Why/ how did Werdum peak so late?

[Franc Mittelo]

He didn't reach the top until he was in his late 30s.

But he's been around forever. He's been fighting since 2002. 15 years. I remember him fighting back in PRIDE and he was good but nothing special then. A career like his is very unique!

Everything is relative. Werdum has "peaked" because the talent pool in heavyweight is very shallow. You don't see 40 year olds competing at the top of the lower weight classes.

We can see Werdum's improvements because of the shallow talent pool. If the division was stacked with young skilled and talented HW's, who look like Francis Ngannou, Werdum would have gotten lost in the shuffle, and this thread would have been calling for his retirement. LOL

 

[Cro Cop Is Back]

Because he is a tough Mofo

 

[frandie2b]

Because Werdum is a technical guy, he never relied on his physical abilities to win fights.

My opinion is that a fighter that relies mostly on his speed/reflexes/power/chin will decline faster, because those abilities will fade with age.

However a fighter that relies mostly on technique will not decline as much, plus Werdum didn't take a lot of damages in his career and didn't have a lot of injuries.

 

[PlatinumAmerican]

he did the same kick in Pride, but people forgot

Which fight id love to watch, thanks for sharing

 

[DaPunkMinowaMan]

Which fight id love to watch, thanks for sharing

IIRC, the Kharitonov fight

 

[PlatinumAmerican]

IIRC, the Kharitonov fight

Yup this should have been on my list regardless

 

[turbotime]

Hilarious how Fedor fans cry at how Fedor was just old when Fedor TAPPED, when Werdum and him are basically the same age.

 

[DaPunkMinowaMan]

Hilarious how Fedor fans cry at how Fedor was just old when Fedor TAPPED, when Werdum and him are basically the same age.

what is hilarious is that u dont know the meaning of the word "prime"

 

[turbotime]

what is hilarious is that u dont know the meaning of the word "prime"

View attachment 312155

 

[DaPunkMinowaMan]

 

[FedorGOAT]

Which fight id love to watch, thanks for sharing

His fight against Overeem in Pirde. Also He threw that same kind of kick early in his career in Jungle fights. It's probably against Napo, but I might be wrong.

 

[turbotime]

View attachment 312159


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View attachment 312165

So that was what, Prime Werdum?



<7>

 

[DaPunkMinowaMan]

His fight against Overeem in Pirde. Also He threw that same kind of kick early in his career in Jungle fights. It's probably against Napo, but I might be wrong.

hmm...was it the Overeem or Kharitonov fight? Confused now...

 

[DaPunkMinowaMan]

So that was what, Prime Werdum?



<7>

forget about whose prime it was, think about the word itself.

 

[FedorGOAT]

hmm...was it the Overeem or Kharitonov fight? Confused now...

It was his Overeem fight. I am pretty sure sure about it.

 

[turbotime]

forget about whose prime it was, think about the word itself.

The only prime any man needs to worry about is Prime Carano.

 

[DaPunkMinowaMan]

It was his Overeem fight. I am pretty sure sure about it.

yeah,u must be right

 

[arrmike]

His striking improvement is actually slight. Enough to make a difference but not night/day.

Most of the difference is the hw division and his bad losses.

Nog was a beast. And so much better than Werdum that it made Werdum look 2nd tier. Prime Nog is probably ufc hw champ in 2018.

Werdum lacked confidence against Sergei. Was afraid to strike with him so he looked worse than his skill set.

 

[thobra]

He didn't reach the top until he was in his late 30s.

But he's been around forever. He's been fighting since 2002. 15 years. I remember him fighting back in PRIDE and he was good but nothing special then. A career like his is very unique!

He is slower, weaker And older than in his prime. His competition just got weaker.