The aim of this study was to quantify typical training load and periodisation practices of MMA at... more The aim of this study was to quantify typical training load and periodisation practices of MMA athletes. MMA competitors (n = 14; age = 22.4 ± 4.4 years; body mass = 71.3 ± 7.7 kg; stature = 171 ±9.9 cm) were observed during training for 8 consecutive weeks without intervention. Seven athletes were training for competitive bouts whilst the remaining 7 were not. Daily training duration, intensity (RPE), load (sRPE and segRPE), fatigue (short questionnaire of fatigue) and body region soreness (CR10 scale) were recorded. Using Bayesian analyses (BF10≥3), data demonstrate that training duration (weekly mean range = 3.9–5.3 hours), sRPE (weekly mean range = 1,287–1,791 AU), strain (weekly mean range = 1,143–1,819 AU), monotony (weekly mean range = 0.63–0.83 AU), fatigue (weekly mean range = 16–20 AU) and soreness did not change within or between weeks. Between weeks monotony (2.3 ± 0.7 AU) supported little variance in weekly training load. There were no differences in any variable betwee...
International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 2020
Body mass (BM) manipulation via rapid weight loss (RWL) and rapid weight gain (RWG) is a common p... more Body mass (BM) manipulation via rapid weight loss (RWL) and rapid weight gain (RWG) is a common practice among mixed martial art (MMA) athletes to ensure qualification for the division in which the athlete wishes to compete. Professional MMA competitors in California are required to weigh in twice: 24 hr prior to competition and immediately prior to the bout after they have typically engaged in RWG. In analyzing data from five MMA events sanctioned by the Californian State Athletic Commission, the authors used Bayesian analyses to compare bout winners (n = 31) and losers (n = 31) in terms of in-competition BM (in kilograms) and the amount of BM regained between the two weigh-ins (in kilograms). These data do not support the hypothesis that differences in in-competition BM (Bayes factor [BF10] = 0.667, d = 0.23) or the amount of BM regained between the two weigh-ins (BF10 = 0.821, d = 0.23) determine winning or losing. In addition, there was no statistical difference between bouts en...
Facta Universitatis, Series: Physical Education and Sport, 2018
Physiological changes brought about by a person’s aging process are known to negatively affect el... more Physiological changes brought about by a person’s aging process are known to negatively affect elite sports performance, but this may be delayed by skill mastery brought about by continued training. The intersection of these two separate processes causes a potential ‘peak performance window’ in many sports. Within MMA it has been shown that older competitors are more likely to lose individual bouts, especially due to strikes, and when they win it is most likely to be due to a decision. It has not been determined whether age has a long-term effect on success in MMA. This study divided the top 100 competitors in each MMA weight division into 5 ranking groups (RG) and used Bayesian ANOVA (BF10), 95% credible interval plots and Bayesian Kendall’s Tau (BF10) to determine if competitor rankings are affected by their age, and if each division displays a different age profile. The results found that whilst there is a general pattern of older participants being ranked higher, middleweig...
Anthropometry and chronological age has been demonstrated to have an effect on individual perform... more Anthropometry and chronological age has been demonstrated to have an effect on individual performance in competitive sport, with the relationship between stature and wingspan being found to be selective criteria in many sports, although evidence for this in MMA is negligible. In this study, n = 278 professional MMA bouts were analysed with the winners and losers being compared in terms of chronological age, stature, wingspan, stature-to-wingspan ratio (S:W) and method of win/loss using paired samples t tests, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, one way ANOVAs, Kruskal-Wallis tests (all ≤ .05) and Bayes Factor (BF 10). The results showed that for the most part anthropometric differences have no effect on who wins the bout, but taller bout losers are most likely to lose via strikes. The exception to this is at welterweight where taller participants were most likely to win, but with an anecdotal BF 10. Also at welterweight, participants with greater wingspans were most likely to lose via submi...
Anthropometry and chronological age has been demonstrated to have an effect on individual perform... more Anthropometry and chronological age has been demonstrated to have an effect on individual performance in competitive sport, with the relationship between stature and wingspan being found to be selective criteria in many sports, although evidence for this in MMA is negligible. In this study, n = 278 professional MMA bouts were analysed with the winners and losers being compared in terms of chronological age, stature, wingspan, stature-to-wingspan ratio (S:W) and method of win/loss using paired samples t tests, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, one way ANOVAs, Kruskal-Wallis tests (all ≤ .05) and Bayes Factor (BF 10 ). The results showed that for the most part anthropometric differences have no effect on who wins the bout, but taller bout losers are most likely to lose via strikes. Across the full cohort and several competitive divisions, it was found that older participants are significantly more likely to lose, and are also significantly more likely to lose via strikes. Participants who w...
In this study the stature, wingspan and stature-to-wingspan ratio (S:W) was recorded for N = 474 ... more In this study the stature, wingspan and stature-to-wingspan ratio (S:W) was recorded for N = 474 elite and international mixed martial arts (MMA) competitors who appeared in televised bouts over the course of one calendar year. Each weight division was split into three or four ranking groups (RG) depending on division size, as well as into groups depending on if the competitors had won or competed for a world title (El) or had done neither (In). One-way ANOVA (≤0.05) found that shorter competitors are ranked higher in flyweight and in the middle in women’s strawweight. Independent t-tests (≤0.05) found that shorter competitors also have more chance of winning or competing for a world title in featherweight and flyweight. Independent t-tests (≤0.05) also found a significant difference between males and female for S:W. There was a weak, negative correlation and a moderate, negative correlation between stature and rank in lightweight and light heavyweight respectively and a moderate, n...
The aim of this study was to quantify typical training load and periodisation practices of MMA at... more The aim of this study was to quantify typical training load and periodisation practices of MMA athletes. MMA competitors (n = 14; age = 22.4 ± 4.4 years; body mass = 71.3 ± 7.7 kg; stature = 171 ±9.9 cm) were observed during training for 8 consecutive weeks without intervention. Seven athletes were training for competitive bouts whilst the remaining 7 were not. Daily training duration, intensity (RPE), load (sRPE and segRPE), fatigue (short questionnaire of fatigue) and body region soreness (CR10 scale) were recorded. Using Bayesian analyses (BF10≥3), data demonstrate that training duration (weekly mean range = 3.9–5.3 hours), sRPE (weekly mean range = 1,287–1,791 AU), strain (weekly mean range = 1,143–1,819 AU), monotony (weekly mean range = 0.63–0.83 AU), fatigue (weekly mean range = 16–20 AU) and soreness did not change within or between weeks. Between weeks monotony (2.3 ± 0.7 AU) supported little variance in weekly training load. There were no differences in any variable betwee...
International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 2020
Body mass (BM) manipulation via rapid weight loss (RWL) and rapid weight gain (RWG) is a common p... more Body mass (BM) manipulation via rapid weight loss (RWL) and rapid weight gain (RWG) is a common practice among mixed martial art (MMA) athletes to ensure qualification for the division in which the athlete wishes to compete. Professional MMA competitors in California are required to weigh in twice: 24 hr prior to competition and immediately prior to the bout after they have typically engaged in RWG. In analyzing data from five MMA events sanctioned by the Californian State Athletic Commission, the authors used Bayesian analyses to compare bout winners (n = 31) and losers (n = 31) in terms of in-competition BM (in kilograms) and the amount of BM regained between the two weigh-ins (in kilograms). These data do not support the hypothesis that differences in in-competition BM (Bayes factor [BF10] = 0.667, d = 0.23) or the amount of BM regained between the two weigh-ins (BF10 = 0.821, d = 0.23) determine winning or losing. In addition, there was no statistical difference between bouts en...
Facta Universitatis, Series: Physical Education and Sport, 2018
Physiological changes brought about by a person’s aging process are known to negatively affect el... more Physiological changes brought about by a person’s aging process are known to negatively affect elite sports performance, but this may be delayed by skill mastery brought about by continued training. The intersection of these two separate processes causes a potential ‘peak performance window’ in many sports. Within MMA it has been shown that older competitors are more likely to lose individual bouts, especially due to strikes, and when they win it is most likely to be due to a decision. It has not been determined whether age has a long-term effect on success in MMA. This study divided the top 100 competitors in each MMA weight division into 5 ranking groups (RG) and used Bayesian ANOVA (BF10), 95% credible interval plots and Bayesian Kendall’s Tau (BF10) to determine if competitor rankings are affected by their age, and if each division displays a different age profile. The results found that whilst there is a general pattern of older participants being ranked higher, middleweig...
Anthropometry and chronological age has been demonstrated to have an effect on individual perform... more Anthropometry and chronological age has been demonstrated to have an effect on individual performance in competitive sport, with the relationship between stature and wingspan being found to be selective criteria in many sports, although evidence for this in MMA is negligible. In this study, n = 278 professional MMA bouts were analysed with the winners and losers being compared in terms of chronological age, stature, wingspan, stature-to-wingspan ratio (S:W) and method of win/loss using paired samples t tests, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, one way ANOVAs, Kruskal-Wallis tests (all ≤ .05) and Bayes Factor (BF 10). The results showed that for the most part anthropometric differences have no effect on who wins the bout, but taller bout losers are most likely to lose via strikes. The exception to this is at welterweight where taller participants were most likely to win, but with an anecdotal BF 10. Also at welterweight, participants with greater wingspans were most likely to lose via submi...
Anthropometry and chronological age has been demonstrated to have an effect on individual perform... more Anthropometry and chronological age has been demonstrated to have an effect on individual performance in competitive sport, with the relationship between stature and wingspan being found to be selective criteria in many sports, although evidence for this in MMA is negligible. In this study, n = 278 professional MMA bouts were analysed with the winners and losers being compared in terms of chronological age, stature, wingspan, stature-to-wingspan ratio (S:W) and method of win/loss using paired samples t tests, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, one way ANOVAs, Kruskal-Wallis tests (all ≤ .05) and Bayes Factor (BF 10 ). The results showed that for the most part anthropometric differences have no effect on who wins the bout, but taller bout losers are most likely to lose via strikes. Across the full cohort and several competitive divisions, it was found that older participants are significantly more likely to lose, and are also significantly more likely to lose via strikes. Participants who w...
In this study the stature, wingspan and stature-to-wingspan ratio (S:W) was recorded for N = 474 ... more In this study the stature, wingspan and stature-to-wingspan ratio (S:W) was recorded for N = 474 elite and international mixed martial arts (MMA) competitors who appeared in televised bouts over the course of one calendar year. Each weight division was split into three or four ranking groups (RG) depending on division size, as well as into groups depending on if the competitors had won or competed for a world title (El) or had done neither (In). One-way ANOVA (≤0.05) found that shorter competitors are ranked higher in flyweight and in the middle in women’s strawweight. Independent t-tests (≤0.05) found that shorter competitors also have more chance of winning or competing for a world title in featherweight and flyweight. Independent t-tests (≤0.05) also found a significant difference between males and female for S:W. There was a weak, negative correlation and a moderate, negative correlation between stature and rank in lightweight and light heavyweight respectively and a moderate, n...
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