2003 wouldn’t place him anywhere top 6, he would need 2002, that’s a tall order
The comeback should have been done in 2009 or 2010 I still think
Another tall order would be - as your post suggests - Kev's 2003 physique placing in the Top 6, as I suggested.
Since I must say - you are correct about that. Well put.
Perhaps I am thinking that it could pan out like the Georges St-Pierre vs. Johnny Hendricks fight at UFC 167 - I think during close calls in subjectively-judged contests, it is not uncommon for judges to go with the current champ - hence the expression, "You have to knock out the champ"; i.e., decision victories will go to the champ in cases of close calls - and sometimes, not so close calls.
Although I do think my Georges St-Pierre example may not be the best one, as Dana White was completely wrong to say that Hendricks deserved to win that fight because in fights "it's about damage." That's simply not true, and not how UFC fights are judged.
But if Kevin came back as he looked in 2003, deserving to place 11th, he could be gifted 7th or something like that. Arguably, he was gifted 6th in 2003 as it was...but if so, only by a place or two max. I can't see how anyone would have had him placing outside the Top 8 in 2003...but I could see how someone could make the argument that either Darrem Charles or Troy Alves could have beaten Kev, based on conditioning - I think Shawn Ray said in the Battle for the Olympia 2003 DVD that he could see Troy Alves placing 6th, with Kev in 7th. If my memory is correct on that. Also, if my memory is correct on Kev placing 6th, followed by Darrem Charles in 7th, and Troy Alves in 8th [I have not confirmed that on MuscleMemory
].
Bah, another post that is too long when I could have been using to attempt to attract as many women as you do, Bevo - women who then LOVE letting you have a taste of their fishy slit.
Back to Kev - on a serious note though, if Kev replicated his 2003 physique and deserved to be 11th or something like that, I could see him being gifted several spots higher, just given the tall order that it would be to produce such a physique, a full 15 years later - although, as you said, for Kev to produce his 2002 physique again would be even more of a tall order [love the expression, by the way].
Lastly - I don't care what anyone says, given that Kev went back to seed, and absolutely sports an IFBB pro bodybuilder caliber physique, I am very impressed. Yeah, his legs are gone, and his back is not much better, but his upper body from the front looks amazing, and he was one of the most aesthetic mass monsters of all time, IMO.
