MMA
Top 10 Super Heavyweight MMA Fighters
The super-heavyweight division is no longer a thing in elite promotions of mixed martial arts. But, back in the early 2000s, there were several fighters in the UFC that either fought at a catch-weight (above the heavyweight limit), or had to cut a lot of weight just to make the 265-pounds limit. In this article, we will rank and analyse the top 10 super-heavyweight MMA fighters in history…
Sean McCorkle//Getty Images
Methodology
The rankings are determined using the following measurable criteria:
Fight Record (40%): Career wins, losses, and no contests.
Weight (30%): Unique size and mass that set them apart.
Notable Achievements (20%): Titles won, signature victories, and contributions to MMA.
Impact on the Sport (10%): Influence and legacy within the MMA community.
Sources Used:
Critical Consensus: Top Super Heavyweight Fighters
The Critical Consensus Table combines data from Tapology and TheSportster as well as listing their record, weight and key achievements.
Critical Consensus Table
| Rank | Fighter | Record | Weight | Key Achievement | Tapology Rank | TheSportster Rank |
| 1 | Sean McCorkle | 17–7–0 | 275 lbs | UFC veteran, consistent record | 1 | N/A |
| 2 | Eric "Butterbean" Esch | 14–10–1 | 425 lbs | Boxing and MMA crossover | 3 | 3 |
| 3 | Alexandru Lungu | 22–5–0 | 360 lbs | Decorated super heavyweight | 7 | 7 |
| 4 | Emmanuel Yarbrough | 1–2–0 | 600 lbs | Heaviest MMA fighter in history | N/A | 1 |
| 5 | James Thompson | 20–17–0, 1 NC | 290 lbs | Iconic PRIDE appearances | 2 | N/A |
| 6 | Soa Palelei | 23–5–0 | 265 lbs | UFC standout, strong record | 4 | N/A |
| 7 | Bob Sapp | 12–20–0 | 350 lbs | Known for his striking power | 5 | N/A |
| 8 | Hong Man Choi | 4–5–0 | 310 lbs | K-1 and MMA fighter | 6 | N/A |
| 9 | Tim Sylvia | 31–10–0 | 310 lbs | Former UFC Heavyweight Champion | N/A | 8 |
| 10 | Brock Lesnar | 5–3–0, 1 NC | 285 lbs | UFC Heavyweight Champion | N/A | 9 |
SportsBoom MetaScale: Ranking the Fighters
The SportsBoom MetaScale takes into account several weighted aspects such as: fight record (40%), weight (30%), achievements (20%) and impact on the sport (10%). Here are the rankings below…
SportsBoom MetaScale
| Rank | Fighter | Fight Record (40%) | Weight (30%) | Achievements (20%) | Impact (10%) | MetaScale Score |
| 1 | Sean McCorkle | 36 | 18 | 16 | 8 | 78 |
| 2 | Eric "Butterbean" Esch | 28 | 30 | 14 | 7 | 79 |
| 3 | Alexandru Lungu | 36 | 27 | 15 | 6 | 84 |
| 4 | Emmanuel Yarbrough | 10 | 40 | 12 | 10 | 72 |
| 5 | James Thompson | 32 | 20 | 14 | 6 | 72 |
| 6 | Soa Palelei | 38 | 18 | 15 | 5 | 76 |
| 7 | Bob Sapp | 24 | 26 | 12 | 6 | 68 |
| 8 | Hong Man Choi | 18 | 25 | 10 | 5 | 58 |
| 9 | Tim Sylvia | 40 | 22 | 16 | 6 | 84 |
| 10 | Brock Lesnar | 24 | 22 | 18 | 8 | 72 |
1. Sean McCorkle
The UFC veteran, Sean McCorkle had a solid career in MMA, achieving a record of 17-7. McCorkle used to walk around at about 275-pounds, meaning he had to cut ten pounds to even be able to compete inside the cage in a legitimate weight division.
2. Eric Esch
Eric Butterbean Esch and James The Colossus Thompson//Getty Images
Eric Esch, otherwise known as Butterbean, is one of the heaviest fighters we have ever seen compete inside the cage, weighing 425-pounds. Because of his huge size, he was never able to compete in elite MMA leagues. Despite this, Esch had a solid MMA and boxing career.
3. Alexandru Lungu
Alexandru Lungu was a highly decorated Judo fighter and he brought those skills to the cage having had a successful MMA career which spanned 17 years. At 360-pounds, his only option was to fight in leagues and tournaments which were open to super-heavyweight bouts.
4. Emmanuel Yarbrough
Emmanuel Yarbrough is the heaviest fighter on this list, weighing in at around 600-pounds. Yarbrough only had three MMA fights in his career, accumulating a record of 1-2.
5. James Thompson
Despite holding a record of 20-17, James Thompson was somewhat of an icon in his PRIDE and Bellator days. His best achievement came when he defeated Dan Severn to win the Ultimate Combat heavyweight championship.
6. Soa Palelei
Weighing 265-pounds, Soa Palelei had devastating knockout power which we saw from his Cage Warrior and UFC days. The Australian won 22 of his 27 bouts with all of those wins coming inside the distance.
7. Bob Sapp
Bob Sapp had a losing record in MMA; 12-20. Despite this, he was in fact renowned for his striking power and entertainment value in the early stages of his career. Sapp weighed around 350-pounds so there's no wonder he packed a punch.
8. Hong Man Choi
Holding a record of 4-5 in MMA, Hong Man Choi weighed around 310-pounds when he was competing and he stood at 7ft2, making him one of the largest fighters to ever compete in MMA.
9. Tim Sylvia
Tim Sylvia is a former UFC heavyweight champion, and given his size, he was one of the most powerful fighters heavyweight MMA has ever seen, accumulating a record of 31-10.
10. Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar and Mark Hunt//Getty Images
Despite being one of the naturally heaviest fighters in combat sports, Brock Lesnar possessed freakish athleticism which allowed him to explode into strikes and takedowns before brutally finishing the fight with ground-and-pound. Lesnar is a former UFC heavyweight champion and one of the most reputable names in the history of the UFC.
SportsBoom Suggests
Sean McCorkle is recognised for his consistency and veteran experience, making him a standout super heavyweight who carved out an excellent UFC career.
Legends like Eric "Butterbean" Esch and Alexandru Lungu represent the unique diversity in size and skill within the division. However, they were unable to compete in the elite promotions due to their weight being far above the 265-pounds limit which is used by most elite leagues such as UFC and Bellator.
Emmanuel Yarbrough, as the heaviest fighter in MMA history, remains an iconic figure despite a short career. But, he is iconic purely for his record-breaking weight rather than his fighting style or ability.
Super heavyweight fighters may not always get the spotlight because of the lack of reputation, but these fighters demonstrate the remarkable diversity and dominance in MMA history. Fighters such as Sean McCorkle have left a lasting impact on the sport because of their reputation as giant men, but also their ability to win fights on the big scene in promotions such as the UFC.
However, Brock Lesnar will always be regarded as the best huge fighter when he burst onto the UFC roster and bull rushed everybody to winning the UFC heavyweight title before running into a prime Cain Velasquez and Alistair Overeem, who both brutally finished him in the first round.
Jake Staniland is a sports writer who excels in covering a wide range of sports: football, combat sports and the NFL - All three subjects are his lifelong passions.
Jake is a boyhood Sheffield United fan, which is often a curse that he thanks his family for. His favourite Blades player ever is Billy Sharp