Top strikers who made full time transition to MMA?

Tamura was pretty handy.

It feels like he "beat" Nogueira even though he really didn't because he gave him a fight all out of proportion to his skill level. Just shows what being a big lunk with muscles and heart can do for you. I believe that when Cro Cop broke his face, Sapp lost all the drive to compete seriously.

 

Sapp is a total joke and should have been DQ'd in both fights. Like Goodridge(a least a legitimate fighter) They made their names in K-1 off despicable foul ridden performances where they should have been DQ'd. The Japanese gave crossovers a lot of leeway though which is why a lot of those upsets happened.

 

KJ Noons although not a top boxer came into MMA with 0 grappling ability and had some success.

 

While I agree that Sapp bent the rules backwards against Hoost, I would have expected a K1 legend like Hoost to win regardless. It seemed to me like Hoost ran out of ideas and let himself get trapped. His leg kicks were dismantling Sapp and he should have kept running and working the thighs and knees. I know ... easy to say.

 

Yeah granted Hoost didn't fight the smartest fights but had the rules actually been enforced I don't think it would have mattered. What do you think about the Bernardo/Goodridge fights btw? Goodridge really bent the rules in both fights but Bernardo had the last laugh knocking him the **** out before standing over him and pissing all the roidheads at Hammerhouse off.

 

I don't remember the Bernardo / Goodridge fights. I'll look them up. Gary was always fun to watch, win or lose.

 

People forget just how dangerous Sapp was.

I think it was ego/pride that got the better of Hoost. The leg kicks worked a treat, but he seem'ed to want to end him with his fists.

I absolutely love their rivalry. Usually the Japanese crowds/events are silent, but the atmosphere for these two fights were like Football Matches in the UK! Was like a boy band concert in there!

Amazing times for combat sports in general back then.

Fedor was the man, you had Lennox Lewis still there, RJJ, Hoost, Mayweather, Penn, Masato... Best days ever.