Gilbert Burns on Starting MMA Late: If You Aren't Yoel Romero, You Can't Do It

""Thirty [is too late]. At 30 you're done,""

""But I think in 20s you still can do it. If you're athletic, if you did any kind of sport a little bit, you can do it. But it's all in the mind. If you believe in it, if you put in the work, you have a good team around, age is not a problem. But after 30 it's gonna be hard. At least if you're not Yoel Romero. If you are Yoel Romero, you can do it, if you're not Yoel Romero, you cannot do it.""

Athletes who begin MMA training in their 20s can still reach world-champion level if they have prior athletic experience, dedication, and a strong team. Age 30 is identified as a practical cutoff for championship aspirations because mental commitment and consistent work become harder with later starts. Yoel Romero is presented as a rare exception due to elite wrestling credentials and exceptional athleticism. Romero won silver in freestyle wrestling at the 2000 Olympics at age 23, debuted in the UFC at 36, challenged for the middleweight title in 2020, later fought in Bellator, stopped competing in MMA in 2024, recorded recent knockout wins in Dirty Boxing and BKFC, and remains active in combat and wrestling competition.

Read at Sherdog