User blog comment:Water Dragon Slayer/DREAM BATTLE CHRONICLES: FOURTH MATCH!/@comment-5894890-20130806065555/@comment-7418318-20130806083848

Makarov is a bad example for old age not mattering.

In their fight on Tenrou Island Makarov's old age (or his heart-condition to be exact, which he most likely got from his age) gave Hades an opening that allowed him to defeat Makarov far easier than if the Fairy Tail master had been top fit.