Is the Era of the Modern Heavyweight Over: What Does Aspinall vs. Gane Mean for the Division?
The Heavyweight Division has been the bearer of a longstanding and much-loved crop of fighters throughout all combat sports. When people look back to the beginning of the UFC, many of the fighters who shone the brightest were the heavyweights: Bas Rutten, Randy Couture, Brock Lesnar, and many more terrific champions who struck fear into the hearts of their opponents and bred admiration in the hearts of their fans. Since then, the standard to which the heavyweight division was once held has lowered significantly. With an incoming Heavyweight Championship on the horizon, I thought it would be apropos to navigate why this once great division has fallen so far and to explain just what this title fight offers for its future.
If you take a moment to close your eyes and imagine the physique of former heavyweight fighters from, let’s say, fifteen years ago, who do you picture? The broad, strong-built body of Cain Velasquez? What about the hulking, muscle-bound physique of Lesnar? Surely, you did not picture a man with the 308-pound build of active heavyweight Tai Tuivasa. Outside of the top five-ranked fighters within the division, nearly none of the active heavyweights seem to put as much care into their bodies as the ones of old. The result of this has garnered fights that are at best sluggish and at worst boring. Yes, these men are bigger, and the power that comes with that size is indeed monumental, but beyond that power lies nothing. This current crop of heavyweights is deficient in cardio, technique, and star power. All the more reason this title fight is just the thing the division needs.
Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane are not only two of the best-built heavyweights, but they are two of the most strategic as well. Both have remained at the top of the division for quite some time now, and their conditioning is a large part of that. Neither man is making heavyweight because it’s the easier option. The possibility of making light heavyweight is shut down immediately when you see the height and amount of muscle on either man. Natural, strong heavyweights are not the division standard anymore. Which is exactly why these two are facing off in a championship bout. Both are the total package. Cardio, fine-tuned striking, and, at least in Aspinall’s case, high-level grappling. What we will see next month is the sum of the best heavyweight has to offer. Speed and power are intertwined as closely as possible at the most elite level. After such a long delay due to the numerous issues brought on by former champion Jon Jones, the Heavyweight Division is due for some excitement. With any hope, after seeing the offerings from these two men, life might just again be breathed into the Heavyweight Division, but there’s only one way to find out.
