Dumb myths about UFC HW division

[GOATtalks]

1. “They are all fat and out of shape”

That couldn’t be further from the truth. We have extremely athletic guys like Gane, Pavlovich and Almeida, who have absolutely ridiculous physiques. Guys like Aspinall, Volkov, Blaydes, Waldo and Lewis are all athletic and in good shape too. Even outside top15 we have guys like Lane, Usman, Petrino and Buchecha who are more than fit.

2. “Any elite athlete would’ve dominated UFC’s HW division”

We’ve had NFL players Hardy and Lane come to UFC, while still in their athletic peak and they flopped spectacularly even though they are elite level athletes. And NFL athletes are basically peak of athleticism.

3. “UFC doesn’t bring in talent from different combat sports, Gable Steveson would’ve wrecked UFC’s HW division”

Despaigne was a Olympic medalist in Taekwondo and a freak of nature, flopped in UFC.
Buchecha was one of the greatest HW BJJ practitioners and couldn’t even beat Martin Buday.
Seeing the struggles of Bo Nickal at MW, it’s ridiculous to assume someone like Gable would dominate UFC HW’s.

There’s levels to this shit

Right now it seems like Aspinall is far above anyone else at HW. And top contenders like Gane, Volkov, Pavlovich and Almeida are easily beating anyone outside top5, like Tybura or Budday. But even Tybura and Budday seem to be levels above just simply big athletic guys like Lane or Usman and above one dimensional specialists like Despaigne or Buchecha.

HW division is much better than he give them credit for, they would easily beat the champs of every division lower than MW. Aspinall might actually be the best HW we’ve ever seen. It’s ridiculous how we try to compare the guys to BW and FW and then say that they suck. Of course they can’t move like them, it’s just basic physics.

This is actually just PRIDE fanboy propaganda, discrediting every HW generation, so that they can still claim that those were the golden ages of HW MMA

 

[Luthien]

This is actually just PRIDE fanboy propaganda

 

[theincognito]

What you say is actually logical.

My problem with HW is most of them are boring as shit and there is hardly any activity.

 

[EndlessCritic]

People talk about the stupidity of the 265lb limit at heavyweight. They're right, but also don't go far enough.

imo we don't even need a LHW division. Heavyweight and LHW should be merged into a single division.

 

[Ginja_Ninja]

People talk about the stupidity of the 265lb limit at heavyweight. They're right, but also don't go far enough.

imo we don't even need a LHW division. Heavyweight and LHW should be merged into a single division.

Actually agree with that to a point.
With all the weight cutting that goes on now, LHW makes no sense.
You're 230lbs, you're a heavyweight.

 

[rear naked ankle pick]

Remove the weight limit and give them weapons

 

[MRudi]

Blaydes, Lewis are all athletic and in good shape too.

We’ve had NFL players Hardy and Lane come to UFC, while still in their athletic peak and they flopped spectacularly even though they are elite level athletes. And NFL athletes are basically peak of athleticism.

Austen Lane

2010: 5th round, 153rd pick

[th width="132.661px"]

NFL draft:​

[/th]​

Jacksonville Jaguars​

[edit]
Lane was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fifth round (153rd overall) in the 2010 NFL draft. He was reunited with his college coach Matt Griffin, who had previously been hired by the Jaguars as an offensive assistant.Lane was signed to a contract on July 14, 2010. The deal was for four-years and $1.974 million, including a $184,190 signing bonus.

He was released on June 13, 2013. He wrote about the experience on Sports Illustrated's website.

Kansas City Chiefs​

[edit]
He was claimed off waivers by the Kansas City Chiefs on June 14, 2013.

Detroit Lions​

[edit]
Lane was signed by the Detroit Lions on November 5, 2013, but was cut on November 27.

Chicago Bears​

[edit]
Lane was signed by the Chicago Bears on February 17, 2014,but was released on August 30. He re-signed in December 2014.

Retirement​

[edit]
On August 3, 2015, Lane announced his retirement.


Greg Hardy

2010: 6th round, 175th pick

[th width="132.661px"]

NFL draft:​

[/th]​

Buchecha was one of the greatest HW BJJ practitioners and couldn’t even beat Martin Buday.

Ain't Buday like European HW champion of BJJ?

Seeing the struggles of Bo Nickal at MW, it’s ridiculous to assume someone like Gable would dominate UFC HW’s.

Not only MW is much deeper than HW. Gable is olimpic gold medalist, while Bo Nickal FAILED TO EVEN GET TO OLIMPIC.

 

[RockyLockridge]

Dumb threads about the HW division

Post in thread 'Dumb myths about UFC HW division'

Aug 1, 2025

People talk about the stupidity of the 265lb limit at heavyweight. They're right, but also don't go far enough.

imo we don't even need a LHW division. Heavyweight and LHW should be merged into a single division.

• EndlessCritic

• 

 

[World eater]

This is actually just PRIDE fanboy propaganda, discrediting every HW generation, so that they can still claim that those were the golden ages of HW MMA

As a Pride fanboy, I take some offense at this. The HW division is fine, if a bit top heavy. The difference is that back in those days all of modern LHW’s and many MW’s would be fighting at HW. Or to turn it the other way, many of the HW’s of that era would cut to LHW today.
But according to Sherdog LHW is shit anyway, so….

 

[smalliebiggs]

OP is guaranteed to be a fat fuck to be calling Black Beast "in good shape"

 

[joy2day]

No, the HW division is as bad as they say, if not worse.

 

[Kung Fu Kowboy]

The best heavyweight in the world fights for PFL...

 

[GOATtalks]

OP is guaranteed to be a fat fuck to be calling Black Beast "in good shape"

Nah, I’m not a fat fuck. I’m 6’1 and weigh 184 lbs. I also ran half a marathon at 1:40:00. But that’s not the point.



Lewis had abs in his last fight and he’s actually very athletic. That’s where his speed and power come from. He actually starts his fights with a jumping switch kick to the head, lol

 

[GOATtalks]

The best heavyweight in the world fights for PFL...

Only one way to find out. Aspinall vs Ngannou could be the biggest HW fight ever. Let’s hope it actually happens next year

 

[GOATtalks]

As a Pride fanboy, I take some offense at this. The HW division is fine, if a bit top heavy. The difference is that back in those days all of modern LHW’s and many MW’s would be fighting at HW. Or to turn it the other way, many of the HW’s of that era would cut to LHW today.
But according to Sherdog LHW is shit anyway, so….

Well I kinda agree with on that. Fedor was an out of shape MW and CroCop and Nog were LHW’s at best. That’s why I don’t believe they would have success at HW today

 

[MMAFanCal]

1. “They are all fat and out of shape”

Ahem!

 

[Pancake Sprawl]

the problem mostly is that they gas easily and are risk averse. guys like Buday are 7-1 but it's fucking boring to watch a guy who looks like someone's dad hold another dude against a fence and pitter patter his love handles.

when the average casual thinks of HWs they think of animals. guys like Ubereem or Francis just besmirching the fuck out of their opponents. they don't want to see Martin Buday slap bellies for 25 minutes.

 

[GOATtalks]

View attachment 1106568
View attachment 1106569

Still better shape than this guy and both Blaydes and Lewis way bigger too

Jacksonville Jaguars​

[edit]
Lane was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fifth round (153rd overall) in the 2010 NFL draft. He was reunited with his college coach Matt Griffin, who had previously been hired by the Jaguars as an offensive assistant.Lane was signed to a contract on July 14, 2010. The deal was for four-years and $1.974 million, including a $184,190 signing bonus.

He was released on June 13, 2013. He wrote about the experience on Sports Illustrated's website.

Kansas City Chiefs​

[edit]
He was claimed off waivers by the Kansas City Chiefs on June 14, 2013.

Detroit Lions​

[edit]
Lane was signed by the Detroit Lions on November 5, 2013, but was cut on November 27.

Chicago Bears​

[edit]
Lane was signed by the Chicago Bears on February 17, 2014,but was released on August 30. He re-signed in December 2014.

Retirement​

[edit]
On August 3, 2015, Lane announced his retirement.


Greg Hardy

2010: 6th round, 175th pick

[th width="132.661px"]
NFL draft:

[/th]​

Both Lane and Hardy had better dash/jump/press records than someone like Tom Hardy. Were they the best players? Definitely not, but they sure were athletic enough

Didn’t know Buday was a European champ. Strange that they let him go, he was a very decent fighter. Although he already hit his ceiling and would’ve never made his way into top5.

We don’t know how Gable would’ve reacted to punches and what his stamina would’ve been. Maybe he would’ve crumbled after one punch from the Black Beast or gassed out completely after a round. Gable is really good at only one thing, fighting is much more than that

 

[World eater]

Nah, I’m not a fat fuck. I’m 6’1 and weigh 184 lbs.

I’m 6’1 and the last time I was below 210 was when I was 20 years old, so in 1998. Not all bodies are the same. I’m not fat either, btw.

 

[World eater]

Well I kinda agree with on that. Fedor was an out of shape MW and CroCop were LHW’s at best. That’s why I don’t believe they would have success at HW today

They would murder most of them. Of course, not if they were training like back then, but with all the modern benefits available to fighters today. Those guys were killers, not athletes.