Paddy Pimblett calls for UFC super-heavyweight division to accommodate NFL “Freak Athletes”. Paddy Pimblett has floated an unusual idea for the UFC.
Pimblett said UFC should create a super-heavyweight division that could attract some of the biggest and most explosive athletes from the NFL. The lightweight contender discussed the idea during an appearance on the Green Light podcast with former NFL players Jason Kelce and Beau Allen. Pimblett argued that the UFC’s current heavyweight limit of 265 pounds (120 kg) could prevent some exceptionally large athletes from making the transition from American football to MMA.
According to Pimblett, there are NFL athletes who are not simply carrying excess weight but are huge, muscular and extremely explosive. His argument was that some of these athletes could weigh well beyond the UFC’s current heavyweight limit while still possessing the speed and athleticism needed to compete.
“It’s more the weight divisions. As you say, some of them are 380 pounds. They’re big dudes. It’s not like they’re out of shape…they’ve got pure muscle definition. “I’ve always said I think the UFC should have a super heavyweight division,” he continued. “So if some of them (NFL stars) done MMA, yeah, it would be scary.”
Pimblett is not the only person confused by the heavyweight division having an upper limit. During a 2022 episode of his Joe Rogan Experience podcast, the UFC color commentator shared his long-held view that a super-heavyweight class should be added by the UFC. “There is a super-heavyweight class but the UFC has never implemented it,” Rogan said. “It’s a super-heavyweight, over 265-pound weight class. “It is kinda weird that there is a weight limit on the heavyweight class,”he added.
The UFC currently has heavyweight fighters competing up to 265 pounds, meaning an athlete weighing 300-plus pounds would need to cut down considerably to make the limit. Pimblett believes that could be leaving a potentially fascinating group of athletes on the sidelines. A super-heavyweight division could theoretically open the door for enormous former football players and other heavyweight athletes who possess the rare combination of size, speed and explosiveness. And if even a handful of those athletes successfully developed MMA skills, the division could produce some spectacular matchups.
Pimblett’s proposal would obviously require significant changes to the UFC’s current weight-class structure, and there’s no indication that the promotion is actually planning to introduce a super-heavyweight division. For now, it remains an idea from one of the UFC’s biggest personalities. But it’s certainly an intriguing thought.
