Is 40 with on/off mma training since 2012 too old to fight?

Poo4MMA

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Hi im a MMA entthusist and potential fighter, im 40 and already have a little experience and training on and off since 2010 and 2012. I trained in mma before but never saw the cage, im 40 now but i want to know is being a fighter still realistic? I want to fight in cage! Is it too late?
 
No, just dont plan to make a career out of it. You can have a couple fights. You're not going to make any money though. You can do amateur bouts too.
 
No, just dont plan to make a career out of it. You can have a couple fights. You're not going to make any money though. You can do amateur bouts too.

Yeah start by getting into regular training, if you and your coaches think you're ready for an amateur fight in the next year or whatever then go for it.

But don't quit your dayjob.
 
If you are wondering if the physical aspect is a issue then dont't worry its not too late. If you are healthy theres no issue. If youre starting, then you are essentially fresh. Also, always keep this in mind......
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It'll be hard to find another 40 YO amateur with little experience looking to start cage fighting. You probably can not compete with a 25 year old even at a similar level of skill and with more training.

The most likely thing is that a promoter would offer you a match to get an up and comer some confidence, experience and cage time in competition.

If anything I'd say start with a grappling tournament. See if you feel fast and strong in that environment, or how you heal up from training. That may answer a lot of questions.

IMO, it's not worth a concussion to tell yourself you stepped up, but it depends how bad you want it.
 
You can, but you risk.
Sparr againt very good fighters.... young fighters. And check. Maybe do one hard sparring. Full rules and rounds.

PS: You never had a fight. Sparring/gym = is NOT a fight. totally different.
 
I’m in the same boat. Had a fight last year at 34 am 36 now, still training and plan on fighting around that age again just for fun, but have to take care of things first stop fighting is on the back burner for now. You’re never too old for anything. Do it for fun if that’s what your spirit wants. If you can fight you can beat other amateurs on any day.
 
No.
For SD purposes it is worth to train if you really might need this.

With proper matchmaking you even might get some wins in pro boxing or pro MMA....

While when you need to earn money for a living plus to have training before pre fight camp and then go ...and after this...
When you are older, recovery time after workload will increase etc. This is even more impactful that reflexes slowed down...
 
If a bum like Belal can win a UFC title at 36+ then the world is your oyster.
 
All I’m going to say is that I’ve never seen a 40 year old without a significant martial arts base make their mma debut and not get absolutely smashed.

If you don’t have a black belt, wrestled in college, or 10+ kickboxing or boxing fights, the odds are very stacked against you.

I agree with the other guy who said do a bjj tournament and see how you do


Actually I take that back. My cousin who was probably 37 - 40 at the time won his mma debut. This was about 20 years ago and the guy he fought trained in a garage and ended up going like 0 - 7. Similarly aged as well lol
 
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Be realistic about what you're trying to achieve.

The key is making sure the matchmaker/promoter is good and fair and will ensure you the fights you get offered as fair. It's one thing to be the underdog, it's quite another to be a lamb being led to slaughter
 
Not to old I live in Thailand and older dudes come down here for like 3 months train and have a fight with no previous experience.
 
All I’m going to say is that I’ve never seen a 40 year old without a significant martial arts base make their mma debut and not get absolutely smashed.

If you don’t have a black belt, wrestled in college, or 10+ kickboxing or boxing fights, the odds are very stacked against you.

I agree with the other guy who said do a bjj tournament and see how you do


Actually I take that back. My cousin who was probably 37 - 40 at the time won his mma debut. This was about 20 years ago and the guy he fought trained in a garage and ended up going like 0 - 7. Similarly aged as well lol

Very accurate about having a base. I used to train at Sityodtong Boston and I remember one of the coaches making his debut at 41 but he was a coach with extensive standup credentials. John Johnston I believe if anyone is interested.

If someone has a family or a good job then it's better to be responsible and just train at that age. I've wanted to do the same thing in the past and I'm 40 also but it just doesn't make any sense. I can live with it.
 
Turned pro at 35, for shits and giggles, plus "test" myself. Retired at 40, came out of retirement last year at 45.. again for shits and giggles, while seeing if I could compete still. Now I plan to fight until I'm 50.. for fun, as a Martial Artist, while being 46 next month.

Just be realistic about goals if wanting to compete. I started fighting AM at 33, after beating cancer and starting training as part of my physical recovery process after cancer. Though I did wrestle in HS and College, trained in various Martial Arts since the age of 6, and my cousin is Pro Boxer Karim Mayfield. Age is only a hindrance if one allows it to be such. Good luck 🤙🏽
 

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Aug, 2023..
 

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No, just dont plan to make a career out of it. You can have a couple fights. You're not going to make any money though. You can do amateur bouts too.
Depends on sponsors too, if able to market self.. I had Red Bull, Crooks and Castles plus Verizon as sponsors at one point.. as a nobody who turned pro at 35yrs old for fun. Those 3 alone, I was able to not work a full time job from 35 to 40yrs old, while living comfortably in a metropolitan city in California. While making on avg 2500 a fight to show, half to win, plus 35% of ticket sales and making 75-150 a class teaching 3-5 times a week. Plus I made money as a sparring partner, anywhere from 200-600 a spar depending on who it was.. and if boxing or mma.. Once or twice a week. So no, I did make much fighting, but that wasn't the goal or intention. But was able to live off the money I made through Combat Sports. After coming back to mma last year as a 45yr old regional nobody, I made 1500 to fight, 500 to win, plus 35% of tix sold.. sold 8600 in tix, and lost the fight.. but my job also was one of my sponsors and gave me the paid time off for the last 45 days before my fight. And I was back to work the Monday after.
 
Be realistic about what you're trying to achieve.

The key is making sure the matchmaker/promoter is good and fair and will ensure you the fights you get offered as fair. It's one thing to be the underdog, it's quite another to be a lamb being led to slaughter
There are 2 kinds of promoters: event's promoter and fighter's promoter. In some cases they are both in 1 person.

Opponent should be googled up and researched before sign contract to fight with guy. There is nothing wrong.

Once I had to see blue belt division BJJ with judoka who had competed in Olympic games, so imagine real problems he might create level?
Once one was ( MMA matchmaker ) in open text had told : event promoter will pay xxxx EUR for fight vs guy X and this guy does have nidan ranks in judo and JJJ and he is master of sport international class in combat sambo. Do you want to have fight vs this guy for xxxx EUR before tax? On bank account if you will ask or in cash ....
 
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I’m about to be 37, getting the urge to get into the cage. Will just keep training and stay ready
 
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