The sport of MMA has generally only been in the mainstream for the last 30 years thanks to the rise of the UFC. With the evolution of the sport, the harsh reality is that the average fighter today beats the average fighter of yesteryear.
However, that is not the case for all fighters of previous eras. While there are indeed some legendary champions that could translate over into the modern era and do perfectly fine, but that is not the case for all legendary champions. Some legends of the game that dominated in their era, would sadly get dominated today.
10 Champion Who Would Fail: Maurice Smith
UFC Hall of Famer Maurice Smith was one of the best strikers in a time where wrestlers dominated the UFC. Smith's kicking game and ability to keep the fight on his feet gave way to him becoming UFC heavyweight champion after defeating Mark Coleman in 1997.
Smith, while a legend for his time due to his striking prowess, would likely not do well today. Mainly due to his small frame for a heavyweight, lack of a jiu-jitsu game, and his inconsistent takedown defense. Those ground issues causing him many issues throughout his run also led him to finish his career at 14-14.
9 Champion Who Would Succeed: Bas Rutten
Former UFC heavyweight champion Bas Rutten was about as dominant of a striker as it gets. However, he also had incredibly underrated jiu-jitsu and takedown defense which led way to his 22-fight unbeaten streak to end his career. Had it not been for injuries, Rutten would likely be involved in the GOAT conversation, as he was just hitting his prime before he was forced to retire.
Rutten would do well today due to his incredible striking that was ahead of his time. His body-work is still extremely underrated to this day, and while he wasn't an incredible wrestler, his jiu-jitsu and active guard would help make up the gap.
8 Champion Who Would Fail: Mark Coleman
Former UFC heavyweight Mark Coleman's wrestling skills led him to be a dominant force in the late 90s. Coleman's ground and pound were great and the evolution of his ground game over his career led him to be competitive all the way into his mid-40s.
However, while Coleman was tremendous for his era, the same issues that plagued him then would give him issues now as well. His depleting gas tank gave him many issues, and he never seemed to get very competent striking when on his feet. He had power but lacked many fundamentals which would lead to many issues if he couldn't get the fight to the mat.
7 Champion Who Would Succeed: Kevin Randleman
Like his teammate Mark Coleman, Kevin Randleman was a force in the late 90s and early 2000s. Randleman was a dominant force with his wrestling, seemed to have surprisingly good cardio for a man his size, and had tremendous knockout power. That knockout power led him to incredible knockout wins over the likes of Mirko Cro Cop, which was one of the biggest upset wins of all time.
The main reason that Randleman would do well and his teammate Coleman wouldn't mainly come down to his athleticism. Randleman had a right hand from hell, and while he didn't have fundamentals, he had incredible power and wrestling. A man with his power and takedowns has a chance in any era.
6 Champion Who Would Fail: Tito Ortiz
Tito Ortiz was one of the UFC's first mainstream stars. The Huntington Beach Bad Boy had an incredible wrestling game, was extremely durable, and never seemed to tire despite his relentless pace.
While Ortiz was an incredible fighter in his prime, he wouldn't do well today. Ortiz was a champion in an era that lacked great wrestlers, he also lacked much of a standup game. If Ortiz couldn't get his takedowns, he'd be in a world of hurt as showcased at the end of his UFC run.
5 Champion Who Would Succeed: Frank Shamrock
Frank Shamrock was one of the first real true mixed-martial-artists in the UFC. While most fighters at this point in time were specialists who generally only had experience in one field, Shamrock was versed in all the areas of MMA. He was great in all the areas that the fight went as well.
Shamrock was extremely dominant in his prime and is likely the best fighter to not be in the UFC's Hall of Fame. Had Shamrock been fighting nowadays, it's hard not to imagine him being one of the best on the planet.
4 Champion Who Would Fail: Tim Sylvia
Tim Sylvia spent the majority of the mid-2000s going back and forth with Andrei Arlovski at a time in which the UFC's heavyweight division was at its worst. However, unlike Arlovski, Sylvia didn't evolve his game and it led to many issues as his career went on.
Sylvia's best attribute during his prime was that he was able to use his long frame and reach, however most fighters nowadays would be able to navigate that. Sylvia also lacked much of a ground game to get by, and it showed in his fights with Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
3 Champion Who Would Succeed: B.J. Penn
B.J. Penn similar to Frank Shamrock was a man before his time. Penn was lightyears ahead of fighters at his weight class, which ultimately lead him to fight behemoths as he searched all across weight classes to find competition.
Penn was nicknamed "The Prodigy" thanks to how quickly he picked up fighting, and especially jiu-jitsu. It's hard to think that the former two-weight champion wouldn't pick up fighting in the modern era the same way.
2 Champion Who Would Fail: Royce Gracie
It's an unpleasant truth, but Royce Gracie wouldn't do well in the modern era. One of the greatest fighters of all time, but he's viewed that way due to his competition at the time. His heart and jiu-jitsu were unmatched, but he fought in an era where fighters didn't have much experience on the ground.
When he returned to the UFC in 2006 to fight the next generation in Matt Hughes, he got destroyed. Sadly, he wouldn't do well in modern times, especially due to his lack of a standup game.
1 Champion Who Would Succeed: Randy Couture
Two-weight world champion Randy Couture was about as good as it gets when it came to all facets of MMA in the early 2000s. Couture had incredible heart, wrestling, competent standup, and potency to always pull off the upset.
Randy Couture's abilities would lend him well in the modern age. He's one of the greatest fighters of all time and it's hard to see him not doing well now.