Old UFC Fighters Who Prove Age Is Just a Number in the Octagon!
The UFC, or the Ultimate Fighting Championship, is the most popular martial arts competition in the world, along with boxing. It has roughly 600 million fans worldwide and is growing rapidly. People simply can’t get enough of men and women, showing how prepared they are mentally and physically.
Every sport has a certain golden age in which athletes are in their prime. After this period, their ability to compete at the highest level drops, and they become less competitive. For most sports, athletes over the age of 35 are considered veterans, and the younger generation takes over the stage.
For the UFC, fighters over the age of 32 are considered “older,” and their chances of winning battles are not high. The golden age of MMA fighters is between 27 and 32, so athletes in their mid-30s are considered old UFC fighters. However, many prove that age is just a number, and they still shake the octagon with their moves.
What are Some Older UFC Fighters?
Many UFC fighters are still fighting, even though they are way above the age line we mentioned above. Many successful athletes are in their 40s and are still giving opponents headaches – literally and figuratively.
In the UFC fighters roster, there are some who are older than usual. For example, Alexandr Volkov is 36; Jim Miller is 41; Clay Guida, 43; Frankie Edgar, 43; Glover Teixeira, 45, and others. Some of them are still winning in their matches. It is obviously not easy for strength to always defeat experience and wisdom.
Can you fight MMA at 40 years old?
Of course, you can. There’s no upper limit for the UFC fighters’ age. As long as you feel ready and competitive, you can fight. Still, not too many people are taking this challenge because younger opponents are dangerous and capable of causing fatal damage.
Fighters who are competing at a professional level at that age must be fully prepared and accept the fact that every fight may be their last if they make only one wrong move. Experience is on their side, so in most cases, even if they lose, they may get back and try again.
What is the Oldest Active UFC Fighter?
It’s not easy to give a clear answer to this question because although some fighters are still under contract with the UFC, they haven’t fought in a while. The best answer to this question would be – Andrei Arlovski – a Belorusan-American MMA heavyweight fighter who’s also known as “The Pit Bull.”
Andrei had his last fight at UFC 303 on June 29th, 2024, where he faced Martin Budai and lost by a split decision. At this fight, Arlovski was 46 years of age, which makes him the oldest ММА fighter actively competing in the UFC.
Another fighter is also still active, and that is Aleksei Oleinik. Aleksei had his last fight in the UFC in 2022 at the age of 45 and never announced retirement, although he had not fought again in this competition. However, he had a BKFC fight recently at the age of 47 and lost. Still, it is impressive to see how a person at that age fights on a professional level in a bare-knuckle competition, which is extremely dangerous.
Who is the most famous UFC fighter?
The most famous UFC fighter is Conor McGregor, from Ireland. Although he’s the most popular and has the largest fan base, he’s not the best one in the history of the sport. Conor’s athleticism, fighting style, and charisma made him the most popular UFC fighter, and with 10 wins in the octagon, he’s not considered a bad fighter, either. He’s rather good, but there are fighters with a better portfolio.
The best one in history is Jon Jones, who has a stunning record of 28 wins and only one loss. He officially retired in 2020 but then returned and successfully continued his streak, defeating the Croatian-American fighter Stipe Miocic in 2024. His only loss was in 2009 by Matt Hamill. Since then, he’s on a 15-year winning streak.
What is the lowest fighting age allowed in the UFC?
The low limit to compete in the UFC is 18 years of age. However, it is not common for fighters to be under 21, as this is a dangerous sport that combines physical and mental strength along with fighting experience.
Is there a 17-year-old in the UFC?
No, there is not. It’s not possible to be one because the minimum age required for anyone to compete is 18. Many teenagers dream of being in the octagon, but becoming part of the UFC is not a child’s play. It requires outstanding preparation and training. An amateur would not stand three seconds inside, as the people competing are literally warriors with years of learning and practicing some of the deadliest martial arts.