Invité du podcast Green Light, Paddy Pimblett a notamment évoqué le profil de nombreux joueurs de football américain en NFL.
Why Paddy Pimblett Believes NFL Stars Would Dominate a Super-Heavyweight Class
Speaking on an appearance on the Green Light podcast hosted by former NFL players Jason Kelce and Beau Allen, the UFC lightweight contender addressed the physical limitations of the existing heavyweight division. According to Bloody Elbow reporting, Pimblett pointed out that many American football players scale up to 380 pounds while maintaining exceptional muscle definition and explosive power, traits that make them natural fits for combat sports if not constrained by weight limits.
“Yeah, just the freak athleticism that they’ve got,” Pimblett said on the podcast, as reported by Bloody Elbow. “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.”
Pimblett added that introducing a division above the current 265-pound ceiling would alter the landscape of the sport. “I’ve always said I think the UFC should have a super heavyweight division,” Pimblett said. “So if some of them done MMA, yeah, it would be scary.”
Historical Precedent for Football Players in MMA
Cross-sport integration between professional football and mixed martial arts is not entirely unprecedented. Over the years, several athletes have made the transition from the gridiron to the Octagon, including prominent heavyweights such as Brock Lesnar, Matt Mitrione, and Brendan Schaub.
Joe Rogan’s Past Stance on the 265-Pound Limit
During an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, UFC color commentator Joe Rogan voiced a similar long-held perspective regarding the absence of a super-heavyweight class.
“There is a super-heavyweight class but the UFC has never implemented it,” Rogan said during the 2022 podcast episode cited by Bloody Elbow. “It’s a super-heavyweight, over 265-pound weight class. It is kinda weird that there is a weight limit on the heavyweight class.”
Worth a look
