There is something to be said about “old man strength”. In the world of combat sports, experience goes a long way.
Despite youth being hailed as a prime asset – especially when it comes to speed, agility, and endurance – all traits tend to peter out as fighters age.
However, some MMA fighters, including those who compete in the UFC, have managed to fight off their opponents and Father Time.
These aging warriors, who find themselves in their 40s and 50s, are not just hanging around to collect a paycheck. They’re slugging it out in the octagon, surprising opponents, fans, and media with their ability to fend off the new generation of fighters.
This list pays tribute to some of the oldest UFC fighters who have refused to lose the aging battle, proving that grit and toughness don’t come with an expiration date – despite the wear and tear on their bodies.
Note: All age data is accurate as of October 2024.
- The Oldest Male Fighters Ever
- The Oldest Female Fighters Ever
- The Oldest Active Fighters
- Fit Over 40 & The Dirty 30
The Oldest Male Fighters Ever
Rob Van Clief – 51 years old
This one is a pub sports trivia gem that very few will know the answer to. A decorated member of the United States Marine Corps, Van Clief was a world-champion martial artist.
Studying karate, Goju-ry, Modern Arnis, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the “Black Dragon” took his skills to the UFC on December 16th, 1994, as part of UFC 4.
Squaring off against the eventual champion, Royce Gracie in the opening round, Van Clief may have lost his first and only UFC fight in under four minutes, but he did enter his name into the record books as the oldest man to enter the octagon at the age of 51.
“It was interesting that no one thought I would have really fight in the UFC. Imagine drawing Royce Gracie as your first fight. Wow! I have taken a lot of bullsh*t about tapping out to Royce after three minutes and forty-nine seconds,” Van Clief said of his first and only UFC battle.
Randy Couture – 47 years old
A three-time member of the USA Olympic team (as an alternate) before embarking on a legendary career in the octagon, Couture became a six-time UFC champion during a career that spanned from 1997 to 2011.
Couture’s first appearance in the UFC came on May 30th, 1997, when he competed in not one but two matches during a tournament to declare the Heavyweight champion – an event he won.
At the age of 43, Couture knocked off then-champion Tim Sylvia to become the oldest title winner in the company’s history. “The Natural” went on to record a 19-11 record, finishing his career at the age of 47 with a second-round loss to Lyoto Machida.
Dan Henderson – 46 years old
“Hendo’s” UFC career spanned nearly two decades, making his first appearance on May 15th, 1998, at UFC 17 and his final appearance almost two hundred events later at UFC 204 on October 8th, 2016.
Similar to Couture, Henderson bookended his career with the company with a championship victory, claiming the Middleweight title and then a loss for that same championship in a five-round marathon.
A former Olympic wrestler with Team USA, Henderson began his MMA career fighting in the Brazil Open. At UFC 100, he delivered one of the most memorable knockout blows in combat sports history when he nailed Michael Bisping with a shot to the jaw that rocked both the industry and his opponent.
Bisping managed to gain his revenge in Henderson’s final battle, outlasting his opponent.
“At his age now, what is, is he 46? He’s 46. I’m 47,” Dana White said after Hendo’s final match, “I can barely get on a treadmill in the morning, let alone go in and fight five-round main events in another country.”
The Oldest Female Fighters Ever
Marion Reneau – 44 years old
Making her UFC debut on January 3rd, 2015, as part of the UFC 182 card, Reneau, at 37 years old, won her first match with the company after competing for three other organizations during her first five fights.
While “The Belizean Bruiser” never competed for a title, she did find herself in matches against some of the biggest names in the business, including Holly Holm and Miesha Tate.
A high school PE teacher at Farmersville High School in California while she was competing, Reneau retired from the octagon at the age of 44, spending seven years with the UFC.
Ironically, her retirement match came against Tate, who returned to the mat five years after she retired from fighting.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk – 35 years old
One of the greatest female fighters in UFC history, Joanna Jedrzejczyk held the Strawweight crown for over two years.
After defeating Carla Esparza at UFC 185 on March 14th, 2015, the Polish martial artist and Muay Thai kickboxer successfully defended the title for five straight fights before falling to Rose Namajunas at UFC 217 on November 4th, 2017.
Jedrzejczyk’s career came to an end at the age of 35 after she lost two consecutive contests to Zhang Weili, including their memorable Fight of the Year battle at UFC 248.
“It’s been 20 years,” Jedrzejczyk said during her final post-fight interview. “I want to be a mom. I want to be a businesswoman. I’ve been training for two decades, more than half my life. I appreciate you all. I love you guys.”
The Oldest Active Fighters
Andrei Arlovski – 45 years old
He may have lost his last four fights, but at 45 years old, Arlovski can still hold his own against opponents half his age.
With a record of 34-24 (as of this writing), Arlovski has had a roller-coaster of a fighting career, complete with championships, winning streaks, and losing streaks.
Making his UFC debut nearly twenty-four years ago at UFC 28 with a 55-second victory over Aaron Brink, “The Pitbull” holds the UFC record for the most professional matches by a heavyweight fighter and the second most overall with 42.
Holly Holm – 43 years old
There are moments in time when as a sports fan you remember exactly where you were when it happened.
Such was the case when Holly Holm defeated Ronda Rousey for the Women’s Bantamweight crown in the main event of UFC 193.
“I say this all out of respect. In order to have a big upset like that fight was, you have to have a dominant champion,” Holm said of Rousey. “So without her being that dominant, then I couldn’t have been able to have such an upset.”
After starting her career as a professional kickboxer turned boxer, Holm traded the squared circle for the MMA octagon in 2011 and joined the UFC in 2014. Two years later she shocked the world, adding the UFC title to her lengthy championship resume.
At 43 years old, Holm is still holding her own against the best in the Bantamweight division.
Clay Guida – 42 years old
One of the few fighters on this list who has never held a UFC title, the Lightweight/Featherweight Brazilian Ju-Jitsu fighter made his first UFC appearance on October 14th, 2006.
A fan favorite with his seemingly boundless energy and unique look, Guida’s longevity has given him the fourth most matches in UFC history.
When asked what makes him different than other fighters, the small-town grappler noted, “I love what I do and I’m willing to work and sacrifice anything to keep doing it.”
In 2009, “The Carpenter” found himself in one of the greatest fights in UFC history when he squared off against Deigo Sanchez, a back-and-forth match that ended in a three-round split decision in favor of Sanchez.
Although the 42-year-old fighter has lost two of his last three fights, all have gone to the time limit, reminding everyone that sometimes age knows no limits.
Jessica Penne – 41 years old
It took a while for the Newport Beach, California native to make her way to the UFC, as she was busy setting the bar in other organizations.
Not only did Penne become the first female to compete and gain victory in the Bellator Fighting Championships, but she also became the first Invicta FC Atomweight champion in 2012.
Penne competed in the first UFC Strawweight Championship tournament in 2014, falling in the semi-finals to Carla Esparza.
Five years later, she found herself served with a 20-month suspension for failing a USADA test (originally set at four years). Since her return to the octagon in 2021, the now 41-year-old Penne went 2-2, with both losses coming in her last two fights.
Fit Over 40 & The Dirty 30
Whether current or retired, the following individuals have found themselves trading punches, kicks, and submission holds at an age when many athletes have committed to retirement.
The Men:
- Jared Cannonier – 40 years, 6 months
- Jim Miller – 41 years, 2 months
- Ovince Saint Preux – 41 years, 5 months
- Jan Blachowicz – 41 years, 8 months
- Stephen Thompson – 41 years, 8 months
- Vinc Pichel – 41 years, 9 months
- Stipe Miocic – 42 years, 2 months
The Women:
- Katlyn Cerminara – 35 years
- Raquel Pennington – 36 years
- Julia Avila – 36 years, 4 months
- Irene Aldana – 36 years, 6 months
- Viviane Araujo – 37 years
- Cynthia Calvillo – 37 years, 2 months
- Miesha Tate – 38 years, 1 month
- Lauren Murphy – 41 years, 2 months
