I think Pat Smith would destroy Gordeau honestly.
Keith Hackney
Vs
Steve Jennum
Hackney wins via TKO after a short war.
Pat Smith
Vs
Gerard Gourdeau
I can't even call this. This would be a violent fight. A very violent fight.
Right bracket:
Kimo Leopaldo
Vs
Remco Parduel
Kimo via strikes.
Harold Howard
Vs
Guy Mezger (making UFC debut w/ long hair)
Wow! Mesger stops HH.
Alternate fight:
Jason DeLucia
Vs
Orlando Weit
Weit KO's Jason.
I can't call any fight after that as they're real pick 'ems!
As far as using Ken's failure to denegrate Mezger's chances... I think Ken would've absolutely swept the OP's field without too much trouble. He had exactly ONE problem in UFC 1 and it was Royce, who would've subbed Mezger too. In the OPs imaginary UFC I think Mezger wins, and Ken could have too.
I originally wasn't going to put Mezger in. I didn't think he was as impressive in his fight vs Fairn as Jennum, Hackney, Smith were right off the bat.
I originally had Weit vs Howard, but didn't like the Weit vs Remco possible semifinal.
I had Mezger vs DeLucia as the alternate fight, but the more I thought about it, the better I liked Mezger's chances. I do think people are overrating him in this tournament though. 
CLINTK9 -Only because Ken entered UFC 3 injured. Ken said his knee was locking up about a week before the tournament, had a shot to help it before his first fight but it wore off during the Mitchell fight.CharlesLewis -
As far as using Ken's failure to denegrate Mezger's chances... I think Ken would've absolutely swept the OP's field without too much trouble. He had exactly ONE problem in UFC 1 and it was Royce, who would've subbed Mezger too. In the OPs imaginary UFC I think Mezger wins, and Ken could have too.
Ken also ended up in no shape to fight a final fight at ufc3 and that against with lesser comp than this field. But I also base my opinion on seeing mezger fight at that time as well and followed this sport as hardcore as anyone since, and matching these guys in my head over and over for years back then. HW's Kimo, Remco, Smith would have been too much for the the DEBUTING young Mezger. Smith wouldve been on his 3rd ufc by now. I also believe Hackney & Jennum and maybe Howard would've beat THAT EARLY Mezger. but thats just my opinion.
Ken fought dumb fights, I've always blamed his quick loss to Royce... if he had fought the way he did in Pancrase he could've easily subbed some of the Lenningers and Mitchells he broke knuckles on.
I went with Mezger because ultimately he was the best fighter of that bunch. IMO he surpassed Ken eventually (as did Frank).
Was Guy the best at the time of your hypothetical though? Maybe not.
But I ride or die with Guy on this one.
rockwell - I got Metzger beating Smith in the finals.This.
MrColdCock -Hypothetical UFC 4 tournament. All fighters are returning vets:
Left bracket:
Keith Hackney
Vs
Steve Jennum
Pat Smith
Vs
Gerard Gourdeau
Right bracket:
Kimo Leopaldo
Vs
Remco Parduel
Harold Howard
Vs
Guy Mezger (making UFC debut w/ long hair)
Alternate fight:
Jason DeLucia
Vs
Orlando Weit
Who wins it?
Jennum was never really a "fighter." He had some ok skills, but when push came to shove he gave up. He gave up against Tank via his head being pushed into the fence, and went on to lose within a few seconds anytime he fought in Japan.
Hackney wins
Pat Smith vs. Gerard Gourdeau - Smith looked really good in UFC 6. That was when he kicked that guy in the chest. He was a little bit more well rounded than Gourdeau who was too slow and had zero ground knowledge.
Smith wins
Kimo vs. Remco - Good match up. If this is the Kimo that studied jujitsu it could be interesting. But Remco is a big boy, has great ground control and has shown he could take out an elite striker (Weit). One of Kimo's most impressive showings was against 180 pound Royce. He will have none of those advantages against a Giant like Remco.
Remco wins
Harold Howard vs. Mezger - Easy win for Mezgar. Howard lost to Mark Hall, in what amounted to a grappling match. He would have no shot at beating Mezger, who I might add went on to win a 4 man tournament and defeated Tito Ortiz.
Mezger wins
---
Smith vs. Hackney - Smith is overall more experienced. Has fought in Japan and isn't a total novice on the mat. He eeks this one out in a tough match.
Smith Wins
Remco vs. Mezger - Mezger is able to rough up the big man, and eventually punish him into a stoppage.
Mezger wins
Finals
Smith vs. Mezger - Guy take this probably by submisson. He is better conditioned and pretty experienced via his time in pancrase.
Mezger is the winner.
Smith gets too much love for his can smashing... he never won a fight he didn't dominate in the first 30 seconds. He is the worst front runner in MMA.
lol@"He eeks this one out in a tough match." go find that hard won Pat Smith victory. I will wait.
Go watch his k1 fights, even his karate matches. The guy either mugged you off the opening bell, or he folded like a deck chair as soon as the slightest resistance was offered. Total bully. Gordeau would've probably crippled him worse than he did Nakai (and I am NOT a fan of Gordeau).
4ltr
MuchRespec' - I went with Mezger because ultimately he was the best fighter of that bunch. IMO he surpassed Ken eventually (as did Frank).As great as Guy Mezger was, I don't think Mezger at his peak was better than Ken at his peak. Mezger passed Ken around 2000 in terms of skill because Ken started breaking down and lost his athleticism.
Was Guy the best at the time of your hypothetical though? Maybe not.
But I ride or die with Guy on this one.
CLINTK9 -Yup, the WWF strangely both ruined and launched his career to new heights. It ruined his skill with the bumps, injuries, drugs and partying but popularized him in the mainstream.Funaki Masakatsu #1 -MuchRespec' - I went with Mezger because ultimately he was the best fighter of that bunch. IMO he surpassed Ken eventually (as did Frank).As great as Guy Mezger was, I don't think Mezger at his peak was better than Ken at his peak. Mezger passed Ken around 2000 in terms of skill because Ken started breaking down and lost his athleticism.
Was Guy the best at the time of your hypothetical though? Maybe not.
But I ride or die with Guy on this one.
doing 2000 frankensteiners and all the other shit he did in wrestling took a toll on his body for sure.
CLINTK9 -CharlesLewis -
Smith gets too much love for his can smashing... he never won a fight he didn't dominate in the first 30 seconds. He is the worst front runner in MMA.
lol@"He eeks this one out in a tough match." go find that hard won Pat Smith victory. I will wait.
Go watch his k1 fights, even his karate matches. The guy either mugged you off the opening bell, or he folded like a deck chair as soon as the slightest resistance was offered. Total bully. Gordeau would've probably crippled him worse than he did Nakai (and I am NOT a fan of Gordeau).
I agree, but this feild is along the same lines of comp as Smith himself, so I think he does well in this tourney until Kimo or Remco. Gordeau had no ground skill like the guys that beat Smith early on, and it would have been a stand up fight and Smith was no puss there, he had better wins and crendentils than Gordeau in that dept even. bully, yes, but he would have been tough for some of these guys. theres no Royce, Ken or Ruas in this one.
We will agree to disagree then. Pat did the same thing in K1 and kickboxing as MMA: ran at you with wild attacks and either bowled you over or IMMEDIATELY covered up and looked for a way out. His K1 record shows what I mean... he caught Hug early and won, then went on to lose every fight after that.
The Gordeau that beat Rozier and Tuli eats Pat's lunch all day, every day.
And actually, Smith's stand up credentials are NOT better than Gordeaus, if you actually look at their records/fights.
- 9th dan Kyokushinkai Karate (Budo Kaikan)
- 7th dan Sei Budo Kai
- 4th dan Kyokushinkai Karate (NKA)
- 2nd dan Full-Contact Karate (USA)
- Highest degree Savate (Boxe Francaise)
- 4th dan Oyama Karate
- Eight time Dutch Champion Kyokushin Karate
- Competed at the World Championships Kyokushin Karate (1979, 1983, 1987)
- Savate World Heavyweight Champion (1991)
- Three time Savate European Heavyweight Champion
buddie - I think Pat Smith would destroy Gordeau honestly.
Although I picked Smith in this match up, of all the match ups, this was the one I thought about and was unsure of the most.
One of the reasons I picked my winners the way I did, was I was imagining the fighters in their prime.
Gerard Gardoue had a solid career and was a tough dude, but Pat Smith on his best day, I think beats Gordoue on his best day.
The Mezger that fought Fairn would have a hell of a time against Kimo. I can't see him beating Remco.
How about Hackney vs Gordeau or Smith? Hackney was more of a traditional martial artist where the other two were basically kick boxers. Make no mistake though, Hackney threw with bad intentions and was tough as fuck.
I would take Rozier in UFC1 over Pat, simply because he'd eat the early axe kicks, wild swings or whatever the fucks, and he'd be too big to muscle into a slop guillotine or choke. That's everything Pat ever had.