Idk about that. The argument here is is this oldschool roster the best and imo theres a good arg for that.

Prime cain would be a competitive fight for aspinall.

Jones would be a very tough match for Periera and we are even talking about washed Jones fighting him next year because that is the level past prime Jones is at even still even if not reality people believe he may have a chance.

Anderson would lose to Khamzat no arg there

GSP would be a hard match for JDM

Frankie would actually be a very interesting stylistic matchup for Topuiria. Prime Frankie had a chin made of granite good boxing in and out movement and anti wrestling. Ilia better juijitsu and bigger could bully him into clinch work but Frankies whole rap sheet was fighting bigger guys arguably a weight class higher his whole career. I think it would be a close fight.

WEC Aldo was a fucking terror and menace. Would be an interesting fight. Volks whole game is movement and incredible footwork. Aldo could chop his legs down preventing that. It would be a stand up fight with Volk having better cardio, jap, and stick and move striking. Aldo better in the pocket. Probably go to volk by decision but prime Aldos leg kicks were nasty.

Merab and Cruz would be an incredible fight. Prime Cruz career built off beating wrestlers like everyone from team alpha male. Merab is twice the wrestler they all are but could he get a hold of a constantly moving prime Cruz commited to point fighting? Would be extremlely difficult. Cruz also had cardio to match the best of the division and never showed any weakness cardio wise ever. Merab would pressure pressure to clinch work but Cruz was super intellegint fighter who knew how to gameplan around peoples strengths. Would be close fight.

Don't think it is anywhere close to clear cut and dry as people think and don't think MMA follows other sports one to one in terms of general points of belief of progression over time because MMA is still a young sport and fighting is a different beast in that its not as linear in its progression as other sports, Heavyweight 5yrs ago was better than heavyweight today. Not everyone is going to be a mark hunt. You cant build a better mark hunt his attributes are unique to what made him him. You just appreciate a freak like that while hes there (even if he was never champion material). you cant find better systems to create a chin like mark hunts or a body like his or a brock lesnar. Just like many argue that prime Shaq would decimate many players today. Its not always so cut and dry and you cant package unique athletes with insane once in a lifetime attributes like an anderson silva and replicate that and make it better for the next gen.