Don't walk through that door

What is it with all of these older fighters wanting to get back into the cage and fight.
Over the past few months there has been a trend of fighters in their 40s either returning to the octagon or making their debut.
Former NFL star Herschel Walker, who is 47, made his debut last month and knocked out his opponent, who came into the fight with a record of 1-1. Action movie star Jean-Claude Van Damme, 49, recently held a press conference (in the Ukraine of all places) to announce he will enter the ring for a kickboxing match against a former gold medalist in Maccau.
And earlier this month, the main event at UFC 109 was 46-year-old Randy Couture against 45-year-old Mark Coleman. Couture won that match by submission.
Why do fighters feel the need they have to prove themselves in the ring? There is a reason most states have rules against anybody over the age of 35 fighting. It just isn't safe for most people.
Athletes in other sports aren't lining up to get back onto the court, field or pitch. They know their limits and pack it in while the going is good.
As former Boston Celtics coach Rick Pitino once said ...."Larry Bird is not walking through that door, fans. Kevin McHale is not walking through that door, and Robert Parish is not walking through that door. And if you expect them to walk through that door, they're going to be gray and old."
If fighters want to stay involved in the sport, maybe a better route for them would be to become a trainer, start a school or a gym where they can help develop young fighters rather than throw fists with them. That could be lucrative to both the fighter, and the sport.