UFC: Two Separate Heavyweight Divisions?

Do you think Brock Lesnar is a bully, considering that he’s bigger and stronger than all of the guys he face?

*It may be difficult to make a case that the current UFC heavyweight division (205-265lbs) should be split apart into 2 separate weight classes, considering that it’s not unusual to see a smaller heavyweights defeat bigger heavyweight. One of the greatest mma’ers ever, Royce Gracie, regularly defeated guys that were at least 30 pounds heavier.

It goes without saying     that mixed martial arts amongst the ‘big guys’ is becoming more of a skilled combat division. The sport has evolved, but the heavyweight division has lagged behind in terms of pure talent…amongst the bigger heavyweights.  And with this evolution, comes change. These bigs are more talented in a multifaceted array of mma disciplines. And we’re seeing huge heavyweights with combat skills other than being streetfighters and ground and pound guys.

Guys like Lesnar and Brett Rogers are listed at 265lbs. But these guys walk around heavier than this. When they cut weight for a fight, they get down to 265lbs. A guy like Couture probably walks around close to his weigh-in weight of 220lbs. It’s apparent to me, that this is a mismatch, considering that the weight difference is roughly 45lbs plus. All other weight divisions have a differential of 15lbs. With the UFC’s current heavyweight division, the differential is a whopping 60 pounds.

So, here’s my proposed new weight class for the big guys:

~Notable Fighters~

Superweight Division [236-265lbs]

FIGHTER	HEIGHT	WEIGHT	AGE	ORGANIZATION
1–Brock Lesnar	6’3”	265lbs	32	UFC
2–Brett Rogers	6’5”	265	28	Strikeforce
3–Andrei Arlovski	6’4”	245	30	Free Agent
4–Frank Mir	6’2”	245	30	UFC
5–Josh Barnett	6’3”	255	31	Strikeforce
6–Alistair Overeem	6’5”	254	29	Strikeforce
7–Gabriel Gonzaga	6’1”	259	30	UFC
8–Shane Carwin	6’3”	260	34	UFC
9–Junior Dos Santos	6’4”	243	25	UFC
10-Tim Sylvia	6’8”	310	33	Adrenaline MMA
11-Aleks Emelianenko	6’6”	255	28	PFC
12-Jeff Monson	5’9”	247	38	Free Agent
13-Heath Herring	6’4”	250	31	UFC
14-Paul Buentello	6’2”	245	35	UFC
15-Ben Rothwell	6’5”	265	27	UFC
16-Roy Nelson	6’0”	265	33	Free Agent

Heavyweight Division [206-235lbs]

FIGHTER	HEIGHT	WEIGHT	AGE	ORGANIZATION
1–Fedor Emelianenko	6’0”	231	32	Strikeforce/M-1
2–Mirko Cro-Cop	6’2”	233	34	UFC
3–Antonio Nogueira	6’3”	231	33	UFC
4–Gegard Mousasi	6’1”	204	24	M-1
5–King Mo Lawal	5’11”	219	28	Free Agent
7–Cain Velasquez	6’1”	239	27	UFC
8–Randy Couture	6’1”	239	46	UFC
9–Fabricio Werdum	6’4”	228	32	Strikeforce
10-Mark Coleman	6’1”	205	44	UFC
11-Cheick Kongo	6’4”	230	34	UFC
12-Gilbert Yvel	6’2”	235	33	Free Agent
13-Kimbo Slice	6’2”	235	35	Free Agent

Some would argue that there isn’t enough big guys out there to sustain 2 separate big man divisions. But, this is unfounded. MMA is a sport that is constantly generating new talent, and the big guys are finally trying to amass enough talent that will make this proposal feasible. In boxing, they have no choice but to have one division for the big men. I think a superweight division is more warranted than the talked about proposed cruiserweight division (particularly for the UFC).

Another argument says that we’ll simply see guys drop their weight to 235lbs and below. This may be true, but at some point if that fighter wants full recognition by the masses, they’ll have to fight a superweight guy at some point. There are so many fighters worldwide, and it wouldn’t hurt to create another belt.

In the UFC since 1997, there have been 13 different heavyweight champions, all encompassing.  And out of those 13 fighters, 8 of them have been 240 pounds and up.  You can decipher your own opinion thereafter.

For the record, as the weight classes stand, I’m totally content it.  I just think this can be an interesting topic, especially if Brock Lesnar continues to dominate.  I’m eager to see how the skilled big big man Brett Rogers will fair against the much smaller, but more talented Fedor Emelianenko come October/November.