10 Legends From The UFC’s Past Who Could Still Compete Today

Highlights

• MMA has evolved significantly since its early days, with fighters now in better shape and more skilled than before.
• Many former champions from the 90s and 2000s could still compete at a high level in the modern era of MMA.
• Legends like Ken Shamrock, Jens Pulver, and Bas Rutten paved the way for the success of the sport and would still be formidable competitors today.

MMA as a whole is still a very young sport. While mixed-rules bouts somewhat like it have been going on for centuries, it wasn’t until the UFC came around in the 1990s that the sport took it off. Companies such as PRIDE followed and helped elevate the sport to a high level of popularity that it still enjoys today.

Over the decades, the sport has evolved. Not only from the presentation aspect, but the fighters themselves are leaps and bounds more improved, and in better shape. However, there are still many former champions and fighters from the 90s and 2000s that could compete today.

10 Former UFC Superfight Champion Ken Shamrock

‘The World’s Most Dangerous Man’ Didn’t Get That Name By Accident

Ken Shamrock is one of the earliest stars to come out of the UFC. A former Pancrase fighter, he was the perfect candidate to fight at UFC 1. While Shamrock lost to Royce Gracie early in the tournament, he didn’t stop there.

Shamrock went on to win gold in both Pancrase and the UFC. While he got older and declined fast, in his prime, he was the real deal. His punching power and grappling skills would make him a challenge for many at 205 today.

9 Former UFC Lightweight Champion Jens Pulver

‘Lil Evil’ Was The First UFC 155-Pound Champion

Lightweight has been the UFC’s premier weight class for years now, but it wouldn’t have found success without Jens Pulver. ‘Lil Evil’ won the vacant lightweight title, and scored multiple title defenses over names such as B.J Penn.

Pulver left the UFC in 2002 due to a contract dispute and never found championship success again. Still, his well-rounded skillset would serve him well in the modern era.

8 Former UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion Frank Shamrock

Shamrock Is A Forgotten Legend

For whatever reason, Ken Shamrock is the more discussed of the two brothers, but Frank Shamrock is the better fighter. The younger brother dominated the early years of the UFC light-heavyweight division, scoring four title defenses.

Shamrock left the company in 2000 on bad terms and is largely ignored in history by them for that reason. However, he’s an all-time great and even won Strikeforce gold in the twilight of his career.

7 Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Kevin Randleman

‘The Monster’ Was One Of A Kind

The late great Kevin Randleman is still one of the most terrifying individuals to step into the cage. ‘The Monster’ was beatable, as evidenced by his career record. However, Randleman’s strength and wrestling were incredibly hard to deal with.

He also worked on his striking as well, which led to highlight reel KO’s of the likes of Mirko Cro Cop. Randleman is a legend, and he would be able to compete in the modern era without a doubt.

6 Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Bas Rutten

‘El Guapo’ Was An Incredible Striker For His Time

From one heavyweight champion to another, Bas Rutten was years ahead of his time. ‘El Guapo’ had a solid ground game, and actually finished with more submissions than knockouts. However, Rutten was a striker at heart.

He wasn’t the heaviest puncher, but he had a wide array of techniques and strikes that exceeded pretty much everyone else in his era. With his skillset, there’s no doubt Rutten would be a great fighter today.

5 Former UFC Lightweight And Welterweight Champion B.J. Penn

‘The Prodigy’ Was Exactly That

B.J. Penn is proof that a fighter’s record can’t just be judged on wins and losses. The Hawaiian ended his career with a nearly negative record but is one of the greatest fighters of all time. Penn became a two-weight world champion in the UFC, and he didn’t exactly train much.

Penn got his nickname by becoming a jiu-jitsu black belt in just three years, which is unheard of. That quick learning ability and absurd talent would serve him well today.

4 Former UFC Middleweight Champion Evan Tanner

Tanner Doesn’t Get Nearly Enough Respect Today

Evan Tanner is a fighter who doesn’t get enough discussion today. The late former champion debuted in 1997 and quickly made an impact. He challenged for UFC gold in 2001 at 205 pounds but lost to Tito Ortiz. Tanner moved down in weight, and quickly found success at middleweight.

Tanner won the middleweight title with a knockout win over David Terrell in 2005, the highlight of his career. While he quickly lost the gold, this former champion had the skills and well-rounded abilities to compete today.

3 Former UFC Welterweight Champion Pat Miletich

‘The Croatian Sensation’ Was Ahead Of The Curve

Pat Miletich had an impact not only as a fighter but as a coach. ‘The Croatian Sensation’ was never the biggest, nor the most athletic. However, he was a hard worker and had a fantastic mind for the sport of MMA.

Miletich founded the Miletich Fighting Systems, guiding the likes of Matt Hughes, Robbie Lawler, Tim Sylvia, and more, to UFC titles. The welterweight himself won gold in 1998, and wouldn’t lose the title for three years.

2 Former Two-Time UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes

Hughes Was A Dominant Champion For Years

For whatever reason, Matt Hughes isn’t discussed today when it comes to welterweight greats. The debate largely centers around Georges St-Pierre and Kamaru Usman, and that’s a shame. During his prime, Hughes was a force.

His striking wasn’t excellent, but he had a gas tank that wouldn’t quit and was an incredible wrestler. That skill led him to earn wins over the likes of the aforementioned St-Pierre, as well as B.J. Penn, Royce Gracie, Frank Trigg, Sean Sherk, and more.

1 Former UFC Light-Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture

‘The Natural’ Is An All-Time Great

Randy Couture didn’t earn his nickname by accident. ‘The Natural’ from day one of being an MMA fighter, was exactly that. Couture won the UFC 13 heavyweight tournament on his first night competing, and he never looked back.

Couture won heavyweight gold for the first time in late 1997, and that was just the start of his championship glory. While he lost many title fights, he also won five championships across two different weight classes. Couture absolutely could compete today, and that’s not a doubt.