When should a fighter think of it as a day? It should question which includes no definitive answer. Of course there isn t any official retirement age, no set of guidelines available, consequently each competitor must home in on their very own decision in the event they feel the time is correct.To some it will of course come to light after having a losing streak. Some should give in to the pleas of family friends after receiving one too many knockouts and the like will undoubtedly finally think of it as a day when the aches, pains and injuries a person can have of combat take their toll.Needless to say most mixed martial artists are born fighters having in-built craving to compete that isn't easily shifted. It's inside their nature they can fight on on the odds, thus many go on to fight long when writing is present in the wall.In the first of the two part article we examine at some of the most dominant champions and former champions of many UFC's old guard and assess who st ill maintains something to supply, and who could be wise to hang up their gloves and enjoy their retirement.---Randy Couture (16-10) - Age: 46 - 3 Time Heavyweight Champion / 2 Time light heavyweight ChampionThe Quintessential veteran competitor, Randy Couture has redefined the age at which MMA fighters are considered qualified to compete with the highest level.Couture didn't start his MMA career before age of 34, emerging as the winning of UFC 13's heavyweight tournament in particularly his second fight. He lost the heavyweight title a while back from the age of 45, and won 'Fight Of The Night' for his last performance against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in September.Despite losing in his last two outings, Couture still resembles an in remarkable wellbeing to his age, and the three round war with Nogueira proved he still has the stamina and skills up against the actual very best in the work. Efforts his body can hold out no-one can say with certainty. It is, he acknowledges hi mself, a clear case of puting one fight at a time.Couture recently signed a fresh 6 fight deal spread over 28 months - he is going to be 48 if he sees it through until the end.Verdict: If his type in the octagon has taught us anything, it's that it's never wise to count out 'The Natural'. Joined of our sports star names Couture will probably have continues to be face the top names the UFC owns and, if reverts to the abilities who have brought him the most success previously, namely his wrestling and dirty boxing skills, he can still pose a threat to whoever he faces.---Mark Coleman (16-9) - Age: 44 - 1st Heavyweight Champion / 2 time Heavyweight Tournament Champion (UFC 10, UFC 11)The godfather of ground and pound Mark Coleman would be the second oldest fighter currently at the UFC's books. Whilst his physique continues to be impressive at 44 yrs of age, time and injuries have clearly taken a toll during one of your UFC's early stars.His two fights inside the octagon since r eturning after a 10 year absence have certainly shown courage but of course there isn t any disguising the slowed movement and are without of stamina that are features of the last champions game. Another possibility is an uncomfortable air of desperation when he fights that undoubtedly is caused by the knowledge that particular more loss on his record could spell the tip of his career.The news which he has torn his ACL again, forcing him to cancel his upcoming fight with Tito Ortiz is known as a major set back for former olympic wrestler who has been prone to injury in the past and again casts doubt over his long-term future in the UFC.Verdict: A champion which wanted to the days in the event the sport was far less lucrative, Coleman is clearly hoping to reap the rewards because the sport now flourishes. Time is against him however and though his heart and determination isn't questioned, Coleman's career appears to be on borrowed time. His victory at UFC 100 may prove becomi ng a fitting last hurrah to have a fighter who will possess a permanent position in the UFC record books.---Chuck Liddell (21-7) - Age: 39 - 5 time Light Heavyweight championAs we discussed last week inside an article concerning the UFC's greatest ever knockout specialists, Chuck Liddell knows while having a thing or two about sending his opponents to sleep. Unfortunately for your former Light Heavyweight champ in his recent fights he's become better known for taking to sleep for a while around the canvas himself.Like Randy Couture, Liddell is in the UFC considering that the early fights of his mixed martial arts career and also has turn out to be one of the extremely successful fighters within a history of the experience. Not everyone is fortunate such that you can have Couture's age-defying genetics however, and Liddell's reputation for partying as hard as they fights was inevitably planning to take it's toll.As 'The Iceman's' reactions have slowed, so have his volume of w inning trips towards the octagon. In his past five fights he holds just 1 victory (against another ageing warrior, Wanderlei Silva) having won 15 away from his previous 17 UFC fights.In his defense those losses have developed under the control of quality opposition comparable to Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson, Rashad Evans and Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua. Despite this it really is evident to the majority of fans that Liddell will not be the fighter he was, or even long time friend Dana White has witnessed the decline in person has used his influence helping put pressure at the star to be in mid-air up his gloves after his last fight.Liddell himself has indicated that they may not be all set to retire just yet, and after a lengthy hiatus that includes a stint on 'Dancing Together with the Stars' it appears likely that he is going to return to the octagon.Verdict: With slowed reactions as well as a weakened chin Liddell's days at the very top level would appear for being all but over, th ough his knockout power remains a threat. Whilst retirement might be a wise choice for his future health, it really is unlikely that it natural born fighter will be geared up to call time on his career just yet as well as a money spinning showdown with Kimbo Slice may emerge sometime in 10 - and that's a fight Liddell can win.---Anderson Silva (25-4) - Age: 35 - 6 Time Middleweight ChampionThere can't be a way question that Anderson Silva can be one of the pound for pound greats in Mixed Martial Arts. his record inside the UFC is second-to-none having won all 10 of his fights to this point inside the organization. Plus but sometimes he tends to make experienced, battle-hardened fighters appear like white belted youngsters being humbled upon their first day at the dojo. In addition to being a dangerous striker Silva also has excellent movement and defensive skill that could have ensured that they has emerged largely unscathed from his battles in the octagon to this point whic h only benefits the longevity of his career.At this stage the most important threat to Anderson Silva's continued success is himself. Last year he announced his craving to retire saying "I already gave my all. I did not require prove anything almost everyone and within 1 year I'll put my gloves aside."Though other fighters in his weight class can have breathed a sigh of relief at his comment, the news was met with wide-spread disappointment the fact that sport may be deprived of considered one of it's greatest talents seemingly still in the prime of his career.All most likely are not lost however as a new quote from the fighter last week advices that he's now having uncertainties about retiring, and having recently expressed interest in again stepping as many as light heavyweight or even heavyweight, the probability of seeing Silva compete at the highest level past the remaining three fights on his contract look increasingly promising.Verdict: Silva is really a perfect examp le of your phrase "improving as we grow older". There are many challenges still out their for my son and retirement right now is obviously waste of 1 of our sports greatest talents. Of every the fighters for this list, Silva is definitely the most more likely to find continued success should he prefer to fight on.---Matt Hughes (44-7) - Age:35 - 8 Time Welterweight ChampionThe UFC's most dominant champion to date, Matt Hughes successfully defended the Welterweight belt seven times. He has also went six wins without defeat on two separate occasions included in the octagon.Just quite lately that winning form continues to be harder to come by. He has lost three of his last five fights, a black mark on Hughes otherwise impressive resume. His last two wins against Chris Lytle individuals that 2007 at UFC 68, and the majority recently against Matt Serra at UFC 98, were also noticeably less dominant than we had reach expect that came from the future hall-of-famer.Alongside a dip in form, doubts over Hughes own craving to compete at the highest level are usually raised. After his second defeat to GSP by the end of 2007 he hinted with a possible retirement. That never materialized however and citing an evident yearning to continue fighting after claiming victory over Matt Serra, Hughes has signed a brand new multi-fight take care of the UFC.Despite this the welterweight divisions young guns clearly smell blood now though as well as a succession of fighters including Mike Swick, Josh Koscheck and the majority of recently Paul Daley will have called down the former champion in recent times.Verdict: Once an unstoppable force inside the welterweight division, Hughes would now appear to be optimal as a considerate gatekeeper of the divisions up and coming stars. It truly is unlikely to become a role that could satisfy a very decorated fighter permanently and it also will never be unexpected if he calls time on his career before his current contract ends.---T ito Ortiz (16-6-1) - Age: 34 - 6 Time light Heavyweight ChampionAnother dominant champion in his heyday Tito Ortiz last three appearances inside the octagon end up being two defeats as well as a draw.Ortiz however indicates the standard of his last two opponents (Lyoto Machida and Rashad Evans, the past two holders of many light heavweight belt), and the fact he took them both into a decision as proof that they can still compete with the ideal the UFC has. He also cites a lasting back problem which he has since had surgery on, as a considerate hindrance in his past fights that will no longer impede him.It is however worth noting that during his run when the light heavyweight champion his challengers included lower than stellar opposition comparable to Yuki Kondo (1-2 within the UFC) , Elvis Sinosic (1-6 inside the octagon) and Ken Shamrock (0-4 in his last 4 fights of the promotion).Concurrently his losses in the UFC to other champions like Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell and L yoto Machida suggest that Ortiz may strive to regain his grip at the light heavyweight belt right now in his career.Verdict: Ortiz' long-term future will by all means remain somewhat of a mystery until he gets back into your cage when queries about the success of his back operation and the affect ring rust will play after 18 months from the game could possibly be answered. If he's 100% healthy then there will be big fights in his future, but having reach short before against the best possible inside the division another title reign at this stage seems unlikely.
