When Jon Jones moved to the heavyweight division and captured the title, hope returned to the 265 lbs class. For far too long now, the once-glamour division of the UFC had been out of the spotlight. Sure, you had rare occurrences like Ciryl Gane and Tom Aspinall welcoming a new era of heavyweight fighting, but Jones brought something else entirely. When was the last time you saw a heavyweight title fight end with a spinning back kick to the ribs?

Jon Jones‘ chase for legacy left fans clamoring for the Aspinall fight, but eventually, they were disappointed. Now the problem was twofold. It’s not just that we missed out on Aspinall vs. Jones. It’s that Tom Aspinall‘s so-called next-gen fighting style might not have strong enough challengers. And without challengers that can bring the fight, how can the heavyweight division win back its lost glamor? That’s what we will be discussing today.

UFC heavyweights are not what they used to be… right?

In UFC history, names like Brock Lesnar, Cain Velasquez, and Stipe Miocic have been the crown jewels of violence. Add in contenders like Antonio Silva and Alistair Overeem, and the division was always on edge. But now, with Tom Aspinall finally wearing the crown, the heavyweight division looks a little short on competition for him. 

Now, what’s the actual reason the 265-pound division is facing such a shallow talent pool right now? Well, there are several factors, and we’re definitely going to take a closer look at them. But at the heart of it, the answer lies in overall athleticism. Over the years, heavyweight contenders have gradually lost the shape and sharpness they once had.

The heavyweight division was never about speed like the middleweights and other lower weight classes. It has always been defined by its massive size and knockout power. But when it comes to athleticism, the real question has always been whether a fighter can survive five grueling rounds without fading much. Very few heavyweights have shown that ability, like Cain Velasquez.

The Mexican was famously known as ‘Cardio Cain,’ and earned his reputation by pushing through five rounds without gassing out. And that’s exactly what allowed him to reign as a champion for so many years and ease through giants like Lesnar. After Velasquez, champions like Fabricio Werdum, Stipe Miocic, and even Daniel Cormier proved to be decently athletic for their size.

On the other hand, there were also contenders like Roy Nelson, who was ranked in 2013 but rarely went the distance in grueling five-round fights. It was a problem that the depth of athleticism beyond the top 5–10 contenders didn’t improve much. And that remains the case in 2025 as well. 

If we look at the current heavyweight rankings, the picture becomes very clear. From champion Tom Aspinall to No. 5-ranked Jailton Almeida, these fighters can push through five rounds. Some a little more, others a little less. But, beyond that, the ranked fighters’ ability to maintain performance for the full 25 minutes becomes questionable. Sure, Waldo Cortes-Acosta is in the mix, but we’ve rarely seen him in a full five-round fight.

Even if we consider ‘Salsa Boy’ as someone capable of lasting longer, the picture doesn’t get much better beyond him. After that, you’re looking at Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa — both of whom can survive five rounds if the fight doesn’t end early. But realistically, nine times out of ten, their striking power drops off sharply in the later stages. And that’s definitely a problem. Still, it naturally leads to the bigger question: can the champion actually sustain that same pace over the full distance?    

Why Tom Aspinall would need fit contenders 

Tom Aspinall, in all honesty, is a very special heavyweight fighter. The MMA world already knows about the Brit’s ability to end a fight in a flash. But it’s equally true that he’s more than capable of going five rounds — probably without even breaking a sweat. A fair question, however, is that we’re yet to see him go past the first round in the UFC. Yet the logic would be his preparation and discipline.

The reigning heavyweight champion puts tremendous effort into his training and diet to stay in peak shape all year round. And fans who follow his YouTube channel know that Aspinall regularly goes through multiple five-round sessions against some of the top-tier athletes. That relentless hunger to remain the best has helped him stay strict with his regimen. He remains athletic while still carrying vicious knockout power — something that’s been on full display in his recent fights.

Aspinall has already beaten three of the five currently ranked heavyweight fighters. The only ones left are #1-ranked Ciryl Gane, whom he’s scheduled to face at UFC 321, and #5 Jailton Almeida. So, let’s say, for argument’s sake, the Brit ends up defeating both of them. Then who’s next? Sergei Pavlovich again? The reason his name even enters the conversation is simple — the division currently doesn’t have many contenders truly capable of challenging the champ.

Because if a fighter is any slower or less powerful, Aspinall won’t even need the other four rounds. He’ll just finish it within the first two. However, UFC CEO Dana White seems to have noticed this problem. At the recent UFC Perth event, he hinted that the promotion has already started working on building some new killers for the 265 lbs kingpin to face in the future if he gets past UFC 321. 

UFC Perth welcomed a positive change 

In the prelims of the recent UFC Fight Night Perth event, we saw two very promising heavyweights throw down. Australian prospect Brando Peričić — a teammate of Israel Adesanya — and the United States’ Elisha Ellison went through an absolute scrap. And although the fight lasted just one round, it wasn’t your usual “I hit you, you hit me” kind of heavyweight brawl. It was a lot more technical.

Peričić, fighting out of City Kickboxing, looked sharp with his movement and showcased some impressive striking as well as grappling skills. During the fight, Ellison repeatedly tried to take the Aussie down, but Peričić held his ground, reversed positions, and ended up on top, raining down heavy ground-and-pound shots. That showed he knew when to switch gears instead of relying solely on power, which is a rare trait in the division.

And that kind of challenge is exactly what’s going to excite Tom Aspinall or any other heavyweight champion. It means there would be real technique and strategy involved rather than just a raw display of strength. So, Dana White including heavyweights with well-rounded skill sets is a good sign that he’s genuinely thinking about reshaping the division.

That said, do you agree that the heavyweight division needs more exciting talent? And do you think Brando Peričić could actually become a serious contender? Let us know in the comments below.