From dominance to decline: Is age behind Africa’s combat sports stars’ recent struggles?
The world of combat sports is witnessing a fascinating and, for many fans, heartbreaking shift. Some of Africa’s most dominant fighters—Anthony Joshua (35), Israel Adesanya (35), Kamaru Usman (37), and Francis Ngannou (38)—have recently found themselves on the losing end of major fights, raising questions about the role of age, evolution, and the relentless nature of elite-level competition. Once seemingly untouchable, these athletes are now experiencing a reality that few in combat sports can avoid: the unforgiving cycle of dominance, decline, and reinvention.
