At what age would I be too old to start training MMA with the hopes of having an amateur fight or two?

Question

I'm 26

5"10, 240lbs....although I could easily cut to 205 if I were in shape and training.

Answer 1

Its not a question of age, but training.

If you are 26 with no training at all in anything, its a little too late.

If you are 42 but with a background in Shuia Jiao, old school catch, and old school boxing, having started from the age of 4, then no, it would not be too late.  This also assumes said 42 year old is pretty well preserved and physically fit and healthy.

Again; not a question of age, but experience, as recently more and more MMA fighters to give themselves an edge are discovering arts such as chi kung and tai chi chuan.

The reason, for example, Bernard Hopkins is able to defy age, despite how tought, still, his weight division is, is because he practices Tai Chi Chuan, which he learned while in prison.  In fact, Hopkins was originally a very violent youth, but was released on good behavior because of the calming influence of that martial art.  It also helped reverse the effects of aging some, and preserve his youthful strength, that is why despite his age, thanks in large part to Tai Chi, he is still able to hang with, and beat, younger fighters.

But aside from Tai Chi which preserves him, he also has had years of boxing experience under his belt as well as fights while in prison against fighters arguably far more vicious than anything you will encounter in a sporting arena.  The list of boxers that can hang with the executioner, is very small, only people of Mayweather's caliber can hang with him and win.

Tai Chi though, has its limits; in the hands of an amateur, it will keep you from catching a cold.  In the hands of a well trained disciple, it will shave off 10 years off your age.  In the hands of a master, a true master, you'll look 40 at the age of 80.  In the hands of a grand master the legend says,  you become physically immortal, and look like a young man as an old man but lets not stretch it, the point remains Hopkins is age defying, because he practices Daoist alchemy, namely, Chi Kung and Tai Chi.

What I am trying to say is that because of Chinese internal medicine, some of the MMA fighters you see there may be in there for a long time.

As for yourself, if you have a background in high school and college wrestling, at your age NOW is the time to get started if you're serious.

good luck

Answer 2

45ish would be too to start...

26 is just fine... there isn't a huge requirement in the amateur fight arena, check out a local or regional show and you will see what I mean.

26, you still have time to make 4 or 5 amateur fights, maybe even a couple of pros.

Answer 3

This all dependes on how you apply yourself to training and the quality of traiing you receive.  You are not too old and have the right goal in mind with an amatuere bout or two and see what happens from there.  I say train hard and go for it, you could possibly still have 6-7 years to do this if you are healthy and train smart.

Answer 4

30 years old would be my estimation,too late.i hope you are as fit as you think and aren,t carrying any injurys because they will be quickly exploited.good luck.

Answer 5

I'd say you need 3 years of serious training before you try for an amateur fight - that's not casually going to the gym 2 days a week for an hour - that's 3 or 4 days a week with at least one "fight workout" per week once you are in shape. Go hard on cardio and toning, and stay away from weight lifting.  I believe skill and cardio training will take you farther than strength in your case.  Also, when you get on the scale you need to consider your "walking weight" as your fighting weight - most amateur bouts have same-day weigh ins.

That puts you at 29 yrs old for your first amateur bout.  No problem, since you don't seem to want a career in fighting - just the chance to test yourself.

The last local event I fought in there were 2 guys in their 40's entering their first competitions - it's awesome to see guys that are more mature and still ready to fight.

I've seen in the past few years that more "outside the box" competitors are showing up.  Guys of all ages as well as females are getting into sport competition.  I'm guessing with the UFC, Tapout, Affliction, EliteXC (lord help us) and Contender Muay Thai hilighting the various aspects of the sport on TV it will continue to grow. You'll have no trouble finding some fighters that match your skill and experience level whenever you are ready to fight.