Is 40 too old to start training and competing in MMA?

Sherwolf said:
Serious question guys. I've been pretty active in sports since I was very young and I currently get to the gym doing basic weight training a few times a week. My cardio isn't that great mainly cause I don't like running on the hamster-mill, but I'm sure I can built it up with some hard work.

I'm about 5-11 and 180lbs of fast twitch fiber muscle. I think I have good bio-mechanics in general and I can throw fundamental punches and kicks.

If I really wanted to CM Punk it and go for it (and I am way more athletic then that fool), is it realistic that I can compete as an amateur or pro at some point? What's a realistic time to train and get into the cage? I don't have any belt rating or prior martial arts experience. My only advantages are my athleticism and strength. Since I'm 180lb with no diet, I would probably fight at 170lb.

I'm wondering if anyone has gone on this journey post 40 and if you can share your experience?
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Honestly, you're perfect for the LHW/HW division if you put on some fat.
 
It depends on what your goals and expectations are. Anybody can train. If you train at a good gym, stay healthy and committed you most likely can find an amateur fight eventually. You just most likely aren't ever going to be the UFC WW champion. If you are doing it to get better at something and have fun, yes by all means. If you are going to be dissatisfied if you aren't the best in the world, don't do it.
 
mbffm said:
If its all about being professional, you better go into porn instead of fighting.
You get to bang better girls, dont need as much cardio as you need in the cage, and the perspective of becoming pro is much better.

Oh, and your payday will be bigger too!

So here is my advice: Do porn.
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Won't happen. TS might have "fast twitch" muscles, but he has a tiny, laughable old man penis.
 
The time you are spending thinking and posting questions about it, is time you could be dedicated to getting into the proper shape and fighting guys have your age in your backyard promotion.

Show those whipper-snapper snowflakes what's up.
 
It's probably highly unlikely, but who the fuck knows, you might be an outlier among outliers. Fuck the haters, go for it. If you fall flat on your face then so be it, at least you won't have any regrets or what ifs.
 
Sherwolf said:
Serious question guys. I've been pretty active in sports since I was very young and I currently get to the gym doing basic weight training a few times a week. My cardio isn't that great mainly cause I don't like running on the hamster-mill, but I'm sure I can built it up with some hard work.

I'm about 5-11 and 180lbs of fast twitch fiber muscle. I think I have good bio-mechanics in general and I can throw fundamental punches and kicks.

If I really wanted to CM Punk it and go for it (and I am way more athletic then that fool), is it realistic that I can compete as an amateur or pro at some point? What's a realistic time to train and get into the cage? I don't have any belt rating or prior martial arts experience. My only advantages are my athleticism and strength. Since I'm 180lb with no diet, I would probably fight at 170lb.

I'm wondering if anyone has gone on this journey post 40 and if you can share your experience?
Click to expand...
It's possible if you are doing it for fun and not looking to make a career out of it. I turned pro at 35 in 2013, just for fun.. a hobby as I got older, plus as an instructor, I wanted Pro fight experience in MMA. I fought Am at 155, 145 and 135. I fought Pro at 145, 135 and 125. 5ft 9in, walked around at 173lbs with 9% body fat as an Am, 40yrs old this year and walk around at 157lbs with 5% body fat. But if your cardio is suspect, then that could be a huge hindrance. My cardio and my speed in any sport I played since a youth, were always my strengths physically. I have always trained in various Martial Arts since a youth, have a cousin who is a Pro Boxer and one of my bestfriends is the son of a well respected Thai Boxer.. so I lucked out and had their help, plus their connections, when I pursued the fun of fighting in MMA. But as fit as my body is, age is a reality and I stopped after two yrs because of multiple injuries I began to get often while training for fights.. I had to cancel more fights then I actually took. But as someone who grasps what you are doing, I would say try it out, give it your all and don't half ass it along the way! Good luck and if you need a help getting a fight, message me, I can give you some contacts to hit up and see if you can get on an event out here in Ca or in Nv.
 
Wait a few more years and you will gain old man strength.. then you could be no1 .. I shock people with my grip strength .. 'my female victim's' there always impressed that I can choke em with one hand.
 
Wayne McDuke said:
I am 40(6-5, 230 and out of shape, normal sherdog) and I’m worried my 14 yr old(6-2,140) will kick my ass soon. Puberty strength is greater than old man strength. Don’t fight young bucks unless you are ready to retire
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No ... I've proven that theory wrong I've smashed loads of 13 year olds..
 
It is absolutely not too late to train. You definitely want to work on the cardio, though.

As far as competing, it depends on what your goals are. If you want to have the experience, go for it. If you're wanting to be a champion on the local circuit, time is not on your side, but who knows.

By all means, at least start training.
 
You wont get a contract. But of course you can develop the skills to be a fighter at that age.

Herschel Walker did it so well at age 48 or whatever.

But he was an A level athlete which you arent
 
If you were 30 it would be different story, i'd give you a 1% chance of getting on Artem's level. But man 40? It takes years to get good at Bjj, wrestling, kickboxing etc. Even Randy Couture had a big wrestling backround. It's not a few years work. Sure you could fight at the local shows but even those guys would wreck a 43-45 year old man. You are overestimating your abilities (fast twitch muscle lol how the fuck you know you have it if you have never even thrown a punch? I'd say go just train for fun and you'll kick 99% of untrained men asses
 
fractal said:
Actually it's offence. C for nouns, and S for verbs. In this context, it would be a noun. Unless I'm wrong.

EDIT: My bad. I see it's an American vs English thing. Always though it was a noun vs verb usage (like practice/practise).
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I am somewhat at fault being ignorant to their even being another way.
 
2004 account said:
Btw Fuck all these milenials talking shit about their elders. Show some respect, it really comes off as a ignorant and shows you probably had bad parenting.
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Old fart detected.

He could fight as an amateur, no one would have a problem. But thinking that he could make it to UFC for example is retarded.
 
I'd say it depends on what kind of shape you are in, your testosterone levels and if you have had any injuries.

If you have been injury free most of your life and are already in shape, I think you can easily train and fight on the local scene. You are definitely going in at a disadvantage because naturally, you're not going to be as fast, have the same energy or recovery as someone in their 20s but you could still be good.

Making it to the UFC though, you'd pretty much have to be a freak athlete and already have some martial arts or wrestling experience. Time is not on your side at 40 to make it to the big leagues.
 
Sherwolf said:
Serious question guys. I've been pretty active in sports since I was very young and I currently get to the gym doing basic weight training a few times a week. My cardio isn't that great mainly cause I don't like running on the hamster-mill, but I'm sure I can built it up with some hard work.

I'm about 5-11 and 180lbs of fast twitch fiber muscle. I think I have good bio-mechanics in general and I can throw fundamental punches and kicks.

If I really wanted to CM Punk it and go for it (and I am way more athletic then that fool), is it realistic that I can compete as an amateur or pro at some point? What's a realistic time to train and get into the cage? I don't have any belt rating or prior martial arts experience. My only advantages are my athleticism and strength. Since I'm 180lb with no diet, I would probably fight at 170lb.

I'm wondering if anyone has gone on this journey post 40 and if you can share your experience?
Click to expand...

Serious Answer. Yes you are.

I'm 33 years old and just retired from Comp Boxing. I started when I was 21 and kept in very good shape with little to no injuries due to training. I did MMA, Muay Thai and the sweet science.

Just this last January, I fought for the Golden gloves Title. (179) I won my first two fights and felt great especially, against younger guys. 3rd and Title fight, my opponent was about 9 years younger than me with the same record and amount of fights. Holy Shit. He beat the living piss out of me. By the end of the 2nd round my legs were done and I basically was in pure survivor mode.

I made it all the way through but the only reason why I survived was fight IQ, and pure grit. I'm a very technical fighter, and very calm. But in all my years of competing, I never felt so out classed and so despaired. My body just stopped working really.

I'm pretty athletic, 5'9 and walk around 190-195 and cut down to 179-185. I do cryo, stretching, etc...but doesn't stop the clock.

At your age, I'd try sparring and doing some sim fights before you really go. Learn the fight game, build that fight IQ. last thing you want is to be 40 years old and get your face blasted off by a younger guy with foam coming out of his mouth and years of training.,
 
Sherwolf said:
Serious question guys. I've been pretty active in sports since I was very young and I currently get to the gym doing basic weight training a few times a week. My cardio isn't that great mainly cause I don't like running on the hamster-mill, but I'm sure I can built it up with some hard work.

I'm about 5-11 and 180lbs of fast twitch fiber muscle. I think I have good bio-mechanics in general and I can throw fundamental punches and kicks.

If I really wanted to CM Punk it and go for it (and I am way more athletic then that fool), is it realistic that I can compete as an amateur or pro at some point? What's a realistic time to train and get into the cage? I don't have any belt rating or prior martial arts experience. My only advantages are my athleticism and strength. Since I'm 180lb with no diet, I would probably fight at 170lb.

I'm wondering if anyone has gone on this journey post 40 and if you can share your experience?
Click to expand...
I'm over 40 and I've been in open weight bjj comps and got to a decent level (brown) under lagarto..
And not once did I ever think about having a MMA fight...
I have 5 brothers so I've been punched in the face enough..but fucked if I'd want to do it for real.

Rolling bjj.was.enough..

You'd pretty much get wrecked..
On the ground my old arse would wreck you..
Stop dreaming..
 
Lets see....40 years old and zero martial arts experience.


Are you fucking kidding me?

You'll get CM Punked in a old gym with 25 ppl in attendance. Why not just ask your wife to spit in your face and call you an old limp dick?
 
you can even start with 20-30 years in MMA lol

at 40? Just give it a try .. If you have no sporting experience at all, it will be difficult.

D level payment
F level fans
 
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