I don't understand why MMA fighters take long breaks in their prime

[OneGloveGracie]

I don't understand why they would waste such a small window of their physical prime on the sidelines.

Their bodies are only in their prime for about 8% of their life. They have the other 92% to relax and party. Why waste it while you're still young and strong? You have another 40+ years after you retire to chill. Why not try to fight 10 times a year?

It's sad to see these fighters take so many years off and then try to make a come back in their late 40's realizing that they can't turn back time.

 

[Threetrees]

It's sad to see these fighters take so many years off and then try to make a come back in their late 40's realizing that they can't turn back time.

 

[HHJ]

yes there really are so many fighters returning in their late 40s

 

[HeDucking]

Where on earth did you get your numbers from?

Ill tell you, it rhymes with "bass".

 

[OneGloveGracie]

yes there really are so many fighters returning in their late 40s

The UFC isn't the only organization. You guys need to follow other mma orgs.

 

[surgeyou1]

Training camps can be brutal on the body. Sometimes its good to clear your head and rest for a bit.

Guys like Stevenson and Mein started a young age and got burnt out very quickly fighting so often.

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

Some fighters like vacations, others like to be cucks and submit to their control-freak baby-mamas

 

[HHJ]

The UFC isn't the only organization. You guys need to follow other mma orgs.

you are really gonna drag this out and not cite one example from your thread? lol

Why does ken shamrock and royce gracie take time off? because they retire.

Then some company like bellator is actually willing to pay them main event money and they climb out of their wheelchairs to get to work.

They dont WANT to fight. They just know that they cannot turn down money like that.

They are not interested in having a good fight. They do it for the money.

 

[HaikenEdge]

Because, contrary to popular belief here on Sherdog, fighting is hard.

 

[skysolo]

Some fighters like vacations, others like to be cucks and submit to their control-freak baby-mamas

I thought the OP was ridiculous, but you surpassed it with this post. Holy shit!

 

[Sjb1888]

Prime won't last if you don't let the body heal, training and fighting takes a toll...

 

[TheGrouch]

LOL @ 10 times per year....

Slight tangent, but the cutting of 15+ pounds before each fight is probably a big reason why most fighters take more time off in between fights.

 

[ChucksGlassJaw]

Because getting punched in the face hurts.

 

[777 Others]

It's almost as if they need time to recover from each fight and prep for the next ones.........pussies!!

 

[IndyCovaHart]

Some people care more about resting on big pay checks than actually fighting.

 

[Davemeddlehed]

Training camps can be brutal on the body. Sometimes its good to clear your head and rest for a bit.

Guys like Stevenson and Mein started a young age and got burnt out very quickly fighting so often.

Bingo. It's no wonder we saw plenty of fighters fighting 6+ times a year back in the infancy of the sport, because training camps, and specializing your camp for a certain opponent really wasn't a thing so much as just staying in shape and playing to your own strengths.

Training camp is where a vast majority of the damage comes from, both to the brain and everything else.

 

[Davemeddlehed]

LOL @ 10 times per year....

Slight tangent, but the cutting of 15+ pounds before each fight is probably a big reason why most fighters take more time off in between fights.

Yes and no. You'd be surprised how quickly you feel fine after you've rehydrated fully.

Back when I was wrestling it was usually no more than a day or two of feeling not 100%.

 

[MuayThai101]

MMA is the hardest sport in the world in terms of breaking your body down. And with the addition of USADA testing, fighters cant repair their bodies as fast as other athletes in other sports. Sad truth.

 

[Sporeborn]

Must be one "those" days on Sherdog.

 

[Fraz]

Where on earth did you get your numbers from?

Ill tell you, it rhymes with "bass".

Space?