Sherdog-style Thread: Could BJ Penn win in the early days of UFC?

[SPX]

Serious question here. I'm curious about the responses. Could BJ overcome the weight disadvantage and deal with the no rounds/unlimited minutes format?

[zY|]

I'd pick Junie Browning over those clowns in the early UFCs.

[SPX]

Keith Hackney would beat the shit out of Junie Browning.

[SPX]

Paul Varelans would also stomp his skull into dust.

[Ludo]

Well considering he went fifteen minutes with Lyoto Machida I see no reason why Penn wouldn't have been able to take on one dimensional freestyle fighters like Art Jimmerson, Gerard Gordeau, and Harold Howards of the early days. Though Kimo or Shamrock probably would have beaten him.

Also, this is literally the stupidest question ever. Size doesn't matter.

[SPX]

Well considering he went fifteen minutes with Lyoto Machida I see no reason why Penn wouldn't have been able to take on one dimensional freestyle fighters like Art Jimmerson, Gerard Gordeau, and Harold Howards of the early days. Though Kimo or Shamrock probably would have beaten him.

I could see a lot of fighters giving him issues. Though the Machida factor is why I picked BJ. I thought about using Edgar, but I figured that he's so damn small that everyone would pick against him. Maybe I should have.

Also, this is literally the stupidest question ever. Size doesn't matter.

Yeah, it's never been a factor in any fight. I was just trolling.

[Ludo]

I could see a lot of fighters giving him issues. Though the Machida factor is why I picked BJ. I thought about using Edgar, but I figured that he's so damn small that everyone would pick against him. Maybe I should have.

Absolutely he would have problems with a few of the just massive opponents. I'd probably pick Telia Tuli, Emanuel Yarborough, and Dan Severn to beat Penn just by sheer mass. Assuming he didn't just tire Yarborough out with footwork for 4 minutes first.

[SPX]

I think sometimes we don't give the early UFCers enough credit.

Everyone knows that Severn, Frye, and (kind of) Shammy were good. But I also think that guys like Hackney, Kimo, Jennum and Leninger had some legitimate fighting skill. They may not be able to compete amongst the best in the world, but they were solid ass beaters.

As for sheer mass . . yeah . . . Yarbrough . . . Varelans . . .

What about Ruas?

[Ludo]

I think sometimes we don't give the early UFCers enough credit.

Everyone knows that Severn, Frye, and (kind of) Shammy were good. But I also think that guys like Hackney, Kimo, Jennum and Leninger had some legitimate fighting skill. They may not be able to compete amongst the best in the world, but they were solid ass beaters.

As for sheer mass . . yeah . . . Yarbrough . . . Varelans . . .

What about Ruas?

Ruas probably gives BJ fits with kicks and an ability to fend off takedowns/grappling while he's doing it.

[SPX]

No comments from Svino about Remco?

[Svino]

Compared to Royce, I would think BJ is of similar size, has comparable submissions, and has far better boxing and takedown defense. I think he would kick butt amongst the "1st generation" UFC fighters.

He'd have significant problems with the "2nd generation" though, I think. (Kerr, Belfort, Couture, Coleman...)

[SPX]

That doesn't really address the allegations that Royce intentionally was not matched up with the most massive competitors.

[Ludo]

That doesn't really address the allegations that Royce intentionally was not matched up with the most massive competitors.

Kimo and Severn were among the largest actual fighters at the time. Yarborough was a freakshow and got positively hammered by a guy not much larger than Royce anyway. Valerans didn't enter until after Gracie left, Tank and Matua and Oleg and company were mostly post-Gracie.

[SPX]

I'm just generally stating . . . that's the word on the street . . .

[SPX]

Seems like as good of time as any to post this: