Matt Brown, the seasoned welterweight, scored his 13th UFC knockout on Saturday night, in a thrilling fight against Court McGee. At 42 years old, Brown has impressed many with his ability to still remain relevant in the sport of mixed martial arts. Brown has been a fixture in the UFC since 2008, making him one of the select few fighters who’ve managed to stay in the promotion for over a decade.

White was in awe of Brown, who many fighters and analysts hold in high esteem. He put Brown’s longevity down to his ‘power’: “the guy has the power to end the fight at any moment. That’s the game-changer.”

As a result of his spectacular victory, Brown drew level with UFC legend Derrick Lewis, respectively holding the all-time knockout record in the UFC. White has praised veterans like Brown and Jim Miller, who have both managed to sustain longevity in the sport of fighting, over a decade after their debuts. There is no “secret fountain of youth” according to White, but there are fighters like Miller, Brown and others, that are able to endure, each with their own specific skillset.

When asked about the secret to Brown’s long-term success by a journalist, White quickly responded with “power”. He followed up his remarks by hailing the clash between MMA veterans, that sees Brown and McGee as the latest classic battle. He praised both fighters, describing them as “great guys”.

While younger fighters are coming through the ranks, for veterans like Brown and Miller, they’ve found their specific strengths that have allowed them to continue fighting even after a decade of competition. It seems that the younger pack are being encouraged to adopt longevity in their training regimes as it has often been described by White as one of the most important things in the sport.

For Brown, it is his punching power, for others it is stamina, durability, submission game or resilience through injuries. UFC President Dana White has highlighted the physical and mental toughness needed to continue in the profession, especially after surgery. Ultimately, it’s not just one simple answer that explains a fighter’s longevity in the sport.