At UFC 333 on October 24, 2026, Alexander Volkanovski defended his featherweight title by stopping previously undefeated Movsar Evloev via second-round TKO. The victory marked his ninth featherweight title-fight win, breaking the UFC divisional record previously held by Jose Aldo.
‘Old Man Volk’ had a rough stretch after suffering knockout losses to Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria, but he bounced back in style by reclaiming the featherweight title at UFC 314 at 36. Now, at 38, Volkanovski has once again proved he can hang with the best, defending his belt against an opponent who entered the fight with a perfect 20-0 record.
But how does his late-career run compare to other UFC legends at the same age? Here’s a look at what some of the sport’s biggest names were up to at 38.
1. Jon Jones
- Born: July 19, 1987
- Career Status at 38: Retired
- Record: 28-1 (1 NC)
It is safe to say Jon Jones took a hit to his legacy during the later stages of his career. He captured the vacant UFC heavyweight title at UFC 285 in March 2023, submitting Ciryl Gane with a first-round guillotine choke.
Jones went on to defend the belt against former champion Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, stopping him with third-round ground-and-pound after landing a spinning back kick. However, after turning 38 in July 2025, Jones walked away from the sport without unifying the heavyweight titles against Tom Aspinall, who was subsequently promoted to undisputed champion.
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Although Jones later explored a comeback for a potential superfight against Alex Pereira, the UFC ultimately didn’t bring him back for its White House card.
2. Anderson Silva
- Born: April 14, 1975
- Career Status at 38: UFC middleweight champion
- Record: 33-6 (1 NC)
Anderson Silva experienced one of the most difficult periods of his career at 38. After dominating the UFC middleweight division for years and putting together a record-breaking title reign, he lost his championship to Chris Weidman at UFC 162 in July 2013.
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The two met again at UFC 168 later that year, but the rematch ended in heartbreaking fashion when Silva broke his tibia and fibula after Weidman checked his leg kick. The injury required surgery and a lengthy recovery, forcing ‘The Spider’ to spend much of that period away from competition before returning at age 39.
3. Georges St-Pierre
- Born: May 19, 1981
- Career Status at 38: Retired two-division UFC champion
- Record: 26-2
Georges St-Pierre had already walked away from professional MMA by the time he turned 38. After retiring in 2013 following nine consecutive welterweight title defenses, GSP made a stunning comeback at UFC 217 in 2017. He submitted Michael Bisping to win the middleweight championship and become a two-division UFC champion.
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He officially announced his retirement in February 2019, at age 37. During his 38th year, GSP focused on his health, acting projects, grappling, and other interests outside the Octagon while continuing to enjoy his status as one of the sport’s all-time greats.
4. Demetrious Johnson
- Born: August 13, 1986
- Career Status at 38: Retired ONE Championship flyweight champion
- Record: 25-4-1
Demetrious Johnson was still at the top of his game when he turned 38 in August 2024. The former UFC flyweight champion had become the reigning ONE Championship flyweight titleholder after defeating Adriano Moraes in their trilogy bout.
However, Johnson announced his retirement at ONE 168 in September 2024, bringing an end to one of the most impressive careers in MMA history. He remains the record holder for the most consecutive UFC title defenses, with 11, and has since focused on content creation, Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitions, and podcasting.
5. Khabib Nurmagomedov
- Born: September 20, 1988
- Career Status at 38: Retired fighter, coach, and promoter
- Record: 29-0
By the time Khabib Nurmagomedov turned 38 in September 2026, he had already spent nearly six years away from professional MMA. The former UFC lightweight champion retired in October 2020 at 32 after submitting Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, honoring a promise he had made to his mother following the death of his father and longtime coach, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov.
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Although the Dagestani no longer competes inside the Octagon, his influence on the sport remains strong. He continues to work with Team Khabib, coaching top fighters such as Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov while managing his business and promotional ventures.
6. Amanda Nunes
- Born: May 30, 1988
- Career Status at 38: Former two-division UFC champion (Set to return at UFC 334)
- Record: 23-5
Amanda Nunes retired at the top of her game in June 2023 after defeating Irene Aldana at UFC 289. With the victory, ‘The Lioness’ walked away as the reigning UFC women’s bantamweight champion, having already cemented her place as one of the greatest female fighters in MMA history.
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However, retirement hasn’t kept Nunes away from the Octagon forever. Having turned 38 in May 2026, the former two-division champion is finally set to end her layoff when she faces Kayla Harrison at UFC 334 for the bantamweight title. The comeback gives Nunes a chance to add another major chapter to her already legendary career.
7. Dominick Cruz
- Born: September 9, 1985
- Career Status at 38: Veteran fighter and MMA analyst
- Record: 24-4
Dominick Cruz spent much of his late 30s dealing with injuries while staying involved in MMA as a commentator and analyst. The former two-time UFC bantamweight champion last fought Marlon Vera in August 2022, suffering a knockout loss.
Cruz eventually retired at 39 in February 2025 after suffering two severe shoulder dislocations within an eight-month span. He was scheduled to face Rob Font at UFC Fight Night in Seattle, but the recurring injuries forced him to withdraw from the bout.
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Rather than risk permanent damage to his arm or compromise his long-term quality of life for one final payday, Cruz decided it was time to walk away from competition for good.
8. Valentina Shevchenko
- Born: March 7, 1988
- Career Status at 38: Former UFC women’s flyweight champion
- Record: 26-4-1
Valentina Shevchenko has continued to build her legacy as one of the most well-rounded fighters in women’s MMA. After reclaiming the UFC women’s flyweight title from Alexa Grasso at UFC 306 in September 2024, ‘Bullet’ returned to the top of the division and looked to extend her dominant run.
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However, after turning 38 in March 2026, Shevchenko was forced to vacate her title due to shoulder and back injuries. With ‘Bullet’ sidelined, Natalia Silva captured the vacant gold at UFC 332. Shevchenko is set to be out of action for nearly a year and is eager to return to the Octagon, with a potential title fight against the Brazilian champion in her sights.
9. Joanna Jędrzejczyk
- Born: August 18, 1987
- Career Status at 38: Retired UFC strawweight champion and Hall of Famer
- Record: 16-5
Joanna Jędrzejczyk retired from MMA after her rematch against Zhang Weili at UFC 275 in June 2022. Although she was only 34 at the time, the former UFC strawweight champion left behind an incredible legacy built on her relentless pace, sharp striking, and five successful title defenses.
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At 38, she remains a respected figure in the sport and was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2024. These days, Jędrzejczyk focuses on business ventures, motorsports, and her role as a UFC ambassador rather than competing inside the Octagon.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
