In the world of the UFC, a once-great fighter can sometimes seemingly fossilise overnight. Over the years, we've seen countless examples of this.
Right now then, there are a number of UFC stars who may well be past their best at this stage. None of these fighters have looked outright shot yet, of course, and all of them remain ranked in their respective divisions. However, some telltale signs are definitely there.
Here are five UFC stars who could be quietly past their best.
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
#5. Kamaru Usman - Former UFC welterweight champion
The fighter on this list who we haven't seen for the longest time is former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.
'The Nigerian Nightmare' last stepped into the octagon at UFC 294 in October 2023 and hasn't actually won a bout since November 2021. Instead, he's on a run of three straight losses.
Despite that, Usman remains ranked at No.3 at 170 pounds, probably because he wasn't outclassed in any of those losses.
He was on his way to beating Leon Edwards before suffering his infamous fifth round head kick knockout. And he pushed Edwards all the way in their rematch and then did the same to Khamzat Chimaev in his most recent fight.
So what evidence do we have that 'The Nigerian Nightmare' might be past his best, then?
Well, the fact that he hasn't fought in well over a year is alarming, particularly given that he turns 38 years old in May. And while he was competitive with Edwards and Chimaev, he certainly wasn't the force of nature that he was in his 2020-21 prime.
Therefore, with no fight confirmed on the horizon for him, by the time Usman returns, he could not only be rusty; he could prove to be well past his sell-by-date.
#4. Michael Chandler - UFC lightweight contender
In years to come, there's every chance that UFC fans will look back at Michael Chandler's decision to gamble away two years of his career as one of the biggest errors in MMA history.
In late 2022, 'Iron Mike' was famously granted a fight with the UFC's biggest-ever star and drawing card, Conor McGregor. The bout, which was planned for 2023, would undoubtedly have given Chandler a career-high payday, as well as more notoriety than ever before.
Unfortunately, for multiple reasons, all relating to 'The Notorious', the fight was canceled time after time.
Eventually, it became clear to everyone that McGregor was probably not coming back, and so Chandler accepted a rematch with Charles Oliveira in the later part of 2024.
With a potential lightweight title shot on the line, 'Do Bronx' dominated Chandler over five rounds, leaving the former Bellator champ at a crossroads of sorts.
So could 'Iron Mike' now be past his prime? Sure, there's a chance that he only lost to Oliveira because 'Do Bronx' is one of the best fighters on the planet right now, but there are other worrying signs.
Chandler is now 38 years old and will turn 39 in April. More concerningly, he's only won one of his last four fights, against a shot Tony Ferguson in the summer of 2022.
It's true that 'Iron Mike' has only fought high-level opponents, but quite how much he has left in the tank is debatable. We'll only find out when he steps into the octagon next, but it's definitely possible that he's now past his best.
#3. Gilbert Burns - UFC welterweight contender
It's probably fair to question whether any fighter who is 38 years old and who has lost their last three fights could be past their prime.
That's where former welterweight title challenger Gilbert Burns is at right now. 'Durinho' hasn't won since his victory over Jorge Masvidal in April 2023 and is now on a three fight skid.
However, the Brazilian is still ranked at No.8 in the UFC's 170 pound division, and to be fair to him, it isn't like he's been blown out of the water in any of those defeats.
He went the distance with Belal Muhammad, who is now the division's champion, and was probably ahead on the scorecards against Jack Della Maddalena before the Australian produced a marvellous comeback.
His most recent loss to Sean Brady, meanwhile, was also not a one-sided fight, and Brady is arguably one of the most underrated fighters in the whole promotion.
Despite this, it's probably fair to argue that Burns has definitely lost a step since his peak a few years back. His stand-up looks more plodding than it once did, and his cardio doesn't look quite as strong either.
'Durinho' hasn't exactly been handed an easier assignment for his next fight, as he's set to face hot prospect Michael Morales in April. While he retains some name value, there's every chance that he's now past his prime.
#2. Max Holloway - Former UFC featherweight champion
In many ways, it seems crazy to suggest that former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway could be past his prime.
After all, 'Blessed' scored the most memorable knockout of 2024 when he stopped Justin Gaethje in the last second of their clash at UFC 300 to claim the 'BMF' title. That win was his third in a row, and the loss that he suffered to Ilia Topuria in October was his first since 2022.
More to the point, the Hawaiian is still only 33 years old, and theoretically at least, should still be in his athletic prime. However, there are some concerning signs that could point to his best days being behind him.
Firstly, while he's still 33, Holloway's not exactly a young 33. 'Blessed' debuted in the octagon way back in February 2012, has fought there on 30 occasions, and has taken his fair share of damage along the way.
Secondly, while he's always been known for his insane toughness, his loss to Topuria was the first time he'd ever been stopped via strikes.
Sure, it's true that 'El Matador' hits extremely hard, but still, seeing Holloway go down definitely felt like a watershed moment in the Hawaiian's career. Has his chin now been cracked? It's definitely possible.
Given his freewheeling, aggressive style, if Holloway's durability is beginning to go, then it could absolutely signal the beginning of the end for him.
We won't know until he fights next - and his next bout is yet to be determined - but there's definitely a chance that the reigning 'BMF' champ is past his best now.
#1. Israel Adesanya - Former UFC middleweight champion
The UFC's trip to Riyadh next weekend will see the return of one of the promotion's biggest stars, former middleweight kingpin Israel Adesanya.
'The Last Stylebender' is set to face top 10-ranked Nassourdine Imavov, and to say that he's in a must-win situation would be an understatement.
Less than two years ago, Adesanya was on top of the world. He knocked out his old foe Alex Pereira to reclaim the 185 pound title, gaining some much-needed revenge over 'Poatan' in the process.
However, a few months later, the New Zealand-based striker looked jaded and tired in a shock loss to Sean Strickland, losing his title in the process.
From there, 'The Last Stylebender' took an extended period of absence, but when he returned, he was unable to right the ship. Instead, he again looked a shadow of his former self in a submission loss to Dricus du Plessis.
Theoretically at least, Adesanya should be able to bounce back. He matches well with Imavov, hasn't taken a tremendous amount of damage over the years, and will be the toughest foe 'The Sniper' has ever faced.
With that said, many observers felt he matched well with du Plessis too, and he still lost, even if he had fleeting success in that bout. More to the point, he's now 35 years old, and may be exiting his physical prime.
Is Adesanya past his best? We should find out next weekend, but unfortunately, it's a distinct possibility.