News Surging HW Prospect Mick Parkin isn't worried that the HW Division is Shallow.

[mkess101]

I mean Gane vs Aspinall is pretty much the only non rematch for Aspinall at HW if Jones retires. The biggest fight they can make.

Almeida would be interesting to test Aspinall's wrestling, would kind of show us how Jones would do.

Any juice that could be squeezed out of Aspinall/Gane evaporated with Gane losing to Volkov (even if the judges were on a meth binge and gave Gane the decision). Not that you're wrong, it's probably the fight they "have" to make if Jones ducks out and says he's done. But after seeing that, who could possibly think Gane has anything for Aspinall.

At least Almeida brings a unique style and will try to test Tom with something nobody else has yet.

 

[Eric Silva 2.0]

Rising heavyweight star responds to Joe Rogan’s fears about the UFC’s most ‘shallow’ division

Undefeated UFC star Mick Parkin reacts to Joe Rogan’s fear that the heavyweight division has become the shallowest of all weight classes.

bloodyelbow.com

Last month, Joe Rogan

shared a major concern about the UFC heavyweight division, claiming that the weight class 'is so shallow' compared to what it once was.

“I was just thinking that the other day, because if they don’t make Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall, what is compelling?” pondered the UFC commentator – Bloody Elbow caught up with a surging heavyweight prospect to ask him about those comments.

In an exclusive conversation with Bloody Elbow, Mick Parkin

was keen to drive home the fact that the heavyweight division is only shallow in terms of the number of fighters, not the fights themselves.

“It’s not shallow as like there’s not hard fights [out there], there are a lot of hard fights, but I think – I saw someone on Instagram the other day post, I think [it said] there was only 30 fighters signed to the heavyweight division, once they’d release people.

“30 people, that’s like a couple of fights and you’re already at the top; like that’s all you can fight is 30 people – or 29 including yourself – there might be more, but that does sound about right.”

The UFC Roster Watch website currently lists 33 active fighters in the heavyweight division – only one division has fewer than that figure, the women’s bantamweight division, with 32.

“It’s shallow as in there’s not many fights but it’s also the most [entertaining division] because you could have it nailed on that someone’s going to win this weekend, like ‘He is definitely going to win’ – and he can [still] get knocked out by the other guy,” continued Parkin.

“That’s what so exciting about it, and sometimes they can look absolutely terrible, you think ‘This guy looks absolutely terrible’ and he can still knock the [other] person out in the last round and get the win. So, it’s hard to judge but yeah, it is shallow in there, not many people… That’s obviously why it is, there’s just not that many of us – which is good for me as well, I can get there [to the top] a little bit quicker.”

Parkin, now 10-0 as a professional, returns to action on the preliminary card of UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs Brady, and is set to face divisional veteran, Marcin Tybura.

Parkin saying that the division is exciting is delusional. He thinks that because anyone can get KO'd at any time makes it exciting. It might be but it's the same way a bar fight is exciting. I'm interested in watching the best guys compete, not moridbly obese guys throwing haymakers. The verdict.............

 

[The_Renaissance]

This guy isn't very good himself ;;

I don't even know why they cut Romanov. Romanov probably beats this guy.

I know he's sloppy and no gas tank, but still he would beat a lot of guys and obviously top 10.

Yeah I liked Romanov, he was a bit unique.

 

[snugglecakes]

why would he be worried? Wouldn't you prefer the division be trash cause then it's easier to climb the ranks?

it's not like it's women's featherweight or when dana was threatening to get rid of men's flywight suma years ago. It's men's heavyweight. It's not going anywhere and the normies don't know it's trash and they don't need to know.

 

[tgv976]

Even in boxing a cruiserweight is ruling the division similar to fat Jones in UFC. The HW void is real. I guess kickboxing was the last exciting HW division we got.

 

[JustOnce]

Yeah I liked Romanov, he was a bit unique.

I mean he is better than half the HWs still in UFC lol

It makes no sense

 

[650lb Sumo]

This guy isn't very good himself ;;

I don't even know why they cut Romanov. Romanov probably beats this guy.

I know he's sloppy and no gas tank, but still he would beat a lot of guys and obviously top 10.

He technically wasn't cut, his contract expired and he either was not offered another, or refused it (unlikely). Maybe someone here knows more detail.

 

[JustOnce]

He technically wasn't cut, his contract expired and he either was not offered another, or refused it (unlikely). Maybe someone here knows more detail.

yeah but them not resigning it is really the same thing tbh

 

[Doctor Grudge]

Even in boxing a cruiserweight is ruling the division similar to fat Jones in UFC. The HW void is real. I guess kickboxing was the last exciting HW division we got.

We're saying that MMA and Boxing HW division are not good because the champs are not natural HWs, but you're referencing (presumably) K1 HW division, which had a ton of guys who were not 'real heavyweights'?

Most all time great HWs are around Usyk and Jones size or smaller. There has never been a time when combat sports were dominated by incredibly large men without there being opposition from small HWs.

 

[tgv976]

K1 had plenty of big dudes who are real HW's. Don't necessarily have to be champs but champs included with solid competition. Ghita, Reem, Aerts, Ver Hooven, Hari, Sadik (sp), LeBanner, Bernardo, etc. Even hedsey gerges was a name to watch. Saki was smaller but did well. But all exciting to watch and solid competition.

Lennox Lewis and Fury dominated for awhile being big. Bowe was up there while he lasted. Valuev was kind of a neanderthal and I can't remember John Ruiz being that big either but maybe I'm wrong there. Didn't look him up. Klitchkos are solid HW's who dominated.

I just meant HW seems to be lacking solid competition in the division. Outside of Jones and Tom, seems like a bunch of mid guys floating around the top and Jones could drop a weight class if he wanted.

We're saying that MMA and Boxing HW division are not good because the champs are not natural HWs, but you're referencing (presumably) K1 HW division, which had a ton of guys who were not 'real heavyweights'?

Most all time great HWs are around Usyk and Jones size or smaller. There has never been a time when combat sports were dominated by incredibly large men without there being opposition from small HWs.

 

[Tweak896]

Any juice that could be squeezed out of Aspinall/Gane evaporated with Gane losing to Volkov (even if the judges were on a meth binge and gave Gane the decision). Not that you're wrong, it's probably the fight they "have" to make if Jones ducks out and says he's done. But after seeing that, who could possibly think Gane has anything for Aspinall.

At least Almeida brings a unique style and will try to test Tom with something nobody else has yet.

Yeah Almeida/Aspinall is probably my top fight pick if Jones turns him down or Ngannou doesn't sign as a free agent. Gane would be 2nd choice. Then maybe down the line if those middle eastern HW wrestlers earn a streak maybe.

 

[jeff7b9]

guy makes Marcin Tybura look tan.

Gets some sun fatty.

 

[jeff7b9]

We're saying that MMA and Boxing HW division are not good because the champs are not natural HWs, but you're referencing (presumably) K1 HW division, which had a ton of guys who were not 'real heavyweights'?

Most all time great HWs are around Usyk and Jones size or smaller. There has never been a time when combat sports were dominated by incredibly large men without there being opposition from small HWs.

Very rare for guys bigger than 6'4 235 ish to still be athletic and move well.

And of those giants that do retain their athleticism, why risk CTE for likely chump change when they can pursue 8 figure deals in NFL or NBA ?

There have been exceptions. Lennox Lewis at 6'5 248 was athletic and technical, but I feel like he is the exception not the rule.


90s HW boxing and 2000s hw mma both coincided with steroid booms. Not a coincidence. Without gear, rare to be that big and athletic and durable, with cardio etc.

Sweet spot 6'3- 6-4 230ish give or take. Long reach helps
Basically somewhere around Muhammed Ali size. Usyk.
(Which is close to Michael Jordan and Jon Jones, both peak athletes)

 

[Doctor Grudge]

K1 had plenty of big dudes who are real HW's. Don't necessarily have to be champs but champs included with solid competition. Ghita, Reem, Aerts, Ver Hooven, Hari, Sadik (sp), LeBanner, Bernardo, etc. Even hedsey gerges was a name to watch. Saki was smaller but did well. But all exciting to watch and solid competition.

I'm not sure what your standard is, because in Glory almost everyone are real heavyweights. There's a couple of fat boys, but most of the best HW's in glory are legit size HWs.

Aerts is not really bigger than Jon Jones.

Lennox Lewis and Fury dominated for awhile being big. Bowe was up there while he lasted. Valuev was kind of a neanderthal and I can't remember John Ruiz being that big either but maybe I'm wrong there. Didn't look him up. Klitchkos are solid HW's who dominated.

I just meant HW seems to be lacking solid competition in the division. Outside of Jones and Tom, seems like a bunch of mid guys floating around the top and Jones could drop a weight class if he wanted.

Sure, but even in the golden age of heavyweights like 90s HW boxers, there was still relatively small HWs like Tyson and Holyfield. There has always been cruiserweight sized boxers who saw much success at HW.

If anything, most HW boxers today are heavier. Usyk is an exception, all his boxing opponents are capable at fighting 240-250, with Fury fighting at 280 a few times. Usyk and to an extent Wilder (who is big, just not heavy) are exceptions.

 

[spinup]

Any juice that could be squeezed out of Aspinall/Gane evaporated with Gane losing to Volkov (even if the judges were on a meth binge and gave Gane the decision). Not that you're wrong, it's probably the fight they "have" to make if Jones ducks out and says he's done. But after seeing that, who could possibly think Gane has anything for Aspinall.

At least Almeida brings a unique style and will try to test Tom with something nobody else has yet.

Don't judge Gane on his last performance. He got a nasty injury in the first round, frankly it's quite impressive he even went the distance in this condition.

 

[mkess101]

Don't judge Gane on his last performance. He got a nasty injury in the first round, frankly it's quite impressive he even went the distance in this condition.

View attachment 1087602

That's fine, he's probably better than that. He still has nothing I've seen that would give Tom problems. The one edge Gane has over most HW's is how he moves. But that edge isn't there vs Tom who's more athletic, has more power and is the better grappler by a mile.

 

[tgv976]

I'm not sure what your standard is, because in Glory almost everyone are real heavyweights. There's a couple of fat boys, but most of the best HW's in glory are legit size HWs.

Aerts is not really bigger than Jon Jones.



Sure, but even in the golden age of heavyweights like 90s HW boxers, there was still relatively small HWs like Tyson and Holyfield. There has always been cruiserweight sized boxers who saw much success at HW.

If anything, most HW boxers today are heavier. Usyk is an exception, all his boxing opponents are capable at fighting 240-250, with Fury fighting at 280 a few times. Usyk and to an extent Wilder (who is big, just not heavy) are exceptions.

Yeah, we're agreeing on the kickboxing point.

Yeah the point was the top of the division and who's excelling. Usyk, a cruiser and Jones a LHW. I think golden age of boxing HW's was about 20 yrs prior.

 

[The_Renaissance]

That's fine, he's probably better than that. He still has nothing I've seen that would give Tom problems. The one edge Gane has over most HW's is how he moves. But that edge isn't there vs Tom who's more athletic, has more power and is the better grappler by a mile.

Tom takes him down and subs him fairly quickly, for me.

 

[BigOlJeet]

HW prospects always get sent to the shadow realm, this isn’t any different, a white Gane.