Can Mike Tyson Footwork and Head Movement Translate to MMA? Could He Deal With Kicks or Grappling?

[@hard2hurt]

Question for Viewers: Who should we do next?

[@Jake.44Mag]

The Eddie Hall and Halfthor fight.

[@williamdavis5711]

Bruce Lee or maybe the legitimacy of stuff like baki

[@lastrosenfeld]

WHY you hate TJ dilshaw. What you could do if you had to fight him in mma. Also why you hate sensei ando

[@louisandrews894]

Muhammad Ali

[@SleeplessBrazilLimbo]

canelo in mma or hammer grappling xdd

[@boppe2235]

"oh, tho you a wrethler now?" - Mike Tyson

[@jordanfrancisco27]

Gold.

[@rash9590]

Underrated comment

[@calasthetic]

lmao good impression i can hear mike tyson saying that as i read it lol...

[@TheClinchMagazine]

I can hear this comment.

[@AA-rv2xw]

"Oh, tho you wanna throw thpinnin' thit now?"

[@Vinnyygo]

"This is something you can introduce even if you're not Mike Tyson" the inclusiveness is appreciated

[@richaquilastokes]

Yeah, thanks Icy Mike. I've not been Mike Tyson for a long time and I've been waiting for this vid

[@nathanly8761]

Icy Mike talking how to be Mike and how to beat Mike, even if you're not Mike

[@angelarch5352]

When I'm not Mike, this information will come in handy!

[@UnexpectedWonder]

😁😁😁😂😂

[@midshipman8654]

As some one who has recently come out as NOT Mike Tyson, I really appreciate how how Icy Mike still accepts me.

[@wingoreviewsboxingandmma3667]

He is built more for wrestling than he is for boxing. Knowing what he did in boxing makes that damn near terrifying lbs

[@complexblackness]

I always thought that if he was introduced to wrestling at a young age. He would have been a legend, an olympic gold medalist.

[@astorias5386]

Yeah man he has a wrestling body crazy that he is a boxer

[@daniel-zh9nj6yn6y]

Gene Fullmer looked like a wrestler too.

[@dr.christian8461]

and he won gold medal in boxing

[@liamscott1905]

His legs were a little shorter for a man his height, so I think he’ll be great at hip tosses and suplexes

[@mccoyrj452]

Tyson’s speed is also a scary thought. He was so damn fast even some boxing techniques like his gazelle punch would just end things before people realized he got inside. But yeah I pretty much agree with all of this. Man was a monster.

[@blakedove2263]

Prime Tyson basically has the punching power of Francis Ngannou (if not more), with WAY more speed and better reflexes. Terrifying physical specimen.

[@CARigged]

Tyson would have developed the same speed and power with his kicks as with his punches. He would use his strength to dominate on the ground. He would have wrecked his opponents.

[@UnexpectedWonder]

Exactly!!! Preach! Look @ Francis Ngannou.

[@UnexpectedWonder]

@@blakedove2263 Exactly!!!

[@UnexpectedWonder]

@@CARigged No question!

[@arbogast4950]

Mike Tyson would be successful at just about any combat sport. Dudes a warrior. They use that shift in Sanda btw. Usually to initiate a leg sweep.

[@MrAlepedroza]

He would have been a great wrestler too. He had the perfect build for it, he could have looked like Kevin Randleman.

[@UnexpectedWonder]

Exactly!!! 👌👌👊👊👏👏👏 You totally understand.

[@ellisabraham9095]

Mike Tyson’s style with a really good clinch game and some grappling😳, that’d be scary

[@drabnail777]

so basically mike tyson if he learnt mma

[@hard2hurt]

lol so basically this video hahaha

[@christianc.christian5025]

I think at the end of the day, regardless of scenario, Mike Tyson is still probably going to beat some people the fuck up. Even if he lost more or less often than he did in boxing.

[@tamassomorai9049]

@@hard2hurt and plus he would have more knock out power cuz the glows are not that padded

[@eintracht691]

2:03 "Yeth, I'm ready" 🤣

[@TheClinchMagazine]

I can hear this comment

[@vengefulspectrevr9799]

Tyson walks into RKM like "I saw the video you made. Apparently, you've got an impression of me. Do it. I want to see it. Just do the impression like you did for the video"

[@b-ray3387]

Bwahahaha!.... Nate passed out in the back just killed me! Get that man a pillow.

[@andrewanastasovski1609]

Nate's asleep.

[@craigmiller7686]

I came for the comment on napping Nate!

[@lieutenantdan2217]

Same lol

[@willk8981]

On the toilet at work. I got time for a hard2hurt video. 😂

[@hard2hurt]

Don't let your legs fall asleep.

[@drabnail777]

@@hard2hurt he'll just grapple his own legs to wake up them up again

[@thebodykeepsthescore2828]

Hopefully is wasn't hard2shit😉

[@henryskipper5507]

At school rn

[@khuraym2511]

@@thebodykeepsthescore2828 😂😂😂

[@miket4014]

I'd say prime George Foreman would have been a monster in MMA, the long guard, positional game, his clinch work and his long power. Partially inspired by the story of him just throwing a dude out the ring in his first sparring session.

[@christianc.christian5025]

If George Foreman can adapt to beating professionals half his age when he was 46, I'd say that it'd be dumb to bet against him just because the rules change in a different sport. Would he win 70 fights? Probably not, but he'd probably win some.

[@Scientists_dont_lie]

Foreman was also deceptively intelligent in the ring. He wasn't as skilled as Tyson, but he knew how to use all the tools he had and when to use them..

[@miket4014]

@@Scientists_dont_lie He wasn't as quick, his skill level was subtle and as you said deceptive. I feel like if he'd done high school wrestling as a base with his boxing skill he'd have been a problem at heavyweight in any MMA era.

[@henriquehansen314]

Prime Foreman ground and pounding would be some scary shit

[@marcoarana2773]

@@henriquehansen314 I would want none of that shit

[@dropkickcorpse]

I remember there was and interview with Mike Tyson about doing MMA and he jokingly said that he's particular about his feet being stomped and when he saw MMA fighters break their feet and toes, it was too hardcore and he'd be out.

[@nicholaskarras2759]

I thought it was he didn't like the idea of legs kicks?

[@______7820]

Icy Mike analyzing Iron Mike I can die happy now

[@traviscook5144]

I’m so glad you said it!! “Leg Muscles!”

[@goblin_mons2087]

I think mike would look alot like Chuck Liddell in his prime INSANE ko power and great defense wrestling to keep the fight in his favor standing up. Good aggressive style and pressure for everyone who stepped in the cage with him.

[@goblin_mons2087]

@Emerson Amaya possibly, I think that if he had a honest coach he would have him work on his weakness and I think a good sprawl and good clinch work. Who knows it would've been a great site to see

[@filipferencak2717]

Chuck was a D1 wrestler though.

[@IncredibleMD]

@@filipferencak2717 Tyson doesn't have to become as good a wrestler as Chuck. He just has to become as good at defence as Chuck, which is a far easier task, relatively speaking. Even if he didn't become as good as Chuck in all aspects of defence, like his legendary ability to just stand back up, even just possessing a similar level of takedown defence would carry Mike really far.

[@filipferencak2717]

@Kong Yasuke I mean, he is a heavyweight. Chuck wasn't.

[@7reasons617]

@@filipferencak2717 Chuck was 6’1, 6’’2 225 Mike was 5’10 215-220. Mike was just explosive as hell.

[@obie4366]

Peekaboo is a very difficult style to deploy in the heat of battle. You need to practice exclusively for an insane amount of time, apart from having the right size. That's why most trainers don't bother trying to replicate it because you've got to be very good at it to even be able to use it.

[@DedicatedSpartan]

Frankie Edgar uses a modified peek a boo in mma

[@sharkymoon422]

How effective is biting, especially ears in a fight?! Can we do that one next! (If some one bites you squeeze their nose 👃)

[@hard2hurt]

I already did it.

[@sharkymoon422]

@@hard2hurt 👍

[@tmmaeda]

Mike: "He's a problem for anybody" *KaMaRu UsMaN hAs EnTeReD tHe ChAt*

[@kyokuslaps2411]

Snoozeman is wack, but he's a smart ass fighter for sure

[@GrugginNClubbin]

Mike is a very good fighter, but people believe he’s a lot better then he is.

[@Soulful_Oatmilk]

I see Mike finally killed the BJJ instructor after being choked out for the last time. Didn't even try to hide the body!

[@IHateHandleNames]

I'm seeing Tyson as a Yoel Romero without the trips. I could see him bobbing and weaving some body punches into a flying knee.

[@brottarnacke]

I think his boxing style would work great for mma. He was so explosive and used a lot of movement and angles.

[@sweetneko1257]

You think? He's peek-a-boo stance would make him more susceptible to take-downs from wrestlers and roundhouse kicks would also probably rattle him. His athleticism and explosiveness on the other hand would have guaranteed him a spot at the top if he trained MMA.

[@lucascastro2802]

@@sweetneko1257 His athleticism and explosivness is there anyways, his peek-a-boo is a boxing strategy. He know how to use angles and all that, he'd train for MMA and adapt his style

[@sweetneko1257]

@@lucascastro2802 Yes. Steroids was an amplifier of pre-existing talent

[@senormonke4579]

​@@sweetneko1257Kicks are a problem, but peekaboo would be fine for takedown defense, considering how wide it is.

[@srchoy]

Mike Tyson would probably be awesome at any combat sport he picked.

[@jerichopagtama6771]

He would the guy is just gifted

[@listrahtes]

I think K1 kickboxing would have been very difficult with his small reach. Guys like Aerts, Hoost, Bonjasky with their long and fast leg attacks. I dont think Mike could have succeded there the same way as in boxing.

[@jerichopagtama6771]

@@listrahtes I can see that but imagine him in MMA doing khabib's strategy of grinding them to the cage and wrestling them, dude it would be perfect.

[@jeffzuess9149]

@@listrahtes I am not so sure. Tyson fought many boxers who had a longer reach. He had speed in abundance and just watching his fights it was uncanny has fast he closed the distance to get inside.

[@listrahtes]

@@jeffzuess9149 but look how he got inside. by often going below waist line or Peek a boo . That was perfect for his boxing but with kicks you get your head chopped of. Thats why a boxer has a much higher stance in kickboxing fight.

[@jasonm9264]

Dude died in your gym and you finished the video. That’s dedication we should all appreciate

[@santiagothefootball]

I've been wondering about this for a long time

[@cubandarknez]

I think this is coincidentally a very approachable baseline style for beginners. Working on your calfs and legs will pay dividends no matter what style you end up at in the future, defense oriented guard is the easiest to drill early on, leg kicks don't require height flexibility or as much mind-muscle connection (can develop from learning how a good kick is supposed to feel to expand target options in the future), shifting around when in close range is a great go-to plan to give to beginners who freeze or lose their game plan when they get in the pocket. You won't need powerful shots while learning since you should be sparring light anyway, and by the time you decide this isn't the style for you, you will have a foundation to build from.

[@tensae4725]

I think Mike almost head kicked Roy Jones Jr in their fight.

[@francamentegameplays9353]

I love how passionate you are in this video Mike. You really can tell you love martial arts and you are imagining things, so engaged. I'm 23 but you feel younger than me. More alive. I hope you keep it up for many years, your videos always make me shadowbox :)

[@theutz707]

"How would an MMA Mike Tyson fight against you?" "..no idea, I would be too busy running away and screaming in panic" ;-) :-D

[@WisdomCat2198]

Ramon Dekkers (r.i.p) would be the kickboxing equivalent to Mike Tyson.

[@serpentinefire921]

Turbine from hell was no fuckin joke

[@Balbs77]

Him or Coban

[@Mikesullin]

Straight up

[@MrAlepedroza]

Mike Zambidis would have been his kickboxing equivalent, he even used the peak-a-boo guard. Dekkers was a thai guy.

[@serpentinefire921]

@@MrAlepedroza zambidis had a fraction of the head movement dekkers did. Thai guy or not dekkers resembles tysons style better than any kickboxer

[@Herobox-ju4zd]

The way you bring it, it would be great for any inside boxer. Frazier, Duran, Marciano.

[@leonbozzini6551]

MMA Mike Tyson fights like John Lineker. That's all he needs

[@saturdaynight7649]

GREAT call

[@gw1357]

This is still one of my fav hard2hurt videos. What a great breakdown. It starts off as just a fun, goofy hanging-around-the-gym question, but it ends up a really smart and nuanced exploration of technique and tactics. I comeback and watch this again ever couple of weeks. So good.

[@zidaneuddin]

The “yeth I’m ready” got me😂😂😂

[@criticalhittcg5637]

His physical capability as an all around fighter is scary in and of itself, but his mental game is on another level. His fight IQ would be monsterous in MMA. He would have some trouble with well timed lead front push kicks/side kicks and lead leg low kicks, but he's able to adapt very well.

[@ryanliu494]

I've used the peekaboo style to set up kicks for the longest time bc i needed a way to add power to tkd kicks and i did boxing, but thats more peekaboo than boxing.

[@Scientists_dont_lie]

Yeah but the question was, what does Mike Tyson do in boxing that would translate into mma. So yeah what your saying totally counts

[@ArchyBeatz]

Shawn Porter would have been a solid MMA fighter also if he tried.

[@johnashiru3952]

Mike Tyson’s punches are already scary enough, imagine him coming at you with elbows and kicks 😬

[@SgtSplatter782]

I have a friend who trains in Peek-a-boo and the amount of power he can generate in 6-7 inch punch is scary

[@Jamoni1]

I mean, he's already kind of known for throwing elbows.

[@Ninjacob00]

This should honestly be a series with different combat athletes. I like the Manny Pacquiao stuff but would love to see other fighters like Ryan Garcia, Lonanchenko, Canelo, Fury, etc. as well as the “what ifs” of Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris

[@reynaldovazquezjr8227]

Nate in the background, and Mike looking back in silence😂😂😂cdfuu

[@TripleEightss]

mans was snoozin

[@almondlorden]

Purple shirt in the background went full Nate Robinson

[@TheBigGSN5]

Tyson wants original UFC with legal biting. Tyson’s short upper would be good against the takedown.

[@ogrbell8297]

Great video! Excellent insight. Being 15lbs lighter, a half inch taller, and having a half inch more reach than tyson I am built similar enough to have had great success incorporating some of the peek’a’boo system into my mma game. Another great fighter to look at, outside of mma, would be “iron mike” zambidis. A greek kickboxer. Who got his nickname for his stylistic similarities. He has a beautiful way of combining his high guard, thai block, and leg checks with tyson style head movement to defend a kick or punch while simultaneously getting his head offline, taking a new position, and setting up power shots with momentum fed by his defense, as he moves inside. It was a game changer for people like me who constantly have the reach disadvantage and who train at gyms with instructors that don’t know shit about fighting inside or how to get there.

[@zacharycovell6308]

He said in a wired interview he would lose every mma fight bc he has sensitive feet and people would stomp his feet and he would throw in the towel lmao

[@chrisprad8325]

For an answer to the leg kicks, look at Ramon Dekkers and Mike Zambidis. I think one of Zambidis’s moves would be to brace and answer with a lead hook or an overhand, you can correct me if Im wrong.

[@j4xart105]

Add the shuffling footwork to Melvin Manhoef and you’ll have MMA Mike Tyson.

[@washingtoncommandcenter5541]

I was about to say this, If Mike Tyson has to focus on more types of attack and defense I think it brings his overall mastery down a bit and he ends up like Melvin Manhoef

[@Stevo_YouTube]

I've never even thought about this before. He would've been a beast for sure.

[@Cysubtor_8vb]

This is actually an interesting view on it as, old school Tyson with his killer instinct would definitely embrace a lot of those MMA elements and hone them as much as possible within his style. A lot of people simply see him as a brute, but there has been vids of him in recent years breaking down his technique and there is a surprising amount of thought behind why he fought the way he did. Really, if the sports were swapped and young Tyson went into MMA instead of boxing, I get the vibe that he actually would've specialized in grappling and would've been known for vicious submissions instead of KOs, lol

[@theglobe793]

Also another thing to a add is his physic was actually perfect for wrestling, and if you loon at the way he moves and his speed it's a deadly combination for wrestling. I think if he did mma he woukd of actually been more of a very forward pressure wrestler who then explodes with strikes onces he gets inside. He could of been an absolute savage and a style we have never seen before. Can you imagine how fast his blast double would be.

[@chadwickreno8499]

Ramon Dekkers was kinda like the Mike Tyson of Muay Thai, pure ferocity

[@DedicatedSpartan]

Definitely

[@backwardscapguy1476]

I could also see Tyson being able to read when things were coming. If he could time your kick, he would probably crash in and try and wreck you while you were delivering your kick. Benny the Jet does something similar when he checks kicks and Tyson would come in way harder.

[@CriticallyGnart]

Love this vid. What made Mike scariest to me was his dedication and obsessed killer mindset. He was DRIVEN.

[@dallasdominguez2224]

10:00 Dude in the back is an excellent representation of what Mike's opponent would look like in the octagon

[@dionysus6027]

this is so informative, always had a feeling that mike would transition better than most boxers without changing his style much but to here articulated like this is so great - question is would fight at 205 or heavyweight ?

[@joshforeman1723]

Hw champ

[@aaronsmith6416]

LHW he's at his best at 215

[@TheRealAbraxas]

Heavyweight would be hard. He’d probably kill the smaller 230-ish heavyweights but the bigger 265 guys with good grappling would be a nightmare for him. Since he’s 5’10” 220 and super quick I’m sure he would be really slippery to try to takedown but once a big guy would get ahold of him it wouldn’t be good.

[@driver3899]

10:13 Every frame is a painting with this cameraman

[@ellisabraham9095]

2:04 🤣🤣🤣

[@sjcobra84]

Prime Mike Tyson. Perfect triangle mount. GROUND AND POUND. Let that sink in.

[@creigh68]

"Everyone has a plan till they get hit in the face" -- Mike

[@thesecretlibrary890]

*fathe

[@carlosandres1835]

Icy Mike

[@narvell92]

its true TJ modeled parts of his striking off mike tyson , he is a shorter fighter using outside angles and striking check out his aka tyson drill video on his channel

[@brandonmonroe9822]

& you're 100% correct with the Dillashaw comparison.

[@yagami1134]

The only thing I know for sure is that any take down to Tyson needs to be Very well timed, if not BUM! Uppercut!

[@bighoss8793]

Igor Vovchanchyn was the White Russian Mike Tyson during the early years of MMA. He smashed people into pieces.

[@hiltikarlstad]

Theres actually a fighter that has a striking foundation in peekabo. Frankie edgar. Thats the adaption.

[@IncredibleMD]

Bas Rutten loves mentioning Mike Tyson when he talks about his punching inspirations.

[@GhostRider-hy9zt]

Mike Tyson could join competitive cheer and become the best cheerleader. His dedication will make him good at anything

[@TENNSUMITSUMA]

Next person to do: alexander karelin (where was he in ufc 1?!) Trying to take tyson down is a blunder if he doesn't care about getting taken down! He'll k.o. you on the way in/down with arm punches! Anything involving him landing any kind of punch, even a jab = other person getting knocked the f out! This only applies to him though! The boxers version of rickson at his peak getting the back!

[@Adec1223]

This is awesome. You should do more. I’d love to see some of the more defensive boxers like Mayweather, Willy Pep and Pernell Whitaker.

[@Scientists_dont_lie]

And James Toney!!!

[@robertcain3556]

@hard2hurt y’all mentioned Bas as coach for Mike Tyson if prime Tyson would have done MMA. Bas mentioned before that he used a square stance like Tyson and even gave Tyson credit for his own MMA stance. Prime Tyson with takedown defense, basic submission defense at that time, learning to get back up from takedowns. He could have easily been a champion in the UFC in that era.

[@derrickboone8833]

1:14 So much shadeeeeee 😎😂. The shade SHIELDS me from the Sun.

[@bearsadventures666]

Good to see the close working relationship you guys have 🥺😬🥺…. My wife has nifty footwork too(ex dancer). Great video guys 👍👍👍

[@IvIidnight]

Here's an idea for a video for ya, if you actually ever see this: The only way Mike would've been an MMA fighter is if Cuts was an MMA coach, and Muhammed Ali was an MMA fighter.

[@OnyxXThePunch]

Willie pep as a MMA fighter would be a interesting conversation

[@quinndecim2745]

I love the random stuff that happens I know nothing about fighting I just love how natural the videos are dude just dozed off 😂

[@edwardrichard2561]

Funny thing is, Bas Rutton mimicked Mike Tyson when he was in Pancras. I watched Bas talk about it.

[@IncredibleMD]

Steven Thompson would be Tyson's kryptonite. Lots of movement, lots of sneaky kicks, lots of accurate sniping shots, and great lateral movement.

[@dxmakina]

Igor vovchanchyn and fedor should be mentioned as what Tyson might look like in mma. Igor took a lot from Tyson. If you can find igors old instructional you can see him do drills like Tyson. Fedor took from Igor

[@rich_green_9610]

Someone send this to Mike Tyson, this was a really good and insightful video

[@jcguerra333]

I think Mike is dangerous WHEREVER you put him. 🤷🏽

[@ShudKnowMii]

The Killashaw reference was not far fetched at all... ‘twas spot on.. Dillashaw literally has videos explain his footwork and how it’s base is in Tyson’s (DeMato’s) Peek A Boo style for entry and exit into le “Red Zone”

[@Strangingness]

Another thing I can imagine Mike doing, going for "Fake take downs" since he's already low enough when he's bobbing and weaving and punching on the inside. Why not grab a leg and throw it up in the air, or make them hop on one leg moving back and literally shove them back with their momentum. Forcing the opponent to go off balance, and then set up really powerful shots? It'll start making the opponent confused and thinking "should I anticipate him trying to take me down, what the hell is going on"? The element of surprise. And I can see him catching people off guard and actually knocking them out or down while they're trying to regain their balance.

[@carlbratcherii1818]

In my school we legit study Mike, I study your videos on my own time. Mike Tyson's understanding of how his body works and footwork would serve him well. Even if his grappling isn't "the best", like you said he's a nut when it comes to his craft. He'd work the shit outta takedown defense. Probably have some vicious ass upper cuts for shooting takedowns, he is an actual martial artist, karate I believe. So it's not like he does have the information to throw kicks, but he's smart so I doubt he's throwing high volumes of kicks because he knows them lol. Great video!

[@josharnett3983]

Do this video again. Talk about it more. I think his clinch and body lock would be crazy.

[@throwabrick]

I agree about the clinch game against the fence. Tyson would have dominated in that short distance punching, delivering knockout power from inches away.

[@WCGMartialArts]

Do one on Mohamad Ali next. Always thought some of the best MMA strikers resemble Ali a bit in their movements and fluidity. I'm thinking people like Isreal Adesanya and Anderson Silva. I think Ali would have been an MMA Legend.

[@MJFUYT]

Awesome video! I'm a huge Tyson fan. It's thought provoking to think about Tyson as an MMA fighter. Your training partner did a great Tyson reenactment. 💯🥊

[@madshad3351]

I'm inclined to agree. Mike would be brutal AF. And he would indeed be learning new stuff. His clinch, ground and pound, Woo!!!! He would be dangerous. Skulls would be broken. Thank you.

[@simoneperrotta3166]

Please Mike, we want more of this kind of videos!!! Fuck I want to see Tyson Fury vs Ngannou

[@jeremew8722]

"...if you just took the boxer and tried put him in an mma fight and gave him six months to get ready. Which is asinine. That would be stupid for a boxer" Icy Mike gets the James Toney vote of approval.

[@ThreeCoast]

Tyson's style would go really good with low kick setups for closing the distance and low to body kick mix up with his shuffles and punches. Im thinking of Justin Gaethje, Mike Zambidis, or Ramon Dekkers

[@lucasgarcia4193]

What a fun video, I hope you do more of this!

[@danielmetcalfe5589]

The correct answer to “Who would Mike Tyson fight like in MMA?” Prime Robbie Lawler. Like when he fought Rory MacDonald. That’s the craziest, gutsiest fight I have ever seen. Either Robbie Lawler or prime Rumble Johnson. Dude had dynamite in his hands.

[@danielmetcalfe5589]

Or Frankie Edgar. Insanely fast hands and impossible to take down.

[@ryanliu494]

Frankie Edgar adopted some principles from peekaboo but this is an awesome video Mike 👍 love exploring new concepts

[@blacgoblin]

You are right all day my friend

[@dayligs]

Dead right on the TJ comparison, if I remember correctly, in his striking breakdown videos he references Tyson's techniques many times.

[@danawhiteisagenius8654]

King Moe def came to mind. And I’ve seen some other MMA fighters pull off half ass peekaboos and KO people with an overhand right. It happened recently in the prelims too. I can’t remember the dudes name.

[@NY-Dani]

Tyson would be a refined, smaller Ngannou. First punch or two in 4 onze gloves would end 99% of fights. He's so athletic, he'd make sure his wrestling and ju jitsu were black belt level.

[@dontstopbelieving1]

Honestly I think most people with high level boxing or wrestling could transfer to mma fairly smoothly. Everyone is different of course but a world class athlete isn't going to stop being a world class athlete. Look at the top heavyweight today. He is a good, heavy handed boxer who added some stellar takedown defense to take him to that next level. He has the potential to be one of the greatest ever and before his last fight he never really had to make use of his grappling. I don't think it is too far fetched to believe Tyson could have been a world champion if he really trained some solid takedown defense.

[@thedoubtfuls]

Fun topic, agree w the grt analysis. Id add that tyson was conservative n defensive, so while he looked like a monster, hes not the sort to take risks n wrestle big, leave the head open, exchange shots unnecessarily. Hes there to end the fight, and i dont see him grappling so much becuz of this, at most he'll ground to pound. I dont think he stays on the ground long unnecessarily. It doesnt suit his fast twitch muscles either. he'll focus on explosive KOs. I think he gets flexible and very good and swing kicks. But he will have a tight jj game becuz he wont want to be disadvantaged there.

[@contempris2383]

Prime Tyson at 18 and give him 3 years of grappling. That's a champion right there.

[@tylergray525]

I want more videos like this

[@shanedjoy8954]

Cus D'Amato created the style for Boxing(Queensbury), which doesn't necessarily mean it wouldn't work in MMA, but you'd need to SERIOUSLY revise it for MMA, with somebody like The Gracie Barras. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want to Shoot into a Tyson(Peek-a-boo) Uppercut, but at the same time, I'm aware that Peek-a-boo footwork could put you into vulnerable positions in MMA, which is where a collaboration with Gracie's would be able to identify the weak points, and work on the strengths.