UFC has huge heavyweight issues – Dana White should make an enormous name to put it aside
The heavyweight division has a huge problem – and the size of it appears to be only getting bigger for the UFC.
The fact that last time the undisputed title changed hands inside the Octagon was March 2021, when Francis Ngannou KO’d Stipe Miocic, typifies the mess chief Dana White and Co find themselves in.
Much of the mayhem has been out of the UFC’s control – Jon Jones’ long-running retirement saga and Tom Aspinall’s nasty eye injury, for example – but White’s refusal to contemplate an Ngannou return or adequately scout for viable future contenders has exacerbated the situation.
Tom Aspinall’s first defence ends in a no contest after the Brit suffered a serious eye injury(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
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The heavyweights should be the ‘glamour division’, but there doesn’t seem to be much clamour to see Ciryl Gane – promoted last weekend from interim to undisputed after Aspinall vacated – take on Josh Hokit for the crown at UFC 334 in November.
These two men would be unlikely to get a sniff of UFC gold if they fought during the halcyon days of Cain Velasquez, Brock Lesnar, Junior Dos Santos, Fabricio Werdum and peak Miocic.
In fairness, the company is making record amounts of money, primarily with their TV deals and booming gate receipts, so it is hardly a problem that threatens to put a significant dent in their bottom line.
Josh Hokit has quickly risen up the rankings but has been at the centre of controversy(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
However, long term, heavyweight fighters are often the 265lb bait that initially hooks in fans and then helps turn them from casual to hardcore supporters. Lesnar being my gateway drug of choice.
And the thought of American Hokit, whose crazy and occasional abhorrent antics have turned off many people, being champion even worries White, who, when asked about that prospect, said: “Oh, I have a lot of thoughts on that. I don’t police what people say. If you keep winning, I say it all the time, I don’t have to like you for you to thrive here.
“I’m not saying that I don’t like Josh Hokit. I just literally don’t like anything Josh Hokit says. I’m going to have to deal with that. That’s a me issue.”
The arrival of Salford’s Aspinall at the top papered over a lot of the cracks for the UFC as he looked like the fighter who could carry the division single-handedly on his back. But when and if he returns from the eye pokes he suffered against Gane in October 2025 remains to be seen.
Sean Sharaf quickly sends big heavyweight prospect Gable Steveson to the canvas at UFC 331(Image: Zuffa LLC)
His absence leaves a huge hole and the match-makers seemingly had put all their eggs in the basket of Gable Steveson, a gold medal-winning Olympic wrestler turned highly-touted MMA prospect.
However, that hope was cracked alongside Steveson’s chin at UFC 331 last weekend as the ‘great heavyweight hope’ was KO’d in 12 seconds by Sean Sharaf.
Perhaps Dana still has Ngannou’s number after all.
UP NEXT: UFC Vegas 121, Sunday, 1am. Raul Rosas Jr’s bantamweight title credentials will get checked when he faces Raoni Barcelos at the Apex.
MONEY MATCH: Get on Alexander Volkanovski (4/5) early ahead of his UFC 333 featherweight title defence against Movsar Evloev on October 24. Odds and full UFC betting available at boylesports.com
FINAL SAY: “I told you the game plan was hit, don’t get hit, leave with a bag full of cash, man. Everyone thought I was joking.” Sharaf, who picked up a $100,000 bonus, after beating Steveson in one of the biggest upsets in UFC history.
