The 16 Pre-Zuffa UFC Fighters We Wish Could Return to Modern MMA in Their Primes

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.

Honorable Mention: Jeff Blatnick

While Jeff Blatnick was a commentator in the pre-Zuffa era and not a fighter, it would be incredible to see what Blatnick's Olympic gold medalist wrestling skills—and that gold medal was won only two years after he had his spleen and appendix removed due to cancer—could do when supplemented with the well-roundedness of today's fighters.

Harold Howard

Harold Howard was one of the more unique characters in the early days of the UFC. In his UFC debut he claimed to have devised a system that brought "the karate aspect back into jiu-jitsu" and once discussed how the rush of the Octagon influenced one's sphincter.

He even put Quinton "Rampage" Jackson's rampage to shame, having driven his pick-up truck through a building.

Steve Jennum

Steve Jennum is one of the most infamous names in MMA history. He managed to win the UFC 3 as an alternate. As such, he ended up fighting only once in the entire night.

After his unlikely victory, the alternates were chosen by a qualifier fight that took place the same day as the event so the alternates didn't have it as easy.

Jennum only had two wins in the Octagon in his career but what if the Nebraskan police officer was given the benefits of modern MMA training? Would he do well?

Paul Varelans

Paul "The Polar Bear" Varelans was one of the biggest men in the pre-Zuffa days at 6'8" and 300 pounds. While he didn't have a great career, he was one of the few less well-rounded competitors from the early days to continue fighting outside of the UFC and not have a losing record; he went 9-9 in his MMA career.

It would be very interesting to see a man of his size and strength be given modern training and coaching in MMA.

Keith Hackney

While Keith Hackney only went 2-2 in his MMA career, he was one of the few strikers to perform admirably against Royce Gracie.

He seemed to be a decent competitor but was already 34 years old by the time he started fighting in the UFC. If he was given modern training, maybe he would have been famous for more than punching Joe Son's genitalia.

Anthony Macias

Anthony Macias was another fighter who had a career after a failed UFC stint (he was famously the recipient of many suplexes courtesy of Dan Severn and threw a fight to Oleg Taktarov), going 26-15 and actually having more victories via submission—which is ironic since he started his career as a Muay Thai fighter.

Macias fought a long career that, at the beginning, seemed as though it would be successful (he was 14-4 in the first three years of his career) but always managed to come up short. Maybe if he had the benefit of modern training he would have been a better performer? The world will never know.

Jason DeLucia

Jason DeLucia was one of the few strikers who got schooled on the ground and then decided to actually learn the ground game.

He had a leg up on some of his competitors in the early days since he had actually fought Royce Gracie in a gym fight before the first UFC, got completely tooled, and then started learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His white belt in a grappling art was like bringing brass knuckles into the cage.

DeLucia went on to have a mildly successful MMA career, going 33-21-1 and beating the likes of current UFC fighter Chris Lytle, Japanese cult icon Ikuhisa Minowa (a.k.a. "Minowaman") and Japanese legend Masakatsu Funaki.

Unfortunately for DeLucia, he is probably most famous for getting his liver ruptured by Bas Rutten in the Japanese Pancrase organization.

Had DeLucia been training in all aspects of MMA from day one, who knows how successful he could have been!

Kimo Leopoldo

Kimo Leopoldo made himself one of the most famous men in the world of mixed martial arts by two things: walking to the Octagon while carrying a cross, knocking Royce Gracie out of the UFC 3 tournament—Kimo lost, but took so much out of Gracie that the Brazilian couldn't continue.

Kimo had unreal strength and performed quite well against Gracie for someone who hadn't been training in martial arts as extensively as Gracie himself or as some of the other superior competitors in MMA at the time.

He went 10-7-1 in MMA but, with his ungodly strength (although in part due to steroids), Kimo may have been a force had he been inducted to the methods of modern MMA earlier in his life.

Patrick Smith

Kickboxer Patrick Smith claimed to be impervious to pain in his UFC 1 pre-fight video. This claim was obviously false as he was submitted by Ken Shamrock in his first fight.

However, like some other fighters on the list, this one dimensional striker learned the other aspects of the fight game and made himself into a well-rounded competitor. Even though he only went 20-15, it would have been interesting to see a person of Smith's skill and abrasive personality in modern MMA.

Tank Abbott

David "Tank" Abbott is one of the icons of the pre-Zuffa UFC. He had brawling style and a cruel personality (he mocked a fighter who he knocked out cold and he grated one fighter's face against the cage; a feat which Tank claimed he got sexually aroused by).

Despite his 10-14 record, Tank had very powerful hands, was exceptionally strong, and was more well-rounded than most other competitors—at least in the early days.

Would Tank have been successful if he could have been trained today? Who really knows, besides cynical MMA fans who think Shane Carwin is a modern day incarnation of Tank Abbott.

Marco Ruas

Marco Ruas—nicknamed "The King of the Streets"—was one of the first competitors in the early days who could strike and grapple with the best.

He won the UFC 7 tournament by using leg kicks to chop down the mammoth Paul Varelans.

Unfortunately, Ruas only fought 15 times compiling a record of 9-4-2. It would be very interesting to see "The King of the Streets" if he had been exposed to the world of modern MMA.

Keep in mind that this is the part of the list where each fighter is very close to the other regarding skill and accomplishments, so please don't be offended if you're favorite fighter isn't put above the rest.

Dan Severn

Dan "The Beast" Severn was the first fighter to demonstrate the dominance of wrestling in MMA.

He won two tournaments (UFC 5 and Ultimate Ultimate 1995) and the UFC Superfight championship against Ken Shamrock in the infamous "Detroit Dance" at UFC 9.

Even though he still fights today (his record stands at 99-18-7) it would have been very interesting to see what Severn would be capable of had he embarked on his MMA career with 2011 know-how.

Don Frye

Don Frye was another dominant wrestler in the early UFC and one of the most interesting personalities to grace mixed martial arts.

He was a two tournament winner (UFC 8 and Ultimate Ultimate 96) and he made it to the finals at UFC 10.

Imagine the trash-talking Don Frye would produce in today's MMA scene? We can only dream.

Royce Gracie

The Gracies—and their representative in the first few UFC events, Royce Gracie–were more responsible for creating the UFC we have today than any other fighter.

Royce Gracie therefore needs no introduction. While many may be shocked to not see him at the top of the list, it is likely that not too much would change if he were trained today; the Gracies are still pretty one dimensional as far as MMA goes.

Tie Between Ken and Frank Shamrock

Both Shamrocks were very successful in the pre-Zuffa era; it's difficult to put one higher than the other.

Frank Shamrock became the first ever UFC light heavyweight champion at UFC Japan, defended his belt four times and then dropped the belt due to lack of competition.

Ken Shamrock UFC Superfight championship against Dan Severn at UFC 6.

If the two adopted brothers could have been brought up in today's MMA scene, who knows if anyone could have stopped them?

Bas Rutten

Bas Rutten was one of the best strikers to grace MMA, as well as one of the most charismatic personalities.

He was one of the first fighters to become well-rounded, starting his career as a striker but going on to have more victories by submission in his 28-4 record.

If Rutten could be brought back to his prime and given the well-rounded training the fighters of today receive, the MMA world would very likely be in constant fear of "El Guapo."