Suggestions for Professional Mixed Martial Arts Training With Pacing Strategy and Technical-Tactical Actions by Rounds.

ABSTRACT: Antoniettô, NR, Bello, FD, Carrenho Queiroz, AC, Berbert de Carvalho, PH, Brito, CJ, Amtmann, J, and Miarka, B. Suggestions for professional mixed martial arts training with pacing strategy and technical-tactical actions by rounds. J Strength Cond Res 37(6): 1306-1314, 2023-This study compared the pacing strategy and motor actions used in mixed martial arts combats ending by knockout/technical knockout (KO/TKO) or submission. All of the sample bouts ended in KO/TKO and consisted of 1,564 rounds of 678 bouts. The bouts were separated by round (R) of bouts ending (ER) in the first round ( n = 192), first (1R × 2ER) and second (2R × 2ER) of bouts ending in the second round ( n = 172), and first (1R × 3ER), second (2R × 3ER), and third (3R × 3ER) of bouts ending in the third round ( n = 1,200). The analyses were performed according to the duration (∆) in each phase: ∆ standing preparatory activity time, ∆ standing combat activity time, ∆ ground preparatory activity time, and ∆ ground combat activity time and their technical-tactical actions (attempted and landed strikes to the head, body and leg, takedowns, and submissions). The main results demonstrated a shorter ∆ standing preparatory activity time in 1R × 1ER (95.6 ± 62.9 seconds) and 2R × 2ER (93.6 ± 67.9 seconds) vs. 2R × 3ER (160.5 ± 87.4 seconds) and 3R × 3ER (144.0 ± 88.5 seconds) with fewer strikes attempted and landed to the head, body, and legs ( p ≤ 0.05). No differences were observed ( p > 0.05) between ∆ standing combat activity time, but lower attempted and landed takedowns and strikes to the head, body, and leg frequencies. There were shorter ∆ ground combat activity time ( p ≤ 0.05) in 1R × 1ER (23.4 ± 45.5) and 2R × 2ER (25.3 ± 41.9) vs. 2R × 3ER (50.4 ± 69.9) and 3R × 3ER (52.9 ± 74.2), with lower attempted submissions, chokes, and attempted and landed strikes to the head, body, and leg frequencies observed. These results contribute to the information developed from current research to help improve the quality of training and promote effective athletic preparation related to pacing strategy and performance models.

Ending MMA Combat, Specific Grappling Techniques According to the Type of the Outcome.

This study compared grappling motor actions of male mixed martial arts (MMA) athletes considering outcome types from Ultimate Fighting Championship ( UFC) bouts. A validated protocol of technical-tactical analysis was utilized as in previous studies addressing MMA performance analysis, and Kruskall Wallis and U Mann-Whitney tests were applied to compare effects of types of outcome decisions (Split vs. Unanimous Decision vs. Knockout-KO/Technical-knockout-TKO vs. Submission). Unanimous Decision showed higher frequencies of takedowns attempted/round than KO/TKO and Submission outcomes (p ≤ 0.05; 1.9 ± 1.9 vs. 1.3 ± 1.4 vs. 1.0 ± 1.1 attempts). Bouts with Split Decision demonstrated higher takedowns/round than bouts ended by Submission (p = 0.048; 0.4 ± 0.7 vs. 0.2 ± 0.6 attempts). TKO/KO showed lower values of sweeps/round (p = 0.008, 0.0 ± 0.0 vs. 0.1 ± 0.3 attempts) and takedowns attempted/round (p = 0.014, 1.3 ± 1.4 vs. 2.0 ± 1.6 attempts) than bouts ending by Split Decision. The Submission outcome showed a higher frequency of submissions attempted/round than KO/TKO and Unanimous Decision (p ≤ 0.041, 0.3 ± 0.7 vs 0.2 ± 0.5 vs 0.2 ± 0.5). These results show a large specificity in the type of grappling attack/situation according to the strategy to end the combat. These results also show that the grappling strategy and tactics are variable depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the athletes, and can be used by coaches and athletes to develop specific training programs.

Hyperproteic supplementation attenuates muscle damage after simulated Olympic cross-country mountain biking competition: a randomized case-control study

Abstract Aim: We investigated the effect of high-protein (HI-PRO - 70% protein and 30% carbohydrate) and high-carbohydrate supplementation (HI-CHO - 70% carbohydrate and 30% protein) on muscle damage, haemoglobin, immune response, perceived pain and recovery post-simulated XCO. Methods: For this,10 amateur athletes (38±9.6 yrs.) were measured pre-, post- and 24-h post-trial. Results: In comparison to the pre-trial, the post-trial athletes presented leucocytosis (p≤0.001; 14.7±6.1 and 13.6±5.6 cells x103; for HI-PRO and HI-CHO, respectively) and neutropenia (p≤0.001; 11.9±5.2 and 10.7±4.9 cells x103; for HI-PRO and HI-CHO, respectively) but recovered at 24-h post-trial (Leukocytes: 6.9±1.4 and 7.1±1.4 cells x103; for HI-PRO and HI-CHO, respectively; neutrophils: 3.6±1.2 and 3.9±1.1 cells x103; for HI-PRO and HI-CHO, respectively) without a difference between conditions (p=0.808 and p=0.531; for leukocytes and neutrophils, respectively). A similar result was observed for perceived pain and recovery, where the condition did not interfere with these variables between the o measurement moments (p=0.245 and p=0.491; for pain and recovery respectively). There was an interaction effect for lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), where HI-PRO presented a lower serum concentration 24-h post-trial compared to HI-CHO (p=0.039; 181.3±21.9 and 201.0±10.4 IU/L; for HI-PRO and HI-CHO, respectively). Conclusion: HI-PRO supplementation results in better muscle damage recovery but only for LDH. Athletes should evaluate the cost-benefit of choosing the nutrients to be consumed immediately post-training or competition.

Exploratory study on illegal pharmacologic agents in mixed martial arts performance / Estudo exploratório sobre agentes farmacológicos ilegais no desempenho em artes marciais mistas

Abstract Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a combat sport that requires maximum physical effort during competitions. In this context, some athletes can use illicit substances in order to improve their performance. By means of paired analysis, the present study compared the motor actions of athletes who had failed an anti-doping test versus their performance in combat against a winner or loser without doping presence. For this, 267 rounds (male and female) were analyzed in professional matches. The rounds were paired by athletes in the conditions: doping, winning and losing. Motor actions were analyzed through a specific and previously-validated protocol. Of the substances detected, anabolic androgenic steroids represented 55% (p?0.001). Doped athletes had lower pause time (83.4±68.3 vs. 131.7±95.2, p?0.001) and longer time at high-intensity (85.2±86.6 vs. 51.2±73.3, p=0.002) compared to the losing condition. Regarding the technical-tactical analysis in standing combat, winning presented a higher mean compared to doping in all variables except for Knockdowns (p=0.08), single body strikes landed (p=0.15), single leg strikes landed (p=0.25) and single strike attempts (p=0.4). In conclusion, athletes who tested positive presented higher performance in the physical variables (effort and pause time) in comparison to the losing condition; however, doping did not reflect in better technical-tactical performance.

Resumo O Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) é um esporte de combate que exige a máxima capacidade física durante as competições, neste contexto, alguns atletas podem administrar substâncias ilícitas, com fins de ampliar artificialmente sua performance. Por meio de análise pareada, o presente estudo comparou as ações motoras de lutadores flagrados no teste de doping frente ao desempenho em combates em que o mesmo saiu vencedor ou foi derrotado sem a presença de doping. Para tal, foram analisados 267 rounds em combates profissionais (masculino e feminino). Os rounds foram pareados por lutadores nas condições: doping, vencedor e perdedor. As ações motoras foram analisadas através de protocolo específico previamente validado. Das substâncias detectadas, os esteroides anabólicos androgênicos representaram (55%; p?0,001). Lutadores dopados apresentaram menor tempo de pausa (83,4±68,3 vs. 131,7±95,2; p?0,001) e maior tempo em alta intensidade (85,2±86,6 vs. 51,2±73,3; p=0,002) frente a condição Derrota. Quanto a análise técnico-tática em combate em pé, a condição Vitória apresentou maior média frente ao doping em todas as variáveis exceto Knockdowns (p=0,08), golpe simples acertado no corpo (p=0,15), e na perna (p=0,25) e tentativa de golpe simples (p=0,4). Em conclusão, lutadores que testaram positivo apresentaram maior desempenho nas variáveis físicas (tempo de esforço e tempo de pausa) frente a condição derrota; no entanto, a condição de doping não refletiu melhor desempenho técnico.