cage off balanced? Crap correct? Aye no leverage. If Tyson starts late into MMA its always gonna be the same. He was so good he destroys lower to mid level MMA fighters in SHOCKING FASHION. However, on his way up Tyson gets bum rushed one way or another, gets grounded and beaten up and then he quits. The thing is, the more success he has striking at the start the harder it becomes for him as he continues as NOBODY is going to strike with him straight up as they are only going to be thinking about how to tie him up and dump him correct? The THINKING that a AWESOME STRIKER alone is going to be a AWESOME all around fighter is IGNORANT. Its so hard to connect a strike FLUSH on a rushing opponent. Why this REALITY is still so misunderstood is simply in my opinion our fascination with STRIKING that renders another unconscious asap. Its way cooler than going to the ground and securing a arm bar.
I never said Iron Mike would be an exceptional grappler, but he would've had some success. Says who? Iron Mike would become one of the Best in the World. Prime Tyson was a Great Boxer and the original Baddest Man on the Planet. We all know how Boxing is structured, and he wouldn't be in a cage (where almost anything goes) relying solely on Boxing. Let alone jumping right in a winner take all tournament for a chance at a whooping $50,000. This is one of the highest paid athletes in the World we are talking here and you have to put things into perspective. I doubt he would be a part of UFC 1 anyway. No matter how bad he wanted it his team would not allow it. He's was groomed to be a fighter and the same would apply to MMA. If he were it's not like he wouldn't improve as time passes. He could have revolutionized the Sport and today Boxing is as big a part of MMA as Grappling, MT and Kickboxing. A loss in this Sport would make him a better fighter. No doubt about it. Losing is part of competing, but if he were in those early days he would be a complete fighter by now. A reply would be appreciated, but I don't see a point in trying to argue my point here. I believe it should be clear now :good
6 months on sprawl and TDD Tyson dominates. Without that 6 months he gets eaten alive and everyone knows it. There is plenty of tranisition between boxing and MMA, there is a lot of crossover between any practical combat sport and MMA because MMA is a conglomeration of all these arts, hence the name. Just because a decent AM boxer gets into MMA and has some success means quite literally **** all.
What makes you think that six months on TDD will neutralize an opponent who has spent fifteen years mastering takedowns? Top grapplers take down guys who have spend their lives focused on staying up and for some reason people assume that a guy who can box well will master it in six months. Crazy.
6 months of training and I would send him into his first fight. By then he would know how to sprawl and work his way back up into his feet in a hurry. But, nobody ever hinted that Tyson would be some master grappler before stepping into the cage . On second thought, Iron Mike could make it in any era. This Sport evolves so quickly, and he would have a ton of knowledge at his disposal. Tons of footage, and if he dedicated himself like in Boxing then he could be a Champion. It's that simple and so many of you are dismissing him. Sure, it takes grappling experience, but you don't need 15 years of grappling in this Sport. You don't need a double leg either, you need JJ. You don't have to be a Champion to make it in this Sport. 20 years ago you had to be exceptional at what you did, but fighters in The UFC were cross training by 96'.
im one of the biggest tyson fans around but this thread is ****ing shite tyson was a boxer and one of the most naturally gifted boxers of all time but he wasnt no mixed martial artist and 6 months TDD or wrestling training aint gonna make him jon jones rival
Nobody was claiming JJ to be the future of the LHW division after six months of training. You are not a Mixed Martial Artist until you compete, and you don't become a Contender without experience. All it takes is dedication to make it in this Sport.
Right, and that's why no one every gets taken down in MMA and when they are, they just "get back to their feet in a hurry". All it takes is six months. Except world class grapplers who have been working that stuff their entire lives get taken down and held there. I wonder if they haven't put their six months in or what?
I swear half the people that comes to the MMA forum must have just started watching MMA. Tyson would lose 90% of his matches in MMA. he would win 100% of his boxing matches against MMA guys. MMA and boxing are not the same sport. You can't train for 6 months against take down and think you can win. Grappling against guys well versed in judo or BJJ is not easy. it is not just about sprawling. Tyson will get in a clinch and he'd be doomed once there. Tyson would probably lose most of his matches on leg kicks alone. Well place leg kicks and you'd slowly chop him down for the take down.
Tyson wouldn't be my first guy to pick to transfer into the UFC, he has a couple things working against him. Him being short and a pressure fighter wouldn't be ideal, it'd make him have to move forward and into takedown range unlike say a Cro Cop who was a taller elite striker that could backpedal. He was also notably weak in the clinch which wouldn't be good and doesn't point to him being able to be a good grappler. Out of heavyweights I think Lewis could be good if he could pick up the grappling. A big giant dude that could move like he could and throw shots like he could would be awesome to see with 4 oz gloves. I know that Haye trains grappling and MMA in his off time, I think he's rolled with James Thompson if I remember right. Haye's got an elusive style and obvious power that would suit him well in the cage I think, wouldn't be surprised to see him go into it if he got a good offer and was old. Edit, just found this link. Pretty cool, Haye trained under a Judoka for the Chisora fight. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/boxing/4416532/David-Haye-calls-in-martial-arts-star-for-Dereck-Chisora-fight.html[/QUOTE]
