So what is a Super Heavyweight anyways?
As most of us know, Brock Lesnar, Ben Rothwell and Tim Sylvia all have to cut weight to reach the 265-pound limit in order to fight at Heavyweight.
Then for anyone who simply can’t make the 265-pound cap or simply don’t want to, there is the enigmatic Super Heavyweight division of MMA.
The theory behind the creation of the Super Heavyweight division as a part of the unified rules of MMA seemed to make sense at the time: “There are these giant men who will crush the life out of ordinary sized fighters with ease. We have to protect everyone from these Goliaths! They could seriously hurt anyone who is not also freakishly huge!”
But do they?
Well, the truth is that things have definitely not played out that way. The Super Heavyweight division is so insignificant that the UFC, Pride FC, Strikeforce and almost every other promotion in the history of MMA has not bothered to create a Super Heavyweight division and title.
Japanese promoters in particular have gotten a lot of mileage out of throwing guys like Fedor and Big-Nog at these monsters and beating them.
These are more carnival-freak fights than anything else. The trouble is, there simply aren’t any Super Heavyweights that are actually a threat.
They certainly do look terrifying, but there has never been a true Super Heavyweight that could have beaten any Heavyweight Champion, past, present or future.
For starters, who are some of these giants that the Unified Rules of MMA and the Nevada State Athletic Commission are so keen to protect people from?
Let’s begin with this qualifier: To be considered a true Super-Heavyweight, you have to be so big that cutting weight down to 265 lbs is an impossible task. That rules out Semmy Schilt, Ron Waterman, Mark Hunt and a whole host of others.
So without further ado, here are the top six true Super-Heavyweights on the planet:
So what is a Super Heavyweight anyways?
As most of us know, Brock Lesnar, Ben Rothwell and Tim Sylvia all have to cut weight to reach the 265-pound limit in order to fight at Heavyweight.
Then for anyone who simply can’t make the 265-pound cap or simply don’t want to, there is the enigmatic Super Heavyweight division of MMA.
The theory behind the creation of the Super Heavyweight division as a part of the unified rules of MMA seemed to make sense at the time: “There are these giant men who will crush the life out of ordinary sized fighters with ease. We have to protect everyone from these Goliaths! They could seriously hurt anyone who is not also freakishly huge!”
But do they?
Well, the truth is that things have definitely not played out that way. The Super Heavyweight division is so insignificant that the UFC, Pride FC, Strikeforce and almost every other promotion in the history of MMA has not bothered to create a Super Heavyweight division and title.
Japanese promoters in particular have gotten a lot of mileage out of throwing guys like Fedor and Big-Nog at these monsters and beating them.
These are more carnival-freak fights than anything else. The trouble is, there simply aren’t any Super Heavyweights that are actually a threat.
They certainly do look terrifying, but there has never been a true Super Heavyweight that could have beaten any Heavyweight Champion, past, present or future.
For starters, who are some of these giants that the Unified Rules of MMA and the Nevada State Athletic Commission are so keen to protect people from?
Let’s begin with this qualifier: To be considered a true Super-Heavyweight, you have to be so big that cutting weight down to 265 lbs is an impossible task. That rules out Semmy Schilt, Ron Waterman, Mark Hunt and a whole host of others.
So without further ado, here are the top six true Super-Heavyweights on the planet:
6. Zuluzinho (Wagner da Conceição Martins)
Height/Weight: 6’7” and 407 lbs
MMA Record: 18 wins and 6 losses
Wins over elite MMA fighters: Ikuhisa Minowa
Losses to fighters under 265 lbs: Fedor Emelianenko [233 lbs], Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira [240 lbs], Ibragim Magomedov [248 lbs], Geronimo dos Santos [264 lbs]
So what is a Super Heavyweight anyways?
As most of us know, Brock Lesnar, Ben Rothwell and Tim Sylvia all have to cut weight to reach the 265-pound limit in order to fight at Heavyweight.
Then for anyone who simply can’t make the 265-pound cap or simply don’t want to, there is the enigmatic Super Heavyweight division of MMA.
The theory behind the creation of the Super Heavyweight division as a part of the unified rules of MMA seemed to make sense at the time: “There are these giant men who will crush the life out of ordinary sized fighters with ease. We have to protect everyone from these Goliaths! They could seriously hurt anyone who is not also freakishly huge!”
But do they?
Well, the truth is that things have definitely not played out that way. The Super Heavyweight division is so insignificant that the UFC, Pride FC, Strikeforce and almost every other promotion in the history of MMA has not bothered to create a Super Heavyweight division and title.
Japanese promoters in particular have gotten a lot of mileage out of throwing guys like Fedor and Big-Nog at these monsters and beating them.
These are more carnival-freak fights than anything else. The trouble is, there simply aren’t any Super Heavyweights that are actually a threat.
They certainly do look terrifying, but there has never been a true Super Heavyweight that could have beaten any Heavyweight Champion, past, present or future.
For starters, who are some of these giants that the Unified Rules of MMA and the Nevada State Athletic Commission are so keen to protect people from?
Let’s begin with this qualifier: To be considered a true Super-Heavyweight, you have to be so big that cutting weight down to 265 lbs is an impossible task. That rules out Semmy Schilt, Ron Waterman, Mark Hunt and a whole host of others.
So without further ado, here are the top six true Super-Heavyweights on the planet:
6. Zuluzinho (Wagner da Conceição Martins)
Height/Weight: 6’7” and 407 lbs
MMA Record: 18 wins and 6 losses
Wins over elite MMA fighters: Ikuhisa Minowa
Losses to fighters under 265 lbs: Fedor Emelianenko [233 lbs], Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira [240 lbs], Ibragim Magomedov [248 lbs], Geronimo dos Santos [264 lbs]
5.) Dan Bobish
Height/Weight: 6’1” and 330 lbs
MMA Record: 17 wins, 9 losses
Wins over elite MMA fighters: None
Losses to fighters under 265 lbs: Kevin Randleman [205 lbs], Carlos Barreto [230 lbs], Mark Kerr [263 lbs], Gary Goodridge [240 lbs], Igor Vovchanchyn [230 lbs], Ben Rothwell [265 lbs], Aleksander Emelianenko [255 lbs]
So what is a Super Heavyweight anyways?
As most of us know, Brock Lesnar, Ben Rothwell and Tim Sylvia all have to cut weight to reach the 265-pound limit in order to fight at Heavyweight.
Then for anyone who simply can’t make the 265-pound cap or simply don’t want to, there is the enigmatic Super Heavyweight division of MMA.
The theory behind the creation of the Super Heavyweight division as a part of the unified rules of MMA seemed to make sense at the time: “There are these giant men who will crush the life out of ordinary sized fighters with ease. We have to protect everyone from these Goliaths! They could seriously hurt anyone who is not also freakishly huge!”
But do they?
Well, the truth is that things have definitely not played out that way. The Super Heavyweight division is so insignificant that the UFC, Pride FC, Strikeforce and almost every other promotion in the history of MMA has not bothered to create a Super Heavyweight division and title.
Japanese promoters in particular have gotten a lot of mileage out of throwing guys like Fedor and Big-Nog at these monsters and beating them.
These are more carnival-freak fights than anything else. The trouble is, there simply aren’t any Super Heavyweights that are actually a threat.
They certainly do look terrifying, but there has never been a true Super Heavyweight that could have beaten any Heavyweight Champion, past, present or future.
For starters, who are some of these giants that the Unified Rules of MMA and the Nevada State Athletic Commission are so keen to protect people from?
Let’s begin with this qualifier: To be considered a true Super-Heavyweight, you have to be so big that cutting weight down to 265 lbs is an impossible task. That rules out Semmy Schilt, Ron Waterman, Mark Hunt and a whole host of others.
So without further ado, here are the top six true Super-Heavyweights on the planet:
6. Zuluzinho (Wagner da Conceição Martins)
Height/Weight: 6’7” and 407 lbs
MMA Record: 18 wins and 6 losses
Wins over elite MMA fighters: Ikuhisa Minowa
Losses to fighters under 265 lbs: Fedor Emelianenko [233 lbs], Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira [240 lbs], Ibragim Magomedov [248 lbs], Geronimo dos Santos [264 lbs]
5.) Dan Bobish
Height/Weight: 6’1” and 330 lbs
MMA Record: 17 wins, 9 losses
Wins over elite MMA fighters: None
Losses to fighters under 265 lbs: Kevin Randleman [205 lbs], Carlos Barreto [230 lbs], Mark Kerr [263 lbs], Gary Goodridge [240 lbs], Igor Vovchanchyn [230 lbs], Ben Rothwell [265 lbs], Aleksander Emelianenko [255 lbs]
4.) Eric “Butterbean” Esch
Height/Weight: 5’11” and 405 lbs
MMA Record: 14 wins, 6 losses, 1 draw
Wins over elite MMA fighters: None
Losses to fighters under 265 lbs: Genki Sudo [154 lbs], Ikuhisa Minowa [196 lbs], Tengiz Tedoradze [242 lbs], Nick Penner [227 lbs], Patrick Smith [225]
So what is a Super Heavyweight anyways?
As most of us know, Brock Lesnar, Ben Rothwell and Tim Sylvia all have to cut weight to reach the 265-pound limit in order to fight at Heavyweight.
Then for anyone who simply can’t make the 265-pound cap or simply don’t want to, there is the enigmatic Super Heavyweight division of MMA.
The theory behind the creation of the Super Heavyweight division as a part of the unified rules of MMA seemed to make sense at the time: “There are these giant men who will crush the life out of ordinary sized fighters with ease. We have to protect everyone from these Goliaths! They could seriously hurt anyone who is not also freakishly huge!”
But do they?
Well, the truth is that things have definitely not played out that way. The Super Heavyweight division is so insignificant that the UFC, Pride FC, Strikeforce and almost every other promotion in the history of MMA has not bothered to create a Super Heavyweight division and title.
Japanese promoters in particular have gotten a lot of mileage out of throwing guys like Fedor and Big-Nog at these monsters and beating them.
These are more carnival-freak fights than anything else. The trouble is, there simply aren’t any Super Heavyweights that are actually a threat.
They certainly do look terrifying, but there has never been a true Super Heavyweight that could have beaten any Heavyweight Champion, past, present or future.
For starters, who are some of these giants that the Unified Rules of MMA and the Nevada State Athletic Commission are so keen to protect people from?
Let’s begin with this qualifier: To be considered a true Super-Heavyweight, you have to be so big that cutting weight down to 265 lbs is an impossible task. That rules out Semmy Schilt, Ron Waterman, Mark Hunt and a whole host of others.
So without further ado, here are the top six true Super-Heavyweights on the planet:
6. Zuluzinho (Wagner da Conceição Martins)
Height/Weight: 6’7” and 407 lbs
MMA Record: 18 wins and 6 losses
Wins over elite MMA fighters: Ikuhisa Minowa
Losses to fighters under 265 lbs: Fedor Emelianenko [233 lbs], Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira [240 lbs], Ibragim Magomedov [248 lbs], Geronimo dos Santos [264 lbs]
5.) Dan Bobish
Height/Weight: 6’1” and 330 lbs
MMA Record: 17 wins, 9 losses
Wins over elite MMA fighters: None
Losses to fighters under 265 lbs: Kevin Randleman [205 lbs], Carlos Barreto [230 lbs], Mark Kerr [263 lbs], Gary Goodridge [240 lbs], Igor Vovchanchyn [230 lbs], Ben Rothwell [265 lbs], Aleksander Emelianenko [255 lbs]
4.) Eric “Butterbean” Esch
Height/Weight: 5’11” and 405 lbs
MMA Record: 14 wins, 6 losses, 1 draw
Wins over elite MMA fighters: None
Losses to fighters under 265 lbs: Genki Sudo [154 lbs], Ikuhisa Minowa [196 lbs], Tengiz Tedoradze [242 lbs], Nick Penner [227 lbs], Patrick Smith [225]
3.) Eric Pele
Height/Weight: 6'2" and 340 lbs
MMA record: 11 wins, 5 losses
Wins over elite MMA fighters: Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva
Losses to fighters under 265 lbs: Bobby Hoffman [245 lbs], Aleksander Emelianenko [255 lbs], Akhmet Sultanov, Chase Gormley [262 lbs]
So what is a Super Heavyweight anyways?
As most of us know, Brock Lesnar, Ben Rothwell and Tim Sylvia all have to cut weight to reach the 265-pound limit in order to fight at Heavyweight.
Then for anyone who simply can’t make the 265-pound cap or simply don’t want to, there is the enigmatic Super Heavyweight division of MMA.
The theory behind the creation of the Super Heavyweight division as a part of the unified rules of MMA seemed to make sense at the time: “There are these giant men who will crush the life out of ordinary sized fighters with ease. We have to protect everyone from these Goliaths! They could seriously hurt anyone who is not also freakishly huge!”
But do they?
Well, the truth is that things have definitely not played out that way. The Super Heavyweight division is so insignificant that the UFC, Pride FC, Strikeforce and almost every other promotion in the history of MMA has not bothered to create a Super Heavyweight division and title.
Japanese promoters in particular have gotten a lot of mileage out of throwing guys like Fedor and Big-Nog at these monsters and beating them.
These are more carnival-freak fights than anything else. The trouble is, there simply aren’t any Super Heavyweights that are actually a threat.
They certainly do look terrifying, but there has never been a true Super Heavyweight that could have beaten any Heavyweight Champion, past, present or future.
For starters, who are some of these giants that the Unified Rules of MMA and the Nevada State Athletic Commission are so keen to protect people from?
Let’s begin with this qualifier: To be considered a true Super-Heavyweight, you have to be so big that cutting weight down to 265 lbs is an impossible task. That rules out Semmy Schilt, Ron Waterman, Mark Hunt and a whole host of others.
So without further ado, here are the top six true Super-Heavyweights on the planet:
6. Zuluzinho (Wagner da Conceição Martins)
Height/Weight: 6’7” and 407 lbs
MMA Record: 18 wins and 6 losses
Wins over elite MMA fighters: Ikuhisa Minowa
Losses to fighters under 265 lbs: Fedor Emelianenko [233 lbs], Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira [240 lbs], Ibragim Magomedov [248 lbs], Geronimo dos Santos [264 lbs]
5.) Dan Bobish
Height/Weight: 6’1” and 330 lbs
MMA Record: 17 wins, 9 losses
Wins over elite MMA fighters: None
Losses to fighters under 265 lbs: Kevin Randleman [205 lbs], Carlos Barreto [230 lbs], Mark Kerr [263 lbs], Gary Goodridge [240 lbs], Igor Vovchanchyn [230 lbs], Ben Rothwell [265 lbs], Aleksander Emelianenko [255 lbs]
4.) Eric “Butterbean” Esch
Height/Weight: 5’11” and 405 lbs
MMA Record: 14 wins, 6 losses, 1 draw
Wins over elite MMA fighters: None
Losses to fighters under 265 lbs: Genki Sudo [154 lbs], Ikuhisa Minowa [196 lbs], Tengiz Tedoradze [242 lbs], Nick Penner [227 lbs], Patrick Smith [225]
3.) Eric Pele
Height/Weight: 6'2" and 340 lbs
MMA record: 11 wins, 5 losses
Wins over elite MMA fighters: Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva
Losses to fighters under 265 lbs: Bobby Hoffman [245 lbs], Aleksander Emelianenko [255 lbs], Akhmet Sultanov, Chase Gormley [262 lbs]
2.) Hong-Man Choi
Height/Weight: 7'2" and 320 lbs
MMA Record: 2 wins, 3 losses {12 wins and 6 losses in kickboxing}
Wins over elite MMA fighters: None in MMA fights, holds a kickboxing victory over Semmy Schilt.
Losses to fighters under 265 lbs: Fedor Emelianenko [233 lbs], Mirko Cro-Cop Filipovic [226 lbs], Ikuhisa Minowa [196 lbs].
So what is a Super Heavyweight anyways?
As most of us know, Brock Lesnar, Ben Rothwell and Tim Sylvia all have to cut weight to reach the 265-pound limit in order to fight at Heavyweight.
Then for anyone who simply can’t make the 265-pound cap or simply don’t want to, there is the enigmatic Super Heavyweight division of MMA.
The theory behind the creation of the Super Heavyweight division as a part of the unified rules of MMA seemed to make sense at the time: “There are these giant men who will crush the life out of ordinary sized fighters with ease. We have to protect everyone from these Goliaths! They could seriously hurt anyone who is not also freakishly huge!”
But do they?
Well, the truth is that things have definitely not played out that way. The Super Heavyweight division is so insignificant that the UFC, Pride FC, Strikeforce and almost every other promotion in the history of MMA has not bothered to create a Super Heavyweight division and title.
Japanese promoters in particular have gotten a lot of mileage out of throwing guys like Fedor and Big-Nog at these monsters and beating them.
These are more carnival-freak fights than anything else. The trouble is, there simply aren’t any Super Heavyweights that are actually a threat.
They certainly do look terrifying, but there has never been a true Super Heavyweight that could have beaten any Heavyweight Champion, past, present or future.
For starters, who are some of these giants that the Unified Rules of MMA and the Nevada State Athletic Commission are so keen to protect people from?
Let’s begin with this qualifier: To be considered a true Super-Heavyweight, you have to be so big that cutting weight down to 265 lbs is an impossible task. That rules out Semmy Schilt, Ron Waterman, Mark Hunt and a whole host of others.
So without further ado, here are the top six true Super-Heavyweights on the planet:
6. Zuluzinho (Wagner da Conceição Martins)
Height/Weight: 6’7” and 407 lbs
MMA Record: 18 wins and 6 losses
Wins over elite MMA fighters: Ikuhisa Minowa
Losses to fighters under 265 lbs: Fedor Emelianenko [233 lbs], Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira [240 lbs], Ibragim Magomedov [248 lbs], Geronimo dos Santos [264 lbs]
5.) Dan Bobish
Height/Weight: 6’1” and 330 lbs
MMA Record: 17 wins, 9 losses
Wins over elite MMA fighters: None
Losses to fighters under 265 lbs: Kevin Randleman [205 lbs], Carlos Barreto [230 lbs], Mark Kerr [263 lbs], Gary Goodridge [240 lbs], Igor Vovchanchyn [230 lbs], Ben Rothwell [265 lbs], Aleksander Emelianenko [255 lbs]
4.) Eric “Butterbean” Esch
Height/Weight: 5’11” and 405 lbs
MMA Record: 14 wins, 6 losses, 1 draw
Wins over elite MMA fighters: None
Losses to fighters under 265 lbs: Genki Sudo [154 lbs], Ikuhisa Minowa [196 lbs], Tengiz Tedoradze [242 lbs], Nick Penner [227 lbs], Patrick Smith [225]
3.) Eric Pele
Height/Weight: 6'2" and 340 lbs
MMA record: 11 wins, 5 losses
Wins over elite MMA fighters: Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva
Losses to fighters under 265 lbs: Bobby Hoffman [245 lbs], Aleksander Emelianenko [255 lbs], Akhmet Sultanov, Chase Gormley [262 lbs]
2.) Hong-Man Choi
Height/Weight: 7'2" and 320 lbs
MMA Record: 2 wins, 3 losses {12 wins and 6 losses in kickboxing}
Wins over elite MMA fighters: None in MMA fights, holds a kickboxing victory over Semmy Schilt.
Losses to fighters under 265 lbs: Fedor Emelianenko [233 lbs], Mirko Cro-Cop Filipovic [226 lbs], Ikuhisa Minowa [196 lbs].
1.) Bob Sapp
Height/Weight: 6'4" and 340 lbs
MMA record: 10 wins, 6 losses, 1 draw {10 wins and 9 losses in kickboxing}
Wins over elite MMA fighters: None.
Losses to fighters under 265 lbs: Antonio "Big-Nog" Nogueira [240 lbs], Mirko Cro-Cop Filipovic [226 lbs] (kickboxing bout), Kazuyuki Fujita 236 lbs], Ikuhisa Minowa [196 lbs], Bobby Lashley [252 lbs], Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou [204 lbs].
The numbers tell the tale. The Super Heavyweights seem to be the ones who need protecting from the ranks of smaller fighters, not the other way around.
I think that the time has come to merge the Super Heavyweight and Heavyweight divisions. That would mean simply eliminating the 265 lbs limit at Heavyweight.
This would certainly help the Heavyweight division, which can tend to run a bit thin on fighters.
If the day comes that these Goliath, freakishly huge fighters are an overwhelming force at Heavyweight, then by all means re-create the Super Heavyweight Division.
But today, Super Heavyweight is the most pointless weight class in all of MMA.
If you don't believe me, go back and watch the first round of the 2009 DREAM Super Hulk Grand Prix.
(Hint: All the Super Heavyweight giants lost in the very first round.)
by Correspondent Written on February 13, 2010 
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