UFC fans...how would Tyson do?

[Phaded]

People have this distorted perception that Tyson has some kind of "magical" punch that all it takes is one, no matter the circumstances, is going to KO his opponent.

Look at his rounds per fight from 1987 to his loss to Holyfield in '96:

Mar.7 -- James Smith, W 12

May 30 -- Pinklon Thomas, TKO 6

Aug. 1 -- Tony Tucker, W 12

Oct. 16 -- Tyrell Biggs, TKO 7

1988
Jan. 22 -- Larry Holmes,TKO 4

Mar. 21 -- Tony Tubbs, TKO 2

June 27 -- Michael Spinks, KO 1

1989
Feb. 25 -- Frank Bruno, TKO 5

July 21 -- Carl Williams, TKO 1

1990
Feb. 11 -- James Douglas, Tokyo, Japan, KO by 10
(Lost World Heavyweight Title)

June 16 -- Henry Tillman, KO 1

Dec. 8 -- Alex Stewart, KO 1


1991
Mar. 18 -- Donovan Ruddock, TKO 7

June 28 -- Donovan Ruddock, W 12


1995
Aug. 19 -- Peter McNeeley, W DSQ 1

Dec. 16 -- Buster Mathis, Jr, KO 3


1996
Mar. 16 -- Frank Bruno, TKO 3

Sept. 7 -- Bruce Seldon, TKO 1

Nov. 9 -- Evander Holyfield, TKO by 11
(Lost WBA Heavyweight Title)


As you can see, out of his 17 wins of 19 fights, there were six that ended in a 1st round KO. And I'm guessing those KOs didn't come from a single punch, but from a barrage of many punches.

Seven more wins on this list for Tyson came from KO or TKO, but they happened after the first round. So for some fighters to go down, it took SEVERAL rounds of repeatedly absorbing Tyson's punches before they went down. Again, an example that Tyson didn't have a "magic" punch, but had to wear down some opponents with his punches before they went down. The point being: for many fighters, getting hit by Tyson didn't instantly KO them, it took many punches over several rounds.

Then, another three wins for Tyson actually went the distance. Point being: a few fighters took a full 12 rounds of Tyson's punches without getting KO'd.

In a sense, it may be true that it will only take one punch for Tyson to end a fight. But the same can be said for MANY fighters. But the same is true about all these fighters, including Tyson:

The punch has to be timed perfect, it has to connect in the right target area, and it has to be a correct type of punch (Tyson isn't going to KO Cro Cop with a jab!!!).

And the only way to set this up is to do it right, including wearing the opponent out, throwing his fight game off, and outskilling him.

We've seen some devastating wins by fighters just by throwing punches. Tank did it. Liddel does it. Vitor Belfort gave an unforgettable performance against Vanderlei Silva.

Also, with todays fighters leaning more toward stand-up, Tyson may do better today that he would have during the "grappling" period of the UFC, because more fighters may just be more willing to try to stand and strike with him. What would Tim Sylvia's gameplan be against Iron Mike? Or Andrei Arlovski?

As far as what Tyson would do in the Octagon, I'm sure he wouldn't be so ignorant to think he can just walk in and box his way to a victory. Liddel uses takedown defense to keep it standing, crappy ol' Sylvia does the same. Tyson would have to attempt to do the same, probably without nearly the success though.

Point is, if Tyson fought in the UFC I wouldn't be surprised to see him tear apart a few people the same way Tank did in some of his fights.

But the bottom line is, it would take Tyson alot more effort to do it than to just land one single punch!!! A good skilled MMA heavyweight isn't going to go down from a Tyson jab, a Tyson glancing blow, or a Tyson body shot. Alot of fighters took alot of Tyson's power shots before going down, and some never went down. I don't see why it wouldn't be different for MMA fighters, MMA gloves or not.

nice post but if tyson wasn't wearing boxing gloves he'd be alot more destructive.. he'd prob. put a hole in someones body..

 

[sardonicone]

Mike can't even win boxing matches anymore... why do you think he'd be able to compete here?

 

[megamania500]

nice post but if tyson wasn't wearing boxing gloves he'd be alot more destructive.. he'd prob. put a hole in someones body..

...unless he hit the skull. Tyson broke his hand on Mitch Green's face (while giving Mitch a black eye and broken nose in the process) during their ungloved "brawl" back in the day.

Mitch Green's side of the story (you decide how biased it is):

http://www.brightcove.com/title.jsp?title=707305347&channel=246167424


This is the only ungloved punch Tyson landed on someone that I can find. Oh, and he did put a hole in Mitch's body - a 5 stitch cut on his nose (well, technically, thats a hole, right?)

 

[beefcake28]

Mike can't even win boxing matches anymore... why do you think he'd be able to compete here?

Hence the "Mike Tyson in his prime" comments...

 

[Phaded]

...unless he hit the skull. Tyson broke his hand on Mitch Green's face (while giving Mitch a black eye and broken nose in the process) during their ungloved "brawl" back in the day.

Mitch Green's side of the story (you decide how biased it is):

http://www.brightcove.com/title.jsp?title=707305347&channel=246167424


This is the only ungloved punch Tyson landed on someone that I can find. Oh, and he did put a hole in Mitch's body - a 5 stitch cut on his nose (well, technically, thats a hole, right?)

guaranteed he didn't catch em right.. who the fuck is mitch green anyways..

 

[sardonicone]

Hence the "Mike Tyson in his prime" comments...

The first post makes no mention of that, so your argument is invalid.

 

[beefcake28]

The first post makes no mention of that, so your argument is invalid.

Just about every following post referring to Tyson does mention it... so I think it is fairly safe to assume that most people were referring to that stage of his life, and not the present one, in their arguements... therefore clarifying the premises of the arguement for Tyson, and in the meantime, giving it relevance.

Nice try.

 

[megamania500]

I was referring to tyson in his prime when posting

 

[sardonicone]

Just about every following post referring to Tyson does mention it... so I think it is fairly safe to assume that most people were referring to that stage of his life, and not the present one, in their arguements... therefore clarifying the premises of the arguement for Tyson, and in the meantime, giving it relevance.

Nice try.

Who cares? The topic was now, not in his prime. Did the thread starter ever use any other verbage other than present tense?

Just because the following posters decided to change up the perameters of the question doesn't mean the first question still doesn't apply. I responded based on the question asked, not on some hypothetical construct.

 

[H_T_]

compare apples to apples. is Mike still the baddest on the planet? no. but i still think he'd knock out kimbo, bob sapp, etc. fuck, i'd love to see any mma guy put on some gloves and fight Butterbean. he'd womp the shit out of them.