March Madness has inspired ESPN analysts to construct their own bracketology, this time focusing on the MMA heavyweight division. Driven by upcoming bouts featuring former champions like Francis Ngannou and Alex Pereira moving up in weight, the panel seeded the top big men across the sport. Brett Okamoto, Jeff Wagenheim, and Andreas Hale then broke down how the hypothetical 16-man tournament would unfold from the Sweet 16 onward.

Early results saw top seed Tom Aspinall dispatching Gable Steveson via TKO, while the highly anticipated clash between Alex Pereira and Vadim Nemkov went to Pereira by a contested decision. Sergei Pavlovich secured a second-round KO over Ante Delija, showcasing the continuing power of the Russian contingent in the bracket. These early matchups immediately tested the perceived order of the division.

In the Elite Eight projection, Aspinall again prevailed, stopping Pereira in the second round, primarily due to Aspinall’s superior grappling advantage over the former middleweight champion. Waldo Cortes-Acosta earned a split decision upset over Pavlovich, capitalizing on Pavlovich’s recent inactivity compared to Cortes-Acosta’s current run of three straight knockouts.

Valter Walker delivered the biggest upset, submitting No. 2 seed Alexander Volkov in the first round, proving that a narrow specialist can derail established contenders. The projections reveal a deep and competitive field, setting the stage for potential real-world clashes down the line involving these top heavyweights.