Age has been a constant topic of conversation in mixed martial arts (MMA) as numerous fighters chose to continue competing at a high level even if they have passed their prime.
A few MMA competitors have gained momentum and achieved excellence in their mid-to-late 30s or even early 40s, which is certainly a rarity as bodies, minds and chins of most combatants wear out at that period of their careers due to the strenuous and vehement nature of the sport.
These highly-decorated fighters defied the physical boundaries of MMA and proved that age is just a number.
Malaysian veteran AJ “Pyro” Lias Mansor has the same objective in mind as he steps inside the ONE Championship cage for the first time in nearly four years.
The 41-year-old native of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah is set to face Anthony “Archangel” Engelen on the undercard of ONE: QUEST FOR POWER in Jakarta, Indonesia on 14 January.
Even though he is ten years older than his Dutch-Indonesian opponent, Mansor is convinced that he can still hang with the best and brightest fighters in Asia’s largest MMA organization.
“I’m very excited about this fight. Anthony is a tough opponent. This is perfect for me to prove that age is just a number,” he said.
Mansor has been out of action since winning the ONE Malaysia Featherweight Tournament against compatriot Melvin Yeoh in November 2013.
The seasoned veteran is squaring off with Engelen, who has become a regular fixture as a ONE Championship featherweight competitor and is trying to carve his own niche in the division.
Engelen has won two of his last four outings in ONE Championship, including a sensational second-round submission victory over Egyptian stalwart Sami Amin this past August.
Although he has been on the sidelines for so long, Mansor is not worried about the proverbial ring rust.
“There’s no ring rust in my fight dictionary. I train, travel, compete and learn everyday. It’s my life as a martial artist,” he shared.
Despite his absence in active MMA competition, Mansor revealed that he managed to keep himself in peak form.
“It’s so much to do with my life as a martial artist. I train hard everyday even if there’s no scheduled fight. I always make sure to learn new techniques and keep myself healthy. It’s not just my profession. It’s my way of life,” he stated.
Regardless of the outcome of his three-round featherweight encounter with Engelen, Mansor plans to continue his prizefighting career and chase his dream of becoming an MMA world champion.
“I love to fight, I love the process, and I love being in the cage. It’s the warrior’s blood inside of me,” he ended.
