Study shows increasing longevity in UFC's three lightest divisions since 2017

A detailed statistical analysis tracks how fighters aged 35 and older have achieved increasing success in UFC's flyweight, bantamweight, and featherweight divisions over the past decade. Sara McMann became the first fighter in these divisions to achieve a three-fight winning streak after turning 35 in February 2017. Lauren Murphy extended this to a five-fight streak in June 2021. Amanda Nunes became the first in any light division to win a title after 35 in June 2023, followed by Raquel Pennington. Alexander Volkanovski became the first male in light divisions to win a title after 35 in April 2025. Valentina Shevchenko became the first 37-year-old to win a title in light divisions in May 2025. The trend continued with Alexandre Pantoja, Aiemann Zahabi, and Raoni Barcelos achieving significant milestones after turning 35, demonstrating improved career longevity in these weight classes.