The UFC heavyweight division is finally moving again after years of being stuck under Jon Jones, who owned the championship but didn’t defend it for almost two years. In June 2025, Jones departed the promotion, ending that period and making Tom Aspinall the uncontested champion. After that, Dana White promised that the heavyweight scene would never stop again. Since then, the UFC has followed up that promise with action, signing new fighters constantly, which is changing the division nearly overnight.
To begin with, the biggest splash so far came with former PFL champion Ante Delija, a close teammate of Tom Aspinall. ‘Walking Trouble’ didn’t waste time making headlines — he stormed into his debut and knocked out Marcin Tybura, a win that rocketed him straight into the heavyweight top 10.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Tom Aspinall’s division gets fresh talent under Dana White’s UFC push
Not long after, the UFC snagged another heavyweight in the name of Marcus ‘Buchecha’ Almeida. The 17-time BJJ world champion and ONE Championship veteran didn’t just stroll in; he brought a heavyweight dose of credibility, proving that this promotion is stacking the deck with talent instead of just filling seats. In September, the UFC’s heavyweight extravaganza rolled on, with The Matchmaker page on X revealing the arrival of the undefeated Polish sensation Marek Bujło.
The post stated: “Polish Heavyweight Marek Bujło (6-0) has signed with the UFC! The matchmakers are on an HW shopping spree lately, and Bujdzilla is the newest of the bunch!” As a result, Bujło, 6-0 on the Polish regional circuit, enters the UFC with hype, power, and an unbeaten record — exactly the kind of profile that keeps the heavyweight division buzzing.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
With Tom Aspinall on top, Ante Delija breaking into the rankings, and Buchecha joining the division, now ‘Bujdzilla’ is stepping up as well, meaning the UFC’s heavyweight division finally feels alive again. Although the division has been struggling to produce any new big names, the recent influx of talent is gradually starting to change that. Below, therefore, is the current UFC heavyweight landscape:
Dana White and UFC called out by Aspinall’s dad over heavyweight earnings
For years, critics have called out the UFC and Dana White over fighter pay. Despite the promotion generating billions—reportedly over $12 billion in net worth—it has consistently underpaid the athletes who drive the sport. Legal battles followed, including the class-action lawsuits Le v. Zuffa and Johnson v. Zuffa, which alleged that the UFC suppressed wages and limited competition. One case settled, and the others are still ongoing.
Now, recently crowned undisputed heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall could be eyeing a new arena: professional boxing. Not necessarily for glory, but for the financial upside, according to longtime coach and father Andy Aspinall. Andy doesn’t mince words. He believes elite UFC fighters, including his son, are far from earning their real value, pointing out that top boxers make “more than a hundred times” what UFC stars take home.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
He’s also mapped a 12-month roadmap for Tom Aspinall. First, the champion faces Ciryl Gane in a title defense at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi on October 25. From there, Andy hopes Tom returns in January, potentially headlining a show in England, before starting the transition toward a “very lucrative boxing fight.” The plan is clear: leverage the UFC platform to build a name, then step into boxing where the paychecks are far bigger. Andy questions why “somebody as talented as Tom shouldn’t have a piece of that [boxing] money,” highlighting the yawning pay gap between the two sports.
What’s your take on Andy Aspinall’s plan? Could Tom translate his UFC dominance into the boxing ring? And who would you like to see him face in his debut? Share your thoughts below.