Henry Cejudo returns in UFC 288 at 36 years old after three years of inactivity. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @combatpurist
Next Saturday (6), Henry Cejudo returns from a three-year period of retirement to face the champion aljamain sterling for the bantamweight belt (up to 61,2kg) in the main fight of UFC 288, in Newark, New Jersey, in the United States. In addition to the large amount of downtime, another factor may be important in triggering an alert for 'Triple C': age.
Although 36 years old may not be considered such an advanced age for practicing sports, a recent survey carried out by the page 'Alexander Volkara France', on Twitter, shows that athletes over 35 years old in flyweight divisions (up to 56,7kg) and welterweights (under 77,1kg) have won just two of 22 title fights in UFC history.
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A fact that makes the survey even more impressive is that the two victories of the 'veterans' were achieved by Tyron woodley, and only one of them about a younger athlete. When he was 35 years old, in 2019, Woodley defended his welterweight belt against the even older Demian Maia, with 39 at the time. The following year, at the age of 36, the former champion defended his title again, this time against a young Darren till, aged 25 years.
The most recent and significant examples of failures after breaking the 35-year barrier came with Kamaru Usman e Deiveson Figueiredo. After years of dominance at welterweight, the 'Nigerian Nightmare' was dethroned by Leon edwards months after his 35th birthday and, about to turn 36, he also failed in the immediate rematch. The Brazilian was surpassed in the tetralogy against Brandon Moreno just over a month after turning 35.
Former flyweight and bantamweight champion, Henry Cejudo he was 33 years old in his last title defense, when he knocked out Dominick Cruz, aged 35 at the time, in May 2020. Three years later, at 36, 'Triple C' faces the current champion aljamain sterlingOf 33.
Check out all the results of title fights involving athletes over 35 years old between the flyweight and welterweight divisions:
Fly weight:
Joseph Benavidez (35) lost to Deiveson Figueiredo in 2020.
Joseph Benavidez (35) lost to Deiveson Figueiredo in 2020.
Deiveson Figueiredo (35) lost to Brandon Moreno in 2023.
Bantamweight:
TJ Dillashaw was defeated by aljamain sterling at age 36 (Photo: Instagram/UFC)
Urijah faber (37) lost to Dominick Cruz in 2016.
Dominick Cruz (35) lost to Henry Cejudo in 2020.
TJ Dillashaw (36) lost to aljamain sterling in 2021.
Feather weight:
A. Volkanovski (right) knocked out Z. Coreano (left) in the UFC 273. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
Kenny Florian (35) lost to José Aldo in 2011.
Frankie Edgar (37) lost to Max Holloway in 2019.
Korean zombie (35) lost to Alexander Volkanovsky in 2022.
Josh Emmett (37) lost to Yair Rodriguez in 2023.
Lightweight:
C. Do Bronx defeated M. Chandler for the UFC lightweight belt. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
Tony Ferguson (36) lost to Justin gaethje in 2020.
Michael chandler (35) lost to Charles of the Bronx in 2021.
Welterweight Weight:
L. Edwards (left) beat K. Usman in the UFC 278. Photo: Reproduction/Twitter
Pat Miletich (35) lost to Carlos Newton in 2001.
Gil Castillo (37) lost to Matt hugs in 2002.
Tyron woodley (35) defeated Demian Maia (39) in 2017.
Tyron woodley (36) defeated Darren till in 2018.
Tyron woodley (37) lost to Kamaru Usman in 2019.
Jorge masvidal (35) lost to Kamaru Usman in 2020.
Jorge masvidal (36) lost to Kamaru Usman in 2021.
Kamaru Usman (35) lost to Leon edwards in 2022.
Kamaru Usman (35) lost to Leon edwards in 2023.
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