Only one UFC division has fewer active fighters than heavyweight, so is Joe Rogan’s concerns about its shallow depth justified?
Last month, Joe Rogan shared a major concern about the UFC heavyweight division, claiming that the weight class “is so shallow” compared to what it once was.
“I was just thinking that the other day, because if they don’t make Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall, what is compelling?” pondered the UFC commentator – Bloody Elbow caught up with a surging heavyweight prospect to ask him about those comments.
10-0 heavyweight contender responds to Joe Rogan’s comments
In an exclusive conversation with Bloody Elbow, Mick Parkin was keen to drive home the fact that the heavyweight division is only shallow in terms of the number of fighters, not the fights themselves.
“It’s not shallow as like there’s not hard fights [out there], there are a lot of hard fights, but I think – I saw someone on Instagram the other day post, I think [it said] there was only 30 fighters signed to the heavyweight division, once they’d release people.
“30 people, that’s like a couple of fights and you’re already at the top; like that’s all you can fight is 30 people – or 29 including yourself – there might be more, but that does sound about right.”
The UFC Roster Watch website currently lists 33 active fighters in the heavyweight division – only one division has fewer than that figure, the women’s bantamweight division, with 32.
“It’s shallow as in there’s not many fights but it’s also the most [entertaining division] because you could have it nailed on that someone’s going to win this weekend, like ‘He is definitely going to win’ – and he can [still] get knocked out by the other guy,” continued Parkin.
“That’s what so exciting about it, and sometimes they can look absolutely terrible, you think ‘This guy looks absolutely terrible’ and he can still knock the [other] person out in the last round and get the win.”
Whilst it might be true that the heavyweight division isn’t as populated as it once was, the lack of meaningful competition also means that it’s easier (or at least quicker) to move through the ranks.
“So, it’s hard to judge but yeah, it is shallow in there, not many people… That’s obviously why it is, there’s just not that many of us – which is good for me as well, I can get there [to the top] a little bit quicker.”
Mick Parkin returns to action on March 22 at UFC London
Mick Parkin earned his spot on the UFC roster with a brutal first-round knockout on Dana White’s Contender Series in August 2022; and since then, he’s been perfect inside the octagon.
The English juggernaut scored three unanimous decision wins in his first three bouts under the UFC banner, before landing a monumental first-round KO of Lukasz Brzeski in his last fight.
Parkin, now 10-0 as a professional, returns to action on the preliminary card of UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs Brady, and is set to face divisional veteran, Marcin Tybura.
At the time of writing, Parkin retains around 65% of the Tapology Community Picks, the majority of whom are predicting another decision win for the surging 29-year-old.
UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs Brady is scheduled for Saturday, March 22 at the O2 Arena in London.