Throughout MMA there has been no shortage of “what ifs” my personal favorites is Melvin Guillard. Probably because I was a teenager watching him career unfold in real time. He showed early signs of elite athleticism along solid defensive wrestling. All signs pointed toward a fighter to keep an eye on. Sadly lifestyle choices along with poor career choices led to a once great prospect being regulated to a shopworn journeyman.
I’ll be listing three former fighters as my team of Bizzaro champs in another timeline. Please feel free to make your own list as well in the comments!
Mark Kerr He had elite athleticism, wrestling pedigree, and early dominance that pointed toward sustained heavyweight supremacy, but addiction, lifestyle choices, and personal turmoil derailed him before he could fully capitalize. He was a former wreslting champion that made the leap into MMA in the late 1990s. The early going he looked like the future of the sport. He won UFC tournaments, went undefeated early, even having a stint in PRIDE where he dominated with brutal ground and pound. He was built like a brick shit house, he was essentially the first “Brock Lesnar” of the sport. Sadly injuries led to opioids being abused, like many others in this period of America they weren’t aware of the dangers or long term consequences these drugs would have on these individuals.
Yoel Romero Olympic-level athlete with freak athleticism and power. He was a perennial title threat and won fights that should have delivered belts (notably the weight-missed bout vs. Luke Rockhold where he still knocked Rockhold out). Chronic weight-cut failures and related issues repeatedly cost him formal championships despite performances that often looked championship-caliber. Better weight management and camp discipline almost certainly put at least one UFC title on his résumé. I still think he won that second fight against Bobby knuckles(I know Rob took the rounds but the damage Yoel did was insane).
Anthony “Rumble” Johnson: Devastating power and athleticism produced highlight-reel knockouts and two light-heavyweight title shots (both losses to Daniel Cormier). Early career was plagued by repeated weight misses, immaturity, and related setbacks that got him released from the UFC at one point. Once he matured, moved up in weight, and cleaned up the lifestyle side, he became a top contender. Cleaner early management likely accelerates the timeline and improves his odds in those title fights. RIP
So what former fighters still cross your mind?