Non HW fighters right now you think would do well at HW if they moved up?

[UWPguy]

LHW's who have been a contender, or even champ, and will never sniff another title shot should give it a try. Thinking of Dominic Reyes, Jamahal Hill, Volkan Ozdemir, Johnny Walker and Jan Blachowicz come to mind.

All those guys could EASILY be 230+ without being fat (except for Hill) and their skills and speed would make most HW's look silly.

Of course all would probably stall out somewhere between the #5 and #15 HW.

 

[cmw43]

Rakic and Johnny Walker should both consider the possibility that they get hit less fighting slower competition.

Both have the size speed and power to win fights at HW.

HW being flaming hot garbage helps.

Walker especially at 6'5 or 6'6 he's gotta be dehydrating a ton that's terrible for his chin.

 

[Söze Aldo]

Walker especially at 6'5 or 6'6 he's gotta be dehydrating a ton that's terrible for his chin.

I think it's been established the impact a big cut has on your chin by the fact Poatan was KOd by Izzy at 185, but never at 205 against bigger arguably more powerful opponents.

 

[The_Renaissance]

I get the argument for guys like Rakic and Walker but the elephant in the room is both are very chinny. Obviously Rakic less so. Ankalaev would probably do very well there but be absolutely boring as fuck while doing so. I know he's chinny but Reyes should try. He's less reckless than the chinny guys mentioned above and has better cardio.

 

[Dr. Rose]

The heavyweight division is probably the weakest it’s been in who knows how long. The average level of fitness and athleticism is laughable. Tai Tuivasa is on a five fight losing streak, currently looks like he’s bordering on 400 lbs, and is still listed as a ranked fighter.

Here’s Fedor next to light heavyweight boxer Dmitry Bivol, keep in mind that lhw in boxing is 175 lbs.



If Fedor fought today, you’d probably have fans saying he should cut to 185 instead of fighting at hw (weightclass exist for a reason bro) which would be absurd, considering he’s the GOAT MMA HW.

Honestly, now would be the perfect time to see one of the fit, athletic guys at light heavyweight or even middleweight test themselves at heavyweight.

In my view if you walk around over 200 lbs in a relatively fit state, you're a HW, it just comes down to do you cut weight or not?

There were people in at least 2008 saying he should move to LHW, that he was just a chubby 185, just like Rashad.

 

[Söze Aldo]

I get the argument for guys like Rakic and Walker but the elephant in the room is both are very chinny. Obviously Rakic less so. Ankalaev would probably do very well there but be absolutely boring as fuck while doing so. I know he's chinny but Reyes should try. He's less reckless than the chinny guys mentioned above and has better cardio.

As mentioned earlier, how much of that chinnyness is related to massive weight cuts dehydrating their brains?

Walker has a massive frame, he kills himself to make 205. Pereira was chinnyish at 185, not at 205.

 

[The_Renaissance]

As mentioned earlier, how much of that chinnyness is related to massive weight cuts dehydrating their brains?

Walker has a massive frame, he kills himself to make 205. Pereira was chinnyish at 185, not at 205.

Walker interests me more - he's so insanely athletic that he could flying knee most of these slow dudes quickly. And the guy has always had huge power despite his flaws. He'd be way more explosive than 95% of his opponents. Rakic would be way more conditioned than 95% of his opponents but with zero killer instinct nowadays would always be open to a haymaker

 

[PaulieVegas27]

Ronda Rousey

 

[laleggenda27]

It depends on how you define "do well." A number of LHWs could get wins against current top 10 HWs--for example, Jiri would beat up on Spivac, and Khalil would smack Tybura around.

But the only LHW I see being competitive against the top 5 at HW is Alex, and I'm not sure I'd favor him to win any of those matchups.

 

[HI SCOTT NEWMAN]

I think Rountree would do better at HW, he is very powerful, sometimes the guys can be a little quick for him in LHW. I can see him beating many UFC HWs, obviously guys like Tafa I think Rountree smokes in like 1 minute easily, but the top few HWs would be harder but still good matchups.

 

[BrockLesnarsTurtleBack]

Khamzat honestly ragdolls them all. He's not smaller than Almeida and his grappling is a notch above.

Only guys that could stop Khamzat are maybe Jon Jones (defo in his prime, now questionmark with his age) and Gable Stevenson.