Opinion: The state of the UFC Heavyweight division is a joke

The UFC heavyweight division is in shambles. The champion refuses to fight the interim champion, several former top-15 fighters have been cut and heavyweight fights are happening less frequently than ever before.

This article will explore the issues plaguing the division and suggest potential solutions.

The UFC’s first major problem in the heavyweight division is inactivity. Since 2020, there have only been four title fights — two of which were for the interim belt.

This level of inactivity is unacceptable, especially when compared to other divisions, where champions typically defend their belts at least once or twice per year.

Current heavyweight champion Jon Jones has been avoiding the top contender, Tom Aspinall. Aspinall already defended his interim title against Curtis Blaydes in July 2024 but remains sidelined because Jones is unwilling to fight him. This has left a rising star stuck in limbo.

Other top contenders have also been largely inactive. Ciryl Gane, Sergei Pavlovich, Derrick Lewis and Serghei Spivac each fought only once in 2024. A division can’t stay relevant if its top-ranked fighters aren’t competing regularly.

To address this, the UFC could offer increased payouts to incentivize fighters to step into the octagon more often. Heavyweight fights are high-risk, so higher pay could motivate more consistent activity.

Alternatively, the UFC could start cutting inactive fighters, forcing them to either take fights or risk losing their contracts.

The next big issue is poor roster management. The heavyweight division features some of the most dangerous fighters in the world, where one punch can end a fight instantly. Despite this, the UFC has shown little sympathy toward fighters on losing streaks.

In the past year alone, three former ranked heavyweights — Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Rodrigo Nascimento and Alexander Romanov — have been cut from the promotion.

While none of these fighters were championship-caliber, they were solid enough to remain competitive at the lower end of the rankings.

Meanwhile, unproven fighters have taken their spots. Tallison Teixeira, with only one UFC win, is ranked. No. 14. Kai Asakura, who recently challenged for the flyweight title, remains unranked despite being a former champion in One Championship, his old promotion.

The UFC needs to give struggling heavyweights a chance to rebuild by matching them against lower-ranked opponents instead of cutting them after two or three losses.

The heavyweight division also suffers from a lack of depth. It currently has the smallest roster of any men’s division in the UFC.

The solution is simple: stop cutting fighters and recruit new talent. There are plenty of skilled heavyweights in other promotions. Renen Ferreira, who just lost his PFL belt to former UFC champion Francis Ngannou, Vadim Nemkov and Denis Goltsov are all potential targets.

The UFC has already shown success in encouraging light heavyweights to move up. Kennedy Nzechukwu and Ryan Spann have both made the jump. Fighters like Johnny Walker and Aleksandar Rakic, who have struggled at 205 pounds, could follow suit.

The UFC has the resources to fix these problems and breathe life back into the heavyweight division. It’s frustrating to see fewer heavyweight fights, especially when they often deliver some of the most exciting knockouts and back-and-forth action.

With better incentives, smarter roster decisions and more recruitment, the UFC heavyweight division can reclaim its former glory.

Alec Brown is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him please email aeb6680@psu.edu.