First, Bruce would never take part in a competition like the UFC. Second, he would not do well in an environment like the UFC because even though it's sort of free-for-all, it is not. For someone of Bruce Lee's physical size there would have to be no restrictions...real fighting is not a game or sport....it can be life or death. Someone once asked Bruce how he would do against professional boxers and he said he would not stand there trading punch for punch because that may be a losing proposition due to the weight difference. Bruce just turned it around and said, "Can he catch me (in reference to the pro boxer)?". From what I know, one thing that Bruce was very good at was maintaining the right distance from an opponent. He was very fast and would use this speed to his advantage as he said a faster man would do well to take advantage of the speed by taking the fight to his oponent rather than just reacting where the opponent would dictate the pace of the fight. Sure, Bruce was powerful but he was also very smart. He himself said, given the choice between punching someone or poking them in the eye he'd choose the latter....now, that' a smart choice....least amount of energy required to do some serious harm to your opponent. He also mentioned that one of the most effective ways to enter another opponents "space" was via a kick to the shin. Supposedly, this temporarily distracted the opponent long enough for him to get close to do whatever....straight punch, eye gouge, kick to the groin...or whatever it takes to neutralize an opponent. Bruce was not the biggest guy so he had to fight smart (some would say dirty but hey, it's real fighting and it's either you or the other guy...no time for nice guy). Of course Bruce would avoid being on the ground in the first place where it would not be to his advantage. He would likely avoid this at all cost and do eveything within his power to make sure it doesn't even reach that stage. Yeah, he did do some grappling in movies but that may have been more for show (he did work out with that Gene Lebelle fella) although a well rounded fighter should envision all possibilities in a fight....but I have a feeling Bruce would avoid getting into a grappling match with someone just like he would avoid standing there trading punches with a boxer....Bruce was Bruce not because of those things but because he could avoid those thngs in the way he fought. He'd try and stop someone with kicks to the shin or knee before that someone could get close enough to do something let alone within grappling distance. He did mention that it would take only a certain pounds/per sq inch to break someones knee. But he would only do that if he could, otherwise find some other way to stay out of reach until an opening. So, no..Bruce would not participate in something like the UFC. Free as it is it is still restrictive and for a guy like Bruce, he needs to gain every advantage he can which would include eye gouging, kicks or strikes to the groin, etc. Speed is very useful in doing this. I don't care how big you are, if you can't see or are doubled over...then that somewhat levels the playing field. Bruce was very good at that.
