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Age to start MMA

33K views 24 replies 17 participants last post by  trevman 
#1 ·
I know alot of guys fight and train most of their lives. But what do you think the oldest someone could be with no experience in any fights could go out and have some success, even at the lowest levels. Just curious. I'm 28 but would love to be able to do some of this stuff. Any advice on where I should start?
 
#2 ·
Nickaho said:
I know alot of guys fight and train most of their lives. But what do you think the oldest someone could be with no experience in any fights could go out and have some success, even at the lowest levels. Just curious. I'm 28 but would love to be able to do some of this stuff. Any advice on where I should start?
well your not down and out yet tito is older then you and he says "im young" all the time.

Well, it really depends on how serious you wanna get, just for fun? then no problem find a school and start going you will be sparring in no time and having fun.

if you actually want to compete then i would say you need to step back, look at your life and decide if you have the time to commit, Matt hamill only trained for 11 months and thats the UFC, the smaller shows 11 months is about average for your first fight or so, and with every fight you will get more experience.

Its just that if you really want to compete your really gonna have to train pretty good, you would want to be at your classes at least 4 times a week and working out at home when your not there.

The best thing to is find a place to train and epxress your goals to them and they will probably help your acheive them the best they can.
 
#3 ·
Yeah, depends on how far you want to go with it.
I started taking martial arts when I was 8, but I didn't get interested in MMA until I was 19, I am 22 now.
*shrug*

I think you could train for a year and have your first ametuer fight, and keep training, see if you like it.
 
#4 ·
HEy dont feel bad Im 25 and want to get started. I definatly know Im not going to go pro, nor do I want to. I do have a huge moutian to climb. I use to somke and drink hevally, just three weeks ago as a matte of fact. But I do have an extensive sports history playing soccer and volley ball most of younger my life. So I have the knowledge of how to work out, its just a matter of getting there, which I have decided to do. I want to improve myself and this is something that can help me do this. Age shouldnt be a factor in wanting to improve one's self. Make sence?!
 
#6 ·
Thanks for the advice guys. Yea I wasn't planning on going pro or anything. Just wanted something to take my mind off the rest of the things in my life. i too am somewhat out of shape and trying to stop smokeing. Use to be a track star and CC runner and have always been very competitve. Just need something to motivate me and improve my self worth and I think this might just be the thing!
 
#7 ·
jaymackz said:
Yah..well you dont have to be a Professional Fighter...but no one said that you cant compete :D......if you think you're ready why not go for it...haha if you got a little competition in ya. :p
Im trying to help him with "exactly" what it is he wants, wether that be pro or fun or whatever.

But UFC is not just pro, once you compete in MMA shows even the little ones thats when your mma record starts, and after about 4 or so of these events your conssidered pro because you hve experience, soetimes they do amutuer fights in my area and in order to qualify you have to have less then 3 mma fights.

Personally im dont get into a ring to loose, anyone can loose but dont go into a ring after 3 months of training like "oh this will be fun" because its not fun to be someone punching bag. Go in when you know your ready and when if you loose you know its because the other fighter was the better fighter that night.

However, after about 2 months you would be ready for some jiu jitsu tournaments and stuff thats just the kinda fun and motivating thing anyone should do before going into straight MMA. These tourny's always go by experience, novice, beginner, intermediate, advanced, etc etc
 
#9 ·
sNatch204 said:
Lol i thought i was too old to start and im 18 :p . People tell me im too old to start because i have no MMA exp. But i want to do this more than anything else.
Those people are dumb.... who the hell says that If your 18 you're too old. i hate people like that, that think you have no chance in the world because your only 18 or 20.... some pros train when they're 20+ and go pro around 27+
 
#11 ·
Too old..

Thought I would throw my two cents in.

Ive just turned 26, and have been debating the whole "am i too late to make anything of it" issue.

Ive just recently taken up MMA/BJJ(4 months ago) with the intention of fighting/competing.

Some times I would actually lose motivation by thinking ive started too late. But I just look at Randy Couture. He only started fighting in the UFC in his mid 30's i think?!?

I know he had a lifetime of wrestling and grappling under his belt before he hit UFC. But he fought into his 40's and was dominant, which proves that age is only a small factor if you train hard enough, and commit to it.

It would be nice of course to be in your early 20's and fighting professionally, but for those who are late starters, I dont really see an issue.

Most of the top ranked fighters tend to be in their early 30's. I know they have 10 years experience under their belt at least, and you would have less chance of making it that far by starting late.

But if you just wanna get in and fight, and maybe not be world champ, but get some smaller titles etc. Then I see any age as a good time to start.

If your really commited there is still no reason why you couldnt make it all the way. you would just have to train harder.

5 years of training 3 times a week can be cut to half by training 6 times a week. i think :D well thats my theory anyway :dunno:
 
#12 ·
The only reason I'd ever say you're too old is if you were planning on competing professionally, but I wouldn't say you're too old to start, that's the only way I'd say it. Amateur competition is open to all ages.

Does anybody know if people can start MMA competitions before age 18? The only reason I ask is because of contract for fights, since in the U.S you must be 18 to legally sign a contract.
 
#13 ·
Zapatista said:
The only reason I'd ever say you're too old is if you were planning on competing professionally, but I wouldn't say you're too old to start, that's the only way I'd say it. Amateur competition is open to all ages.

Does anybody know if people can start MMA competitions before age 18? The only reason I ask is because of contract for fights, since in the U.S you must be 18 to legally sign a contract.
In Iowa it's 18 for full contact fights.
 
#15 · (Edited)
Lol i thought i was too old to start and im 18 :p . People tell me im too old to start because i have no MMA exp. But i want to do this more than anything else.
Lol, yeah, I started a couple months back, at age 15. I made, like, two threads concerning my age and if it was too late.

This following paragraph is directed at the OP, sNatch204.
Anyway, forget about me, let's talk about you. :p Yeah, with hard work and determination, anything's possible. To be honest with you, though, I think at your age, you can train enough to be really good...but I'm really not sure if you can be good on a professional level. In other words, you might make it...but the odds are against you.

But good luck bro.

When is the youngest age you can start going into mma? like could a 16 year old join pride or ufc?
Dude...lol...
 
#16 ·
the age question

I know in Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming that you have to be 18 to fight mma... however at my mma fights there is always one or two underage fights. These fights are not mma, they are either muay thai, boxing, grappling, bjj or whatever. They are considered exhibition fights. Also I train with a couple of guys in there 30's, 1 is getting an amateur title fight in 2 weeks while the other one is training for his first fight. The guy getting his title fight can beat me and I'm 20 years old. the other guy gets fatigued quickly and can't seem to gain muscle or lose fat. I think it is different for every man/woman. I say go for it man, I got my first fight after only 3 months of training 3 days a week. I lost in split decision but only because in that 3 months I didn't condition enough.
 
#17 ·
Trainee said:
Lol, yeah, I started a couple months back, at age 15. I made, like, two threads concerning my age and if it was too late.
Anyway, forget about me, let's talk about you. :p Yeah, with hard work and determination, anything's possible. To be honest with you, though, I think at your age, you can train enough to be really good...but I'm really not sure if you can be good on a professional level. In other words, you might make it...but the odds are against you.

But good luck bro.

Are you joking? After saying that you've had threads about your age and getting into MMA, haven't people posted the many UFC (and probably other organization's fighters) who started in their mid to late 20's? It is supposed to take around 5 years to get a black belt in BJJ, then add some training for kickboxing and by 23 there is a good chance that this person would be ready to fight. 23 is very young, so 18 isn't too old to start.
 
#18 ·
Are you joking? After saying that you've had threads about your age and getting into MMA, haven't people posted the many UFC (and probably other organization's fighters) who started in their mid to late 20's? It is supposed to take around 5 years to get a black belt in BJJ, then add some training for kickboxing and by 23 there is a good chance that this person would be ready to fight. 23 is very young, so 18 isn't too old to start.
Dude....I was talking to the OP. The 28 year old. Lol. I must have not made myself clear...I'll go edit my post now. Sorry.
 
#21 ·
I'm also turning 28 in a couple months and I joined the board to ask this very question. Well, not whether I should start now (I want to badly), but to find out if there are any successful competetive fighers around who did get a late start so I could hear their stories.

The only thing that's in my way right now is my 60 hr/wk job (and the smoking/drinking.) For now I'm doin light and pretty infrequent workouts but as soon as I can find a way to train four days a week without walking away from a career I'm doin it. And if I do discover my potential I will walk away from my career, and you'll all be hearing this story in an interview one day.
 
#22 ·
Just get stuck in. You could be the next Randy Couture!!

Im also working long hours and finding it hard to make training. Im lucky, I managed to move closer to my gym.

I also carry all my training gear with me so I can go straight from work. Im only ever at home to sleep these days. Much to the anoyance of my Girlfriend haha.

But she understands she'll get a triangle locked on if she complains.
 
#23 ·
I started training very recently, and I am 18 years old. I actually notice that I'm younger than the majority of people training where I train. Lots of people doing boxing/bjj/muay thai are not doing it for MMA reasons though, but even in specific MMA classes the majority of people are at least 21. However, you do see "some" young ass kids doing muay thai and bjj but not as much.
 
#24 ·
Nickaho said:
I know alot of guys fight and train most of their lives. But what do you think the oldest someone could be with no experience in any fights could go out and have some success, even at the lowest levels. Just curious. I'm 28 but would love to be able to do some of this stuff. Any advice on where I should start?
Randy Corture is n43 and he just won the UFC heavyweight title and hes got 14 on you so you easily qualify for MMA training at your age.


Go for it.
 
#25 ·
Age

I dont know about some people but this guy I train with is one BAD MF and he is 40 years old but he looks around 28. This guy is in some intense shape and he puts people to shame in training and fighting. His name is Bruce his site is Bruce Drago plus he is a really nice person and is very helpful. He loves what he is doing, check him out
 
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