The UFC has a short but very diverse history. Throughout the early days (specifically before the company was purchased by Zuffa) there were several bizarre or shady characters for every one legitimate fighter.
However, even the legitimate fighters are looked down upon today because the sport has evolved so much since then. But what would happen if these legitimate fighters, as well as some of the more questionable ones, were brought into today’s world and given modern training?
While no one can really know the answer to that question, it’s certainly fun to think about. Here are 16 fighters of the pre-Zuffa era who would generate a significant amount of intrigue (whether by force of their personality, skill, or otherwise) if they could return to modern MMA in their primes.
The fighters aren’t ranked per se, but they are put in the general order of least anticipated hypothetical return to modern MMA to most anticipated.