Vladimir Matyushenko getting old but hopes for the UFC Title

By: G. Punn

In any professional athlete’s life, a time comes up when he starts thinking of retirement due to being unfit or turning old. The question then starts hitting the mind whether to continue competing or not! Young age and fitness are what keep sportsmen going on and obviously these are the two things, which the fans see in the MMA fighters. As far as they are up and running, the fan base is active. When an MMA fighter lands into this kind of situation where his age and fitness become the central question, no interview then goes by without being asked about the retirement from the game.


The same situation applies to veteran Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight, Vladimir Matyshenko, who will soon turn 41 after his UFC 141 bout with Alexander Gustafsson.


Vladimir keeps on deflecting the question of retirement and he has good reason for doing so since the UFC light heavyweight has bagged five victories out of six fights (including two consecutively). Matyshenko’s most recent victory was the 20-second KO of Jason Brilz earlier this year, the fastest win of his MMA career.


Right now, it is his age that stands in front of him with the question of continuing with the game or not! The question will be answered after his Friday night bout against Alexander Gustafsson. Vladimir is currently focused on the upcoming fight. During an interview, when asked about his age and retirement, he responded, “Yes, I am aware of my old age and the retirement is certainly in the back of my head. But I still want to be a champion and continue with my sport as triumphant.”


Matyushenko (26-5) has even forgotten the holiday season because of his one focus i.e. the fight with Alexander Gustafsson (as it will be a decision-making fight for his future in MMA).


Alexander is 24, almost half of his age, and is merely four years older than Vladimir’s son. But Vladimir Matyushenko describes him as ‘tall, fit, athletic and young’.