Dwight and Chandler in the UFC's behind the scenes video blog: "I'd fight for $10 million"

He would have been dominant. The physical gap between him and the next guy is just that wide. Obviously, this hypothetical is assuming he had been training from a young age. Also, the lack of major talent in heavyweight is largely due to the fact that athletes of that size can typically make more money in other sports.

But he wouldn't have to be Mayweather with a reach that makes Lennox Lewis' arms seem stubby.

 

If he is having back problems from the NBA then his back wouldn't have held up in grappling training. That stuff is just grueling. Also, the wrestlers that come into MMA are pretty top notch athletic talents. Wrestling training is ridiculous.

 

I won't bag on your fight knowledge, but how many fights are stopped in the first round on the first punch? Less than 1% without question. If you think that fights end on one punch like that, you have either been watching highlight videos, or watching someone who can fight beating the Hell out of someone who can't (probably drunken bar fights if I had to guess).

Ray Mercer... let me tell you a little something about Ray Mercer... He got caught by KIMBO SLICE in a GUILLOTINE. When you have such horrible grappling skills that Kimbo Slice of all people is getting a sub win on you, you will not go farther than your luck with one punch will take you.

To quote his wiki page (and to show how hard of a sport MMA is):
"Mercer later stated... that he had expected Kimbo Slice to box with him and said that he did not really train in any other aspect of MMA and was unprepared for the guillotine choke."

To be unprepared for a guillotine choke is like planning a snorkeling expedition and not being prepared to swim. The preparation is as much mental as it is physical and is taught at the intro-level at every MMA and BJJ gym in America (get out of the full guard!!). This is one reason why boxers (and NBA players) will never swim in MMA without dedicated training for years.

 

That's absurd. Monti's ceiling would be closer to Stefan Struve. He doesn't have the strength for the low block, much less to hang with the KO power of the heavyweight division.

I understand that it's impossible to KNOW how good Dwight would be. We're just dreaming here. However, the biggest, strongest, and most explovise fighter currently in the division isn't in the same class of athlete as Dwight. He's a generational talent.

Physical tools aren't everything, but they make up for a lot. With a reach advantage of a foot, plus takedown defense, & an average jab/straight alone, he would destroy most of the division.

 

Motiejunas would have a 2 feet advantage on his weight division. Good night sweet Aldo.

 

Do you roll, go to a gym, or just like MMA? You seem to be one of the only ones who understands one of my favorite Joe Rogan quotes that "biceps and pecs don't win fights." Being top heavy with huge shoulders and biceps is one of the worst attributes in fighting. If he went in to a gym to train, he'd be called a muffin top until he dropped 15 lbs off his upper body.

I 100% agree that D-mo would be one of the better fighters if he made the switch and put his time in on the mat.

 

I'm not convinced that NBA seasons put less stress on the backs & knees of big men. Particularly those who get hacked in the way Shaq & Dwight deal with. Top collegiate wrestlers will almost exclusively be more compact athletes, with lower centers of gravity. A guy with Dwights build would be better off coming from a striking background.

Again, I'm not saying there aren't top notch athletes in MMA. I love MMA, and have followed it closely since the Pride days. I had always wondered what an elite type of athlete would do in MMA once it was big enough to pay them enough to draw them away from other sports. Jon Jones answered that question.

Unbeatable? Nobody is. In heavyweight almost everyone has a punchers chance. However, I think Dwight would have similar physical advantages as Jones does over the division as it stands today.

 

They'd both get their ass kicked

I was at K1 when Johnnie Morton decided he wanted to do MMA and the guy got KTFO in 30 secs, even with PEDs in him

 

I just don't see "clunky & stiff" when watching Howard. I see an even larger Klitschko.

Monti is already at max weight for the division, so there wouldn't be any added strength. Again, I see him having the ceiling of Struve. A 7 footer who is a VERY skilled fighter, but his frame will hold him back from the top as it has to this point in Struve's career.

And there's little correlation between a jump shot and punching. Howards problems with shooting are more related to finger fluidity/manipulation. Yao Ming has a sweet stroke, but his punches would probably come at you like an old man's. Howard is explosive enough to snap straights or jabs quickly, and with a minimum 1 foot reach advantage, it's a massive advantage.

 

Kimbo slice was able to get a few wins so I don't see why Dwight couldn't get a win or two against the right opponents. He probably has better conditioning than some of the heavyweights.

 

Well yea, his punches are thrown like one of those boxing nun hand puppets. A great punch uses the whole body like a golf swing does, but even with proper technique Struve's punches would be limited in the amount of damage they would produce.

Agree to disagree on Dwight though. For the record, I don't mean to seem like I'm attacking anyone who doesn't agree with me. It's a largely subjective debate, and I just enjoy a good back & fourth with people who aren't novices on the topic.

 

Bro I've seen some fat ass heavyweight who gas out after one round LOL. I'm sure there are some tomato cans that Dwight could take, after proper training.

 

Jon Jones brother Chandler Jones was a better college wrestler than he was, and Jon Jones cant even dunk a basketball at 6'4 with an 84 inch reach