Analysing Fighter Age in MMA |
This page documents the average age of all fighters in each weight class as well as looking at the performance of fighters of each age range. Do old fighters lose more in MMA / the UFC? What is the prime age for an MMA fighter? Let's find out! |
Number of fighters of each age in MMA / The UFC |
Under 25: 221 (4%) 25-30: 1601 (29%) 25-30: 1937 (35%) 35-40: 1187 (21%) Over 40: 604 (11%)
Total: 5550 fighters have their age logged |
Average fighter age per weight class |
Weightclass |
Fighters |
Avg Age |
265 |
316 |
36 |
205 |
406 |
35 |
185 |
515 |
35 |
170 |
852 |
34 |
155 |
879 |
33 |
145 |
893 |
32 |
135 (M) |
645 |
32 |
135 (F) |
106 |
34 |
125 |
396 |
31 |
115 (F) |
250 |
32 |
|
Fighter record (win / loss record for each age group in MMA) |
Age Range |
Fighters |
Fights |
Won |
Lost |
Win % |
Under 25 |
221 |
521 |
349 |
172 |
67% |
25-30 |
1601 |
5328 |
3047 |
2281 |
57% |
31-35 |
1937 |
8658 |
4482 |
4176 |
52% |
36-40 |
1187 |
6420 |
3032 |
3388 |
47% |
Over 40 |
604 |
2983 |
1260 |
1723 |
42% |
|
Young vs Old |
When there is a minimum of 5 years age difference between the two fighters, how do they fare against each other?
|
Fights |
TKOs |
Subs |
Decisions |
Young beat old |
2122 (64%) |
776 (23%) |
417 (13%) |
925 (28%) |
Old beat young |
1133 (34%) |
363 (11%) |
192 (6%) |
576 (17%) |
|
Avg Odds |
Avg
Odds Won |
Avg
Odds Lost |
Fav Wins |
Dog Wins |
Young |
1.89 |
1.73 |
2.28 |
1502/2467 (61%) |
620/842 (74%) |
Old |
2.81 |
2.27 |
3.23 |
476/842 (57%) |
657/2467 (27%) |
|
Display fights |
|
Analysing fighter age in MMA |
The above stats include all fights since November 2014 in the UFC, plus a couple of additional events from WSOF and Bellator. An initial analysis suggests that young proteges are winning more frequently in the UFC than the norm. From mid 20s to mid 30s we're then much of a muchness, before age starts to catch up with fighters over 35. We'll add more in depth analysis to this page in time, once we have more ages logged in the system. We'll log fighter ages at the time of their fights and also include that as a filter on the main in depth MMA stats page.
Obviously the problem with this page is that a fighter can fight someone in the same age group, which normalizes the stats somewhat. I will filter that out in the next update of this page. |