Only one current UFC champ in his 20s

[Fergelmince]

I hadn't even thought about that but yeah, good point Not sure we'll ever see a case of a fighter getting a title shot before their 24th birthday like Jones did again.

No, those days are long gone. GSP was 23yo when he got his first title shot. It was his 3rd fight in the UFC. He lost to Hughes and then fought 5X in 13 months to get another title fight. Before JDM, the last 5 WW belt holders got their title shot between 31 and 36yo. Considering that, I doubt we'll ever see double digit title defenses again, unless they discover a new PED that keeps them at the top of their game in to their late 40's.

 

[HoiceNJuicy]

There are some sports where this is true (power lifting, ultra-marathon, golf, shooting), but it mostly isn't. Sports or positions in sports where there is a higher and more varied degree of physicality will peak younger, running backs and wide receivers will peak in their 20s; while QBs peak a bit later because it is more of an IQ position, they still peak mostly before 32. There are exceptions, but not generally. Some sports peak WAY before 32, like sprinters.

IMO, the reason that the peak is later in MMA is because there are just so many different skills to learn. It's like learning multiple sports in one, and someone would often still have an advantage over pure physicality if they had more well-rounded skills. That's the reason, for example, that Werdum and Olives peaked so late- they got much more well-rounded with time.

• Track & Field: Elite track & field athletes reach their median peak around age 27, but this varies by event—sprinters tend to peak earlier (≈24 years) while throwers and jumpers peak closer to 27–28 years.
• American Football (NFL): Skill‐position players peak in their mid‐20s. Running backs typically see their best production between ages 22–27 before a sharp drop at 28+, wide receivers often hit their stride in their fifth NFL season (≈25–26 years) and remain productive through age 29–30, and mobile quarterbacks’ rushing upside plateaus around 27–29 but overall passing efficiency often peaks slightly later.
• Basketball (NBA): NBA players generally hit their prime between ages 27–31, with physical decline becoming noticeable after 32, though some skill positions (e.g., point guards) may peak a bit earlier, around 24–27 years.

Track & Field​

Median Peak Age​

A large‐scale analysis of Olympic athletes across all sports found the median peak age is 27 years for track & field competitors, with only a 44 % chance of peaking later than that age verywellhealth.com.

Event-Specific Variations​

• Sprinters and other explosive events tend to peak earlier, around 24 years, due to reliance on fast‐twitch muscle fibers researchgate.net.
• Jumpers average a peak age of 27.3 years, while throwers also cluster around 27–28 years researchgate.net.

Long-Term Trends​

A PubMed study of world‐ranked top-100 athletes (2002–2016) across disciplines showed that peak ages have crept upward slightly over time, likely reflecting advances in training, nutrition, and recovery pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

American Football (NFL)​

Running Backs​

• Peak seasons occur in Years 2–6 of an NFL career, which for typical draftees corresponds to ages 22–27.
• From age 28 to 29, running backs see a 37 % decline in PPR fantasy points, and only 8.4 % of RB touches come from players 29+, versus 13.7 % a decade earlier espn.com.

Wide Receivers​

• Second‐year (sophomore) boosts average a 43 % increase in PPR points over Year 1, reflecting adaptation to the pro game.
• Fifth-season receivers (around 25–26 years old) average their highest PPR output, with a 24.5 % jump over Year 4 espn.com.
• Many elite WRs remain productive through age 29–30 before a gradual decline.

Quarterbacks​

• Rushing production for mobile QBs plateaus between ages 27–29, with a 25.7 % drop in rushing fantasy points from age 26 to 27 espn.com.
• Pass-efficiency and decision-making often continue to improve into the early 30s, as mental skills and film study compensate for slight athletic declines.
• Offensive Linemen average 26.1 years, generally peak around 28 years, and most begin declining by 32 years. A few elite outliers can sustain high play into their mid-30s.
• Defensive Linemen average 27.0 years, often peak between 27–29 years, then see a sharper drop-off after 30 years.
• Linebackers average 26.3 years, typically hit their prime in their mid-20s (24–28), but veteran stars can remain effective into their mid-30s.

Basketball (NBA)​

Empirical Peak Range​

An empirical analysis of NBA performance metrics (PER, BPM, win shares) found the prime performing age to be 27–31 years, with noticeable decline after 32 digitalcommons.bryant.edu.

Converging Findings​

• A Dartmouth analytics overview similarly places peak NBA performance around 27–28 years, combining physical prowess with veteran experience sites.dartmouth.edu.
• Other research suggests that, on average, players reach their maximal efficiency in the 24–27 year window, with a relatively stable “peak plateau” lasting several seasons before decline research-archive.org.

Take-Home: Across these sports, the mid- to late-20s represent the convergence of physiological prime and accrued experience. Explosive, power-dependent sports (sprints, RBs) peak earlier, while skill-and IQ-driven roles (quarterbacks, basketball) often extend peak performance into the late 20s and even early 30s.

Great post. Very informative.

From age 28 to 29, running backs see a 37 % decline in PPR fantasy points, and only 8.4 % of RB touches come from players 29+, versus 13.7 % a decade earlier espn.com.


I have avoided Derrick Henry for the past couple of fantasy seasons because of this. That guy has been the exception, so far. He's 31 now. He's going to hit that wall at some point soon. But, damn, what a career!

 

[fedorthegoat777]

Been saying for a long time now that fighters are still good into their 30’s. The PrideFC fan girls were the ones who set the precedent of a fighters prime and that was before thirty because they couldn’t cope with their favorites losing. We’re seeing it in real time fighters can still be competitive at later stages of their careers.

Sure, you can fight in your 30s and 40s.

But as an athlete, you are still going to decline when you hit mid 30's. You are not going to be as physically good at 35 as you were at 28. And even less Good at 45

 

[JKS]

Been saying for a long time now that fighters are still good into their 30’s. The PrideFC fan girls were the ones who set the precedent of a fighters prime and that was before thirty because they couldn’t cope with their favorites losing. We’re seeing it in real time fighters can still be competitive at later stages of their careers.

I was around from all those years and the precedent set by Pride fans wasn't the age, it was the wear n tear and number of fights. And it is true that those guys hit their prime in their 20s and by the time they were in their 30s they were slowing down already. So, no it wasn't that the fans couldn't deal with their fighters losing, it was the their fighters were beyond their best years, as they've already been fighting a lot.

By the time Wanderlei came to the UFC he was 32 and had 41 pro fights, Cro Cop was 34 and had 28 mma fights and 34 KB fights. Big Nog was 31 and had 36 pro fights, Gomi was 32 and 37 pro fights. Fedor when he came to Affliction was 32 and had 31 fights. Someone like Shogun came at 26 and he won the UFC LHW title.

These guys in the UFC in their 30s now, are just starting to reach the numbers of fights those guys had. But in the UFC you see a very similar drop off to fighters in their early to mid 30s that have over 30 fights, they start to lose. It's the same pattern.

 

[Fact Checker]

That’s a mulligan too considering JDM is a paper champ… bro cut a deep division beating relic Gilbert Burns and getting mogged by Haffez lol

 

[volcom5]

was around from all those years and the precedent set by Pride fans wasn't the age, it was the wear n tear and number of fights. And it is true that those guys hit their prime in their 20s and by the time they were in their 30s they were slowing down already. So, no it wasn't that the fans couldn't deal with their fighters losing, it was the their fighters were beyond their best years, as they've already been fighting a lot.

when I say PrideFC fans Im not putting you all in the same group, there has a but a lot off delusions and made nonsense when it comes to fighters from Pride to ease some of the fall. Yes, it true they have fought but you also have to,look at the strength of competition.

By the time Wanderlei came to the UFC he was 32 and had 41 pro fights, Cro Cop was 34 and had 28 mma fights and 34 KB fights. Big Nog was 31 and had 36 pro fights, Gomi was 32 and 37 pro fights. Fedor when he came to Affliction was 32 and had 31 fights. Someone like Shogun came at 26 and he won the UFC LHW title.

I never put Wanderlei to highly in the first place, I always thought Couture, Ortiz and Liddell would have always best him due to styles, CroCop was coming off his best run in his career isles than a year prior in the OWGP, and then has a lackluster showing in his first bout. Having a lot fights kinda evens out because of the strength of their competition. Shogun did captured gold, iim a giant fan of Shogun, but a lot of the Pride nuthuggers(not you) runs to the excuse that he was out of his prime right when he loss to Forrest, I think it’s bullshit. Shogun was the youngest one and imo the best ever he looked was during the Machida bouts

These guys in the UFC in their 30s now, are just starting to reach the numbers of fights those guys had. But in the UFC you see a very similar drop off to fighters in their early to mid 30s that have over 30 fights, they start to lose. It's the same pattern.

Fighters are in 30ks now and just starting to reach the numbers in records, but you have to put into account the strength of schedule, these UFC fighters are fighting elite fighters back to back to back to back, imo is much more impressive that they’re still being able to competitive compared to someone who fights maybe a few elite fighters once a year and the rest fighting a bunch of cans with bout lasting less than 3mins sustaining minimal damage.

 

[wufabufa]

Over the past few years how many fighters even got a title shot in their 20's? These days the UFC makes them work a lot longer and harder to get a shot at the belt.

Exactly this. GSP beat fuckin Karo and Jay Heiron to get his title shot at the young age of 23 in his first fight vs Hughes. Now you need to beat like 7-8 killers back to back and/or have a favorable nationality to get opportunities in the UFC.

 

[volcom5]

Sure, you can fight in your 30s and 40s.

But as an athlete, you are still going to decline when you hit mid 30's. You are not going to be as physically good at 35 as you were at 28. And even less Good at 45

Off course athletes will decline, but it seems almost always the prime out of prime talks is used a excuse for a loss, these fighters nowadays are consistently fighting the best elite fighters, a loss will occur. Like Volkanovski for example, everyone here discarded him after his losses, like he got dominated, when in reality he looked good in those bouts and then you see people were surprised he best Lopes. Aldo was considered shot told to retire over a decade ago at 29yrs old after loss to Mcgregor, he only ever loss to all time champions after that but beat everyone else in his division and in another division almost capturing gold again, Aldo still looked great up until recently when clearly his gassed tank and endurance has taken a giant hit from time.

 

[mkt]

Been saying for a long time now that fighters are still good into their 30’s. The PrideFC fan girls were the ones who set the precedent of a fighters prime and that was before thirty because they couldn’t cope with their favorites losing. We’re seeing it in real time fighters can still be competitive at later stages of their careers.

Pride Fan Girls: "Cro-Cop, Wand, Big Nog, Fedor and others all happened to peak around age 31-32. It had nothing to do with them going from an org that didn't test for PEDs to an org that did."

Pride Fan Girls a few years later: "Every UFC fighter who declined after USADA must have been roiding heavily."

Sorry girls, you can't have it both ways.

 

[mkt]

Exactly this. GSP beat fuckin Karo and Jay Heiron to get his title shot at the young age of 23 in his first fight vs Hughes. Now you need to beat like 7-8 killers back to back and/or have a favorable nationality to get opportunities in the UFC.

Part of the problem (especially at WW) is the contenders somehow avoid each other so none of them can really stand out. Belal, Colby, Edwards and Burns spent years beating older fighters like Lawler, RDA, Masvidal, Maia, Wonderboy, Nate Diaz, etc. instead of fighting each other. Now we see guys like Buckley beating the first group of fighters I mentioned. They're not beating "killers." They're beating guys who were killers 5 to 10 years ago.

I think it's partially due to fighters wanting to pad resumes with washed "legends" and partially due to matchmaking that goes too far trying to "not kill off too many contenders." Think about LHWs just before and during the early Jones era. Rampage, Forrest, Rashad, Jardine, Machida, Shogun, etc. all fought each other. They weren't looking for 39-year olds who peaked 7 years earlier.

 

[mkt]

By the time Wanderlei came to the UFC he was 32 and had 41 pro fights, Cro Cop was 34

More than half of Wand's Pride fights were squash matches against 180-pound Japanese fighters who weren't roided to the gills like he was.

Crop was 32 in his first UFC fight.

The problem with Pride fanatics is that it's almost impossible to find an honest one.

 

[Mind Mine]

In Jon's case, yes.

Downside, he probably has pea size nutts now. Upside, his cock will look ginormous. It's a yin yang thing.

You worry about the penis and balls of Black guys to the point you write about it randomly on public forums. It’s like a nervous tick to you

 

[WoozyFailGuy]

No, those days are long gone.

Not necessarily (I'm whitepilling here), it's just that you guys are expecting there to be a GSP or Jon Jones every generation when that simply isn't the case.

Young, interesting prospects pop up all the time, most of them just fizzle out, is normal. Joshua Van from last night for example is the latest "Hmm, maybe" at 23 years old, already seemingly well rounded, and improving. Another JJ/GSP will pop up, fighting from the age of 17 and ready to contend by 22 one day, it just might take a decade for that special talent to develop out there in the wild, it could be next year with some kid getting some viral KO and being fast tracked.

One issue is that your pool for those young monster champions is almost exclusively the west, as there needs to be infrastructure in place, developed GDP, etc to be able to get noticed that young, get the quality of training and opposition in order to make it up there, while not racking up unnecessary mileage. Jon Jones was fighting Stephan Bonnar for his 7th fight.

Part of the problem (especially at WW) is the contenders somehow avoid each other so none of them can really stand out. Belal, Colby, Edwards and Burns spent years beating older fighters like Lawler, RDA, Masvidal, Maia, Wonderboy, Nate Diaz, etc. instead of fighting each other. Now we see guys like Buckley beating the first group of fighters I mentioned. They're not beating "killers." They're beating guys who were killers 5 to 10 years ago.

I think it's partially due to fighters wanting to pad resumes with washed "legends" and partially due to matchmaking that goes too far trying to "not kill off too many contenders." Think about LHWs just before and during the early Jones era. Rampage, Forrest, Rashad, Jardine, Machida, Shogun, etc. all fought each other. They weren't looking for 39-year olds who peaked 7 years earlier.

Rank squatting has been a problem at WW for a long, long time, but it seems to be changing albeit slowly. Shavkat vs Garry, Garry vs Prates, Brady vs Edwards.
We still have utter jokes like Kamaru being ranked 5th (in order to give Buckley a "top 5 win") and Covington at 9, but for the most part we seem to have more upward mobility at WW than we have in the last decade. Guys can't rank squat while ducking Brady, Morales, Garry, Prates, Buckley. Now we just have to pray that this generation doesn't end up doing the same thing avoiding eachother, but so far they don't seem like the types.

I miss that LHW era. Compare it to now where we have maybe 6 fighters worth a damn at 205.

 

[volcom5]

More than half of Wand's Pride fights were squash matches against 180-pound Japanese fighters who weren't roided to the gills like he was.

Crop was 32 in his first UFC fight.

The problem with Pride fanatics is that it's almost impossible to find an honest one.

The only honest PrideFC fanatic i’ve come across is HHJ, and that’s given as he’s a great poster, imo. The rest of them i don’t even know if they’re either fans or just people who has a weird obsession with hating on Dana & The UFC using the PrideFC fighters as an avatar for it.

Honesty is a real problem nowadays on here, i’m not saint myself but i can atleast admit fault.

 

[Brom Bones]

Confirmed UFC is dying.

 

[mkt]

Now we just have to pray that this generation doesn't end up doing the same thing avoiding eachother, but so far they don't seem like the types.

Buckley has fought very washed versions of Wonderboy and Colby and is about to fight Usman. Whether that's been his preference/strategy or just the way it's worked out, I don't know. I agree about the others. I don't care for Garry, but Shavkat and Prates definitely aren't 40-year old has-beens.

 

[HHJ]

Ufc moves slow. It's not always easy to get to the title before your 30s even if your good enough and whatever you day you picked, they might not have kept the title they won in their 20s at that particular date

 

[WoozyFailGuy]

Buckley has fought very washed versions of Wonderboy and Colby and is about to fight Usman. Whether that's been his preference/strategy or just the way it's worked out, I don't know. I agree about the others. I don't care for Garry, but Shavkat and Prates definitely aren't 40-year old has-beens.

Yea, Buckley is getting the last scraps of the last generation, but I don't think he'd be opposed to bangin with anyone, has he ever ducked?

 

[Alpha_T83]

The generational loss of testosterone that's been happening for at least 80 years now is showing up big-time.

Disagree. The sedentary lifestyle and poor diet of young men is largely to blame for lower test levels. These UFC athletes aren't subjected to that.

I think the real reason is that younger fighters are more health conscious, and choosing not to do steroids. I don't think Colby Covington was lying when he said Jon Jones was doing steroids in college. Younger MMA fighters today don't want to end up on hormone replacement when they're 40 because their balls don't work anymore.

If this is true, it proves just how much steroids improve a fighters chances of becoming champion. IMO if you get caught doing steroids once it should be a 4 year ban, and 2x is a lifetime ban.

 

[CieloLuce]

Goes to show now that fighters can win the belt in their mid 30's. Their careers are extending because of it and it allows for extended opportunities and longer chances to earn money.

It's no longer the death of a career.