MMA veteran Jeff Monson, in an exclusive interview with Telecomasia.net, commented on heavyweight Sergei Pavlovich’s claim that today’s fighters are stronger than those of the past.
“There’s a generational difference. Training conditions are better now, as well as work with top nutritionists. If Cain Velasquez, going back to when he was 22, began his career in the UFC today with all the advantages modern fighters have, he would be just as dominant. If you take me in my prime fighting for the UFC title and put me into modern conditions, I wouldn’t win. But if you take me when I was young and give me the same training environment modern fighters have, I would also perform at a high level,” Monson said.
This comparison is simply unfair. For example, Fedor Emelianenko fought the best of the best and dominated for 11 years. He beat everyone without questions; he had no close fights. Even Jon Jones had close fights. If you take young Fedor and give him equal conditions to today’s fighters, he would also dominate everyone. That’s why he’s the greatest fighter of all time.
Earlier, Sergei Pavlovich said that fighters of the old generation would not be competitive in the modern UFC. Cain Velasquez was UFC heavyweight champion in 2010 and again in 2012–2013. Fedor Emelianenko was Pride FC heavyweight champion from 2003 to 2007.
