This content is protected Mike Tyson wasn't the tallest in his division, but he was definitely very quick for his size, had the most brutal KO power and explosiveness, and deadly fast hands. If Tyson had maybe 1 year to prepare for MMA, how would he compete against the UFC's HW elites? Would he be champion? Who would he beat? Who would he lose to? How would he do against HW DC, Francis Ngannou, Stipe, Cain, Alistair, JDS, Derreck Lewis, Fedor (not UFC), etc?
Tyson would probably beat all the 90s era MMA heavyweights which is before cross-training became widespread his power speed and defense would be difficult af to deal with but of the names you listed I don't see him beating any of em. All of them have decent height and reach advantages and good destroy his leg and take him to the ground and sub him or ko him with head kicks or elbows. Tyson was a gifted athlete but its impossible to go from zero mma training to the top level of the sport. He's got terrifying hands and everyone would know to not trade with him especially with the 4 ounce gloves they use in MMA.
I'd pay big bucks to see Tyson against guys like Bas Rutten, Mark Kerr, Nogueira, Vovchanchyn and the Hammerhouse crowd.
Prime Mike would be a beast if Cus brought someone to train him in other aspects of MMA. Cus had instilled in him the warrior mentality and Mike did everything Cus asked him to and wanted to impress him. If Cus told him to listen to the MMA coaches he brought, Mike would have.
Rutten is one of the 90s era heavyweights I think could beat mike his experience as a kickboxer and submission wrestler would make him very difficult to deal with but that would be a amazing fight imo
Could beat? Isnt is safer to say "most likely would beat"? Go back to lets say 1995: Tyson: Boxing fights -> many Street fights -> many Kickboxing fights -> 0 MMA fights -> 0 Rutten: Boxing fights -> 0 Street fights -> many Kickboxing fights -> many MMA fights -> many We are talking here about a Free aka MMA fight. So from logical standpoint, i simply have to say the guy with many of those fights is the huge favorite over someone with 0. Street fights etc. includes biting and dirty stuff what Tyson does, but we are takling here about an MMA fight. So Rutten would be the clear favorite. Even Royce is not a HW, i would favor him too in a 1995 held UFC fight. And K. Shamrock would be very interesting vs. Tyson too. This would be a match between a world class Boxer vs a world class Amateur Wrestler. Could Tyson beat a Brock Lesnar in MMA? I dont think so. He had to land the first shot to KO Lesnar, otherwise Brock will slam him into the ground. Tyson was a beast, but frame by frame he looks like a kid to Lesnar. And about Rutten: I would say a street fight between them would be the best since both could give all what they can. Rutten is also a very good street fighter and had many bar fights when guys throwing glasses etc. at him. I see a street fight Tyson vs Rutten 50-50, but in the Octagon there is not much chance for Tyson to win, only a lucky punch. And about Fedor: Ppl forget how good he was! To me he is still UNDOUBTEDLY the greatest MMA heavyweight since the moder era of MMA (1993-today), and you can make a case calling him the greatest pound for pound MMA fighter since then, but this is more questionable. Tyson vs Fedor in a MMA fight could be scenario like Fedor vs Sylvia. He would close the gap, grabbing Tyson, bringing him to the floor and finish him of there with ease.
A lot of depends in this question. Such as what era? How much training, what age does he start training? I usual just answer from a potential stand point. Most MMA fighters don't start out in MMA, they start from BJJ, Kickboxing, Karate, etc. and then they ventured into MMA. I think you have to give boxers the same benefit of the doubt and get a chance to learn the other skills and disciplines. Mike Tyson was athletic, explosive, great endurance, determined, aggressive, great self-belief. I think his athleticism alone tells me he would have had the goods in MMA as well.
Is this assuming he trained in mma from a young age or just was a boxer who tried mma? Given his explosive lower body I get the impression he could have developed a very good double leg takedown with some ground and pound, get him a sprawl, a wizzer and a guillotine and he could be dangerous He certainly was mean, powerful, well conditioned and dedicated in the gym. He strikes me as an athlete who would be pretty damn good at a lot of sports
