Do you consider MMA as an old man sport?

[Misanthropist]

Nothing has changed.

Current UFC champions -
Deiveson Figueiredo - 34 years old
Aljamain Sterling - 33 years old
Alexander Volkanovski - 33 years old
Charles Oliveira - 32 years old
Kamaru Usman - 35 years old
Francis Ngannou - 35 years old
Jiří Procházka was 1 minute away from losing against a 42 years old Glover so likely to lose against 39 years old Jan Błachowicz

The majority of the top 5-10 contenders in those divisions are on their early to mid 30s.

MMA is the only physical demanding sport (?) where 30 to near 40 years old can become contenders and champions so do you consider it as an old man sport?

 

[HHJ]

Winning against Glover and also something that hasnt happerned yet dont count WAR JIRI GOATCHAZKA

 

[Zanmato]

MMA is the only physical demanding sport (?) where 30 to near 40 years old can become contenders and champions

First 6 on that list average age is 33... WBC champions:

HW - Fury - 33
CW - Makabu - 34
LHW - Beterbiev - 37
SMW - Canelo - 34
MW - Charlo - 32
WW - Spence Jr - 32

Average age 33

 

[HHJ]

The Illustrious God Fedor won the HW title at 27

 

[SSgt Dickweed]

First 6 on that list average age is 33... WBC champions:

HW - Fury - 33
CW - Makabu - 34
LHW - Beterbiev - 37
SMW - Canelo - 34
MW - Charlo - 32
WW - Spence Jr - 32

Average age 33

 

[13Seconds]

Being champ at 33 is normal. They can't all be Jones or Tyson.

 

[Brom Bones]

34 is the new 24. Old man Brady AKA G.O.A.T changed the game.

 

[loisestrad]

Grand Slam Winners of 2022:

Novak Djokovic, age 35
Rafael Nadal, age 36

Worlds best soccer players:

Messi, age 35
Ronaldo, age 37
Lewandowski, age 33

Etc, etc...

 

[Yellowcrab]

Worlds best soccer players:

Messi, age 35
Ronaldo, age 37

No, they aren't the best anymore right now. They're the best considering their career, but right now they're arent the best anymore... it's especially true for Ronaldo.

 

[Yellowcrab]

MMA is the only physical demanding sport (?) where 30 to near 40 years old can become contenders and champions so do you consider it as an old man sport?

Being 30/35 has nothing wrong in combat sports.

40 is clearly old though.

Only sports that purely rely on raw athleticism need young people, such as in track and field.

 

[Post 2 Decision]

It takes time to become a champion, you have to beat so many people and work your way up, you get old during that time.

It's not like other sports where you just compete yearly in different seasons and whatnot

 

[loisestrad]

No, they aren't the best anymore right now. They're the best considering their career, but right now they're arent the best anymore... it's especially true for Ronaldo.

Not the absolute best right now, no. But still "contenders", if that was a thing in soccer. Messi came in 2nd in 2021, Ronaldo 2nd in 2020, Lewandowski won in 2021 and 2020 - so doesn't really change anything.

 

[Sir Punchalot]

I’m 47. Those guys are all kids to me.

 

[kingghidrah]

MMA is the toughest sport to practice--to get actual, real practice--since real MMA practice is dangerous and damaging. So true experience comes with time. You can practice tennis and basketball 24/7 when you're in your teens and become world class in your early 20s, but real MMA training usually doesn't begin before 18 and it's a long time between bouts where you get your true feedback. The process takes time, and early 30s is about when your experience level is sufficient to be champ, while your physical skills are still intact

 

[TeenageMutantLesnarTurtle]

MMA is the only physical demanding sport (?) where 30 to near 40 years old can become contenders and champions

No it isnt. Practically every sport has plenty of athletes in their 30s competing at a high level.

 

[Stuart0502]

Only sports that purely rely on raw athleticism need young people, such as in track and field.

He won a world title with a slower time.

 

[eno78]

No, they aren't the best anymore right now. They're the best considering their career, but right now they're arent the best anymore... it's especially true for Ronaldo.

Ronaldo was 10x better than Messi last season

 

[hymn]

MMA is the only physical demanding sport (?) where 30 to near 40 years old can become contenders and champions so do you consider it as an old man sport?

this does happen in boxing pretty regularly too, especially in the heavier classes you've got fury, usyk, bivol, beterbiev etc all around 33-37 right now as champions and extreme outliers historically like hopkins or foreman

 

[Bearknuckle]

Lebron James - 37
Steph Curry - 34
Kevin Durant - 33
James Harden - 32

these are some of the best players in the nba…

 

[FlyingDeathKick]

I feel like most fighters take a while to put everything together. Even if they have the skills they may be lacking the experience and or mental edge they can gain after fighting for years. Oliveira was always really good but seems to be even better and mentally tougher since joining chute boxe.