It’s the biggest weightclass in the UFC but in terms of talent, it’s the smallest.
The heavyweight division has long been a declining force ever since crossover star Brock Lesnar returned to the WWE in 2011.
With no dominant force, the injury-riddled Cain Velasquez is to blame for that, or rising star, the 265lbs title scene has stagnated and is now in a state of flux.
That Light Heavyweight division in @UFC is getting pretty dang interesting after last night. Can't wait to see the next couple of months.
— Theo Rossi (@Theorossi) February 1, 2016Ben Rothwell added his name to the long list of candidates in with a shout of a shot at champion Fabricio Werdum after his submission of Josh Barnett on Saturday.
But when you take a deeper look at the rankings, the problem is laid bare. Of the current top 10, the average age is close to 39 and is headed by 38-year-old belt holder Werdum.
To put that into perspective, Ring Magazine’s equivalent chart for boxing’s big hitters works out at 33, with 27-year-old Tyson Fury their
top man. The UFC’s once premier division is old. Really old.
And the problem is at a grassroots level. Looking elsewhere in the promotion, the flyweight division has Henry Cejudo, bantamweight has Aljamain Sterling, featherweight has Max Holloway and lightweight has Tony Ferguson.
Heavyweight? No one and it’s led to the flux we see right now.
The root of the problem stems from fighter pay. The financial reward of competing in the UFC is dwarfed by the likes of the NFL, which is able to comfortably lure the type of athletic freaks needed to freshen up the UFC.
Of course, MMA is more than just about pure athleticism but the skill sets needed for the sport have to be taught early.
But as a young athlete, what appeals more, the unpredictable and intense route of MMA or the riches of American Football?
Throughout UFC history, the heavyweight division – whether it was Dan Severn, Mark Coleman, Randy Couture, Lesnar and Velasquez – has commonly been dominated by collegiate All-American wrestlers.
But there aren’t any young versions of them around at the contenders level.
Still, the division has its moments as Rothwell proved in New Jersey.
His unexpected, if not shocking, submission win over Barnett, is a timely boost after the body blow of seeing the main event of this weekend’s card ripped apart by first Velasquez and then Werdum’s injury pullouts.
But if the heavyweight division is a shallow class, light-heavyweight is a murderous row.
In the main event Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson cemented his spot near the top of 205lbs division after he knocked out Ryan Bader in 86 seconds.
Eight months after coming up short in his first UFC title fight against Daniel Cormier, Johnson is more than ready for a second crack at it. Whether that be against Cormier or a returning Jon Jones when they eventually meet again.
