Just watched the actual fight where Gracie gets caught in a crucifix, has his arm hyper extended and is then ground and pounded from backside. Had me wondering how the fight would have gone if Gracie was ten years younger in his prime. I know people go on about how much the sport has moved on but I don't buy it, I've watched the first 6 UFC events recently and Gracie is the best WW fighter I've watched in the UFC so far. I'm watching them in order so I might change my mind when I get to Hughes, Sakuraba and GSP but Gracie doesn't look like a primitive fighter to me. I worry about how he'd score enough shots to win rounds but I can imagine him submitting most men at his weight or smaller. For instance if Gracie was pitted against Woodley I wouldn't hesitate to back Gracie. I might not consider him the best WW after watching some of the greats that followed him but I am interested to see how people see this particular matchup going is Gracie is ten years younger in his prime.
Gracie could definitely submit him... Hughes had his fair share of struggles with BJJ specialists. Gracie by SUB.
That's my initial thoughts as well, though I haven't watched much Hughes yet. The WW greats like Hughes and GSP faced more skilled fighters but fighters who were their size. Whereas Gracie faced slightly less skilled fighters who massively outweighed him. I mean would Hughes or GSP have any chance against Shamrock or Severn? Would they look as dominant if they faced 4 men in one night? Is it possible that Gracie and Sakuraba are actually the two best WW fighters in history?
