5 UFC fighters who defied Father Time

#2. Aleksei Oleinik – UFC heavyweight

Aleksei Oleinik is currently the oldest fighter on the UFC's roster

The oldest fighter currently competing on the UFC’s roster, Aleksei Oleinik, is not only thriving at the age of 44, but he’s also shown no signs of really slowing down yet, making him a fighter who is truly defying Father Time.

What makes Oleinik so unique is the fact that unlike many of the fighters who were able to fight at an advanced age, Randy Couture included, he didn’t start his career in MMA at a later stage in his life.

Incredibly, ‘The Boa Constrictor’ first fought professionally in his home country of Ukraine back in 1996 at the age of just 29. To say that the fact that he’s still competing today, some 16 years later, is insane would be a major understatement.

It’s not like Oleinik has ever taken lengthy periods away from fighting, either. By the time he signed with the UFC in 2014 following a win over Mirko Cro Cop, he held a ludicrous record of 51-9-1, making him by far the most experienced fighter in the promotion’s history.

Since then, Oleinik has been largely successful, putting together an impressive octagon record of 9-7. He’s beaten highly-rated fighters like Fabricio Werdum and Mark Hunt, and is the only fighter in UFC history to submit his opponents with an Ezekiel choke, something he’s managed to do twice.

How much longer ‘The Boa Constrictor’ can compete at the top is anyone’s guess, but he still looks to be in excellent shape. Judging by his recent win over Jared Vanderaa, he’s more than capable of fighting into his late 40’s.

#1. Glover Teixeira – UFC light heavyweight champion

Glover Teixeira became the oldest first-time champion in UFC history when he won gold in 2021

When Glover Teixeira defeated Jan Blachowicz to win the UFC light heavyweight title in late 2021, he defied Father Time in the process. Incredibly, the Brazilian had turned 42 years old two days before his victory, making him the second oldest first-time champion in the promotion’s history in the process.

Unbelievably, Teixeira is arguably on the best run of his entire career right now despite his advanced age. He’s won his last six fights, finishing five of them before the final buzzer, and hasn’t lost since the summer of 2018, when he was outpointed by Corey Anderson.

It seems crazy to say this now, but that bout seemed to suggest that Teixeira was winding down and wouldn’t be able to compete at the top of the 205-pound division for much longer.

At that stage, the Brazilian had already been fighting in the UFC for six years, but his MMA career dated back much further than that – to 2002, to be exact. After earning a title shot at Jon Jones in 2014 and falling to the champion via unanimous decision, it felt like he’d probably reached his peak.

To see him down a champion who’d looked as good as Blachowicz had done coming into that fight, then, was genuinely stunning. It made Teixeira into one of the most unlikely champions in UFC history.

Whether he can continue to hold onto his title in the near future against dangerous contenders like Jiri Prochazka is another thing entirely. For now, it seems like he’s not ready to leave the top of the division yet, meaning Father Time is going to have to wait a little longer.