Wonderboy lost a step?

He doesnt need the extra CTE, this was his last run for a title, iirc he declined a replacement fight cause he wouldnt want to risk his position, now it wasnt short notice, the man is 1-2 fights away from retirement, or this one could be it,
 
Of course he has. Did you see how much gray hair he has now?
That one guy, F.T., is undefeated. Many have tried to ignore him. Many have tried to play defense, or, worst yet, go on offense against him, but he'll always win. After all, he's got all the time in the world.

1000015875.jpg
 
He looked great for 41 and he was probably ahead on the scorecards, but he was not getting out of the way quickly and I wasn't surprised that he got nailed with a bomb. Doesn't help that he was fighting one of the quickest/most powerful welterweights.

If he doesn't retire I think he could still beat some top15 guys, but the odds get worse every day.

Also I don't care that their styles could be boring, I still think 5 rounds with MVP would be interesting. MVP probably KOs him.
 
He is 41.

For reference, when I was 18 I ran 2 miles in 10:32.
(5:16/mi pace)

Age 30-35 I struggled to run 9 min miles

45 now and I was only running 10:30 miles after training for 2+ months. (I'm slow. I know)

So literally I was twice as fast in my athletic prime as I am in my 40s.

I am not fat. It is just age.
The body slows down a LOT from 35-40+

Strength and power actually holds up pretty well.
Speed and endurance plummet.

Especially if you have injuries and surgeries, which would be extremely likely for an athlete.
His buddy/brother in law (I think) Chris Weidman is at 20+ surgeries at roughly the same age.
 
Speed, timing, and reflexes are the first things that go, all associated with your speed. Safe to say at 41, he has lost a step.
 
He was doing really well until he was run backwards into the fence. I think it's too early to say he's done.
he is definitely not done and as I say this was only in relation to his last fight. Hope that he has some victories in his future.
 
He is 41.

For reference, when I was 18 I ran 2 miles in 10:32.
(5:16/mi pace)

Age 30-35 I struggled to run 9 min miles

45 now and I was only running 10:30 miles after training for 2+ months. (I'm slow. I know)

So literally I was twice as fast in my athletic prime as I am in my 40s.

I am not fat. It is just age.
The body slows down a LOT from 35-40+

Strength and power actually holds up pretty well.
Speed and endurance plummet.

Especially if you have injuries and surgeries, which would be extremely likely for an athlete.
His buddy/brother in law (I think) Chris Weidman is at 20+ surgeries at roughly the same age.
I know i Know I know, obviously i am not comparing him to 5 years ago , I am just saying relative to his last few fights where he was still in his 40s.
 
He was doing really well until he was run backwards into the fence. I think it's too early to say he's done.
agreed. His movement was still fluid and crisp. Buckley isn't getting enough credit for covering 7 ft with a single punch. He executed his plan, back WB into cage and then lunge at him.
 
But Rogan and gang kept saying he hasn't and I don't think it was that visible in his last fight tbh.
It is all about margins. He is still one of the best in the world at 41 but his ceiling is a lot lower than it was 10 yrs ago.
 
What step did he have in the last 5 years?

Should have shown it in the two Woodley fights.
 
At the lighter weight classes, a small decline in speed and reflexes is a huge difference. There has never been a UFC champ from 125-170 older than 36, WB is 5 yrs older than that. So yea, his best days are clearly behind him
 
He was doing really well until he was run backwards into the fence. I think it's too early to say he's done.

He’s not done as a fighter persay, but he’s done as an elite competitor.

He’s only going to get slower and less durable and it’s going to happen even more rapidly now.

If he wants to take fun fights against older strikers I’m all for it, but I don’t want to see elite wrestler/grapplers maul and sub him or elite strikers put him out.

From Woodley 1, Pettis, and now Buckley he’s taken some real serious concussions and should start thinking about his long-term health.

Despite never being champ he had a great career, had some sick KO’s and technical wars, and was able to stay ranked into his 40’s.

Dude should go run his karate school and be proud, but if he wants to piece up dudes like Neil Magny I’m fine with it….just don’t know if the UFC wants to pay him like $200K to do it.
 
He got pwn'd because hes basically a boomer now 😎
 
He looked very good for his age up until the KO. I think he has a few more fights left in him.
 
Back
Top