Thread: How would Bruce Lee have done fighting in professinal MMA

People who knew Bruce say that he was a phenomanal athlete and Martial Artist. How would he have done fighting other fighters who have combined different fighting styles together and do it on a professional level. What do you guy's think?

Bruce Lee would have done poorly with the skill set he had at the time of his death. He didn't have a style really applicable to MMA and while he dabbled in grappling with Judo Gene LeBell, it wasn't very strong.

If he had trained as an MMA fighter? I don't know, we'll never know.

I think Bruce dominates the division he is in.
he can only weigh like 130lbs or something.

I was wondering this myself

MMA has a habit of quickly disgarding any fighting style or technique that is not effective. Kung Fu and Karate have not survived as a realistic form of fighting.

I think Bruce Lee would have lasted ok at the very beggining of the UFC but fall short when he was up against a Royce Gracie or a Ken Shamrock that would grab him and pull him to the mat.

This isn't to say he wouldn't adapt. He had an unquenchable urge to learn fighting techniques and would have loved the MMA era.

he whoops all them because can take punch

Originally Posted by JonesJrMayweather

he whoops all them because can take punch

....and he knows how to punch.....oh did I say punch I meant "strike"....that's the term we're using right "Strike"

Originally Posted by Lyle

Originally Posted by JonesJrMayweather

he whoops all them because can take punch

....and he knows how to punch.....oh did I say punch I meant "strike"....that's the term we're using right "Strike"

yeah, yeah, yeah, he can "strike" randy johnson can stike oh i mean throw strikes, but maybe its the same..

so did chuck liddell get "struck out"?

I am an avid Lee fan, and he has some great readings, teachings and theory's..>However, his art was not meant for sport..>he would be the first tell you that he wouldnt hesitate to bite someone, grab their groin, or even gouge them in there eye...His art was designed for utlimate self defense and strength of the mind...Not an athelitic competition... I truly feel he could've or would've won many fights, but wouldn't be unstoppable in the least (pains me to say that) - But the reality of MMA, is any man can win on any given day..>Thats why it is soooo hard to have a dominate fighter like in boxing (which is dimininshing due to money)...but thats a whole nother discussion all together...


All in all, i love and respect what Bruce stood for and what he aimed to accomplish...And 30 years or so from his un-timely death his art was never meant for sport, and it never will be...

I would've loved to see him try, but then again would he be held in the same light if we saw him choked out on national television....i think not

Jeet Kune Do
The style of no style,he'd have eaten MMA up
There isnt anyone in MMA that could take the one inch punch

i think with his style, he would of been evasive, but when caught, he would of gotten crushed

Jeet Kune Do would be seriously constricted in MMA....This "style of no style" so to speak has no rules as well....MMA does...so its null and void..

Thats like a boxer not being able to use an uppercut or a hook to the body...

Jeet Kune Do allows every part of your body as a weapon, and also atks all of the vulnerable areas of your opponent...This is not for sport...I don't know how else to explain it...

Originally Posted by cnote111

Jeet Kune Do would be seriously constricted in MMA....This "style of no style" so to speak has no rules as well....MMA does...so its null and void..

Thats like a boxer not being able to use an uppercut or a hook to the body...

Jeet Kune Do allows every part of your body as a weapon, and also atks all of the vulnerable areas of your opponent...This is not for sport...I don't know how else to explain it...

No not really,Ive trained in Jeets sister form Ed Parker Ken Po
The whole idea is to strike hard,and use what works in the situation you are in

Originally Posted by steady_E

I was wondering this myself

MMA has a habit of quickly disgarding any fighting style or technique that is not effective. Kung Fu and Karate have not survived as a realistic form of fighting.

I think Bruce Lee would have lasted ok at the very beggining of the UFC but fall short when he was up against a Royce Gracie or a Ken Shamrock that would grab him and pull him to the mat.

This isn't to say he wouldn't adapt. He had an unquenchable urge to learn fighting techniques and would have loved the MMA era.

Shamrock and Royce are both at least 3 wieght classes above Bruce lees I think for his wieght he would be both fast and strong. So i dont think he would get overpowered by grapplers. I did read his book and it did include some ground game. He would need some work on it but i think he would be willing to learn.

how dare you compare kenpo with Bruce Lee

In several ways Lee was a pioneer of MMA lets not forget that he did borrow from styles, judo, boxing, fencing, mt, savate

As cnote rightly pointed out jkd was/is not a sport and was never taught or practicised as a sport which ufc/pride is.

The point was not to have every throw, choke and sub from judo but to have the simpilest and most direct action. A solid hip throw and the odd variation is good enough against the goon on the street, not for the mat.

It wasn't as if he was advocating being a vigilante, whilst the Tao of JKD shows the method and thought behind JKD if you want to know what it is read his self defence books - that is JKD.

Originally Posted by Trainer Monkey

Jeet Kune Do
The style of no style,he'd have eaten MMA up
There isnt anyone in MMA that could take the one inch punch

one inch punch is a joke, Bruce Lee was a joke....and if Chuck Norris hit Bruce with the spinning back kick, Brandon Lee would have been a still born......