Different Sports, But the Same Physical and Physiological Profiles?

Abstract

We would like to congratulate Dr. Lachlan P. James and colleagues for their work ‘‘Towards a Determination of the Physiological Characteristics Distinguishing Successful Mixed Martial Arts Athletes: A Systematic Review of Combat Sport Literature’’, published recently in Sports Medicine [1]. In recent years, mixed martial arts (MMA) has seen an exponential growth in both the number of practitioners/athletes and the number of sporting events. Thus, to draw a physical and physiological profile of athletes of this modality would be of great help to the organization and prescription of training, as the authors reported and tried to describe through a (much appreciated) systematic review. However, some factors make us question the applicability of the results. In our view, the results of this review provide important information to distinguish between the physiological profiles of athletes of different modalities (boxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, judo, karate, kickboxing, Muay Thai and wrestling), but such results cannot be extended to MMA specifically. In Table 1, it can be seen that no article specifically dealing with MMA met the search criteria to be included in the systematic review [1]. This fact is inherent in the low number of studies involving the sport, which are mostly studies describing injuries involving MMA [2–6]. In all, eight articles referred to wrestling, eight referred to judo, four referred to karate, two referred to boxing, and one referred to Brazilian jiu-jitsu; none referring to kickboxing, Muay Thai or MMA were added. This fact is extremely important in interpreting the results because the main modalities of striking (Muay Thai and kickboxing) are not considered in the study, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which is a modality of grappling included in the training of almost all MMA athletes, is considered in only one study [1]. Furthermore, the fact that judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu are played in a kimono uniform (judogi or gi) can greatly influence the physiological responses of the athletes (e.g. isometric endurance strength of the flexor and extensor muscles of the forearm due to grip contests in the course of the match). Indeed, approximately 50 % of judo matches is taken up by the participants battling for grips [7, 8]. Thus, it is plausible that the grappling athletes have high isometric and dynamic endurance strength in the flexor and extensor muscles of the forearm. However, the key factor in our objection to the applicability of the results is due to the fact that the results are from elite athletes engaged in their modalities of origin and not in MMA. There is consensus that the physiological adaptations are specific to the training carried out and this principle must be considered to maximize the performance of sports combat athletes [9, 10]. Training for MMA and MMA competitions reflects the fact that the physiological and metabolic demands of these contests are significantly different, a fact that can change the morphophysiological profile of these athletes over the long-term. In major competitions, the professional MMA match time comprises three to five rounds of 5 min, with 1 min of rest between rounds. This total match time (15–25 min, & Leonardo Vidal Andreato vidal.leo@hotmail.com