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.
On Saturday, February 1st, former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, now 35, suffered his third consecutive defeat, including his second career knockout loss, when Nassourdine Imavov stopped him with a second-round TKO at UFC Fight Night 250 in Saudi Arabia. Once celebrated for his creative striking and unmatched presence in the octagon, Adesanya now holds a professional MMA record of 24-5-0 and a UFC record of 13-5-0. His latest setback serves as a stark reminder that even the most innovative fighters can be overtaken by the ever-advancing nature of the sport.
Then there’s Kamaru Usman, long considered one of the most dominant welterweights in UFC history, who has also found himself in unfamiliar territory. “The Nigerian Nightmare,” now 37, has seen his formidable reign come under unprecedented pressure. With a professional record of 20-4-0, Usman recently suffered the first three-fight losing streak of his illustrious career, falling to Leon Edwards twice and then Khamzat Chimaev on short notice. After ruling the division with an iron grip, his back-to-back losses raised concerns about whether age is beginning to take its toll. At 37, Usman has