Mixed Martial Arts Competitors Research Articles

Identifying the performance characteristics of a winning outcome in elite mixed martial arts competition.

To determine those performance indicators that have the greatest influence on classifying outcome at the elite level of mixed martial arts (MMA). A secondary objective was to establish the efficacy of decision tree analysis in explaining the characteristics of victory when compared to alternate statistical methods. Cross-sectional observational. Eleven raw performance indicators from male Ultimate Fighting Championship bouts (n=234) from July 2014 to December 2014 were screened for analysis. Each raw performance indicator was also converted to a rate-dependent measure to be scaled to fight duration. Further, three additional performance indicators were calculated from the dataset and included in the analysis. Cohen's d effect sizes were employed to determine the magnitude of the differences between Wins and Losses, while decision tree (chi-square automatic interaction detector (CHAID)) and discriminant function analyses (DFA) were used to classify outcome (Win and Loss). Effect size comparisons revealed differences between Wins and Losses across a number of performance indicators. Decision tree (raw: 71.8%; rate-scaled: 76.3%) and DFA (raw: 71.4%; rate-scaled 71.2%) achieved similar classification accuracies. Grappling and accuracy performance indicators were the most influential in explaining outcome. The decision tree models also revealed multiple combinations of performance indicators leading to victory. The decision tree analyses suggest that grappling activity and technique accuracy are of particular importance in achieving victory in elite-level MMA competition. The DFA results supported the importance of these performance indicators. Decision tree induction represents an intuitive and slightly more accurate approach to explaining bout outcome in this sport when compared to DFA.

Combative Sports Injuries

Mixed martial arts (MMA) is an increasingly popular combative sport involving aggressive techniques that present substantial injury risk. We examined the incidence and types of injuries sustained in MMA fights and compared this with injuries sustained in boxing matches. Consecutive Case Series. We used data from post-fight medical examinations on all bouts in Edmonton, Canada, between 2000 and 2013. The participants were 1181 MMA competitors and 550 boxers. The attending physician conducted a mandatory post-fight examination of all fighters and documented the nature of injuries sustained. Boxers were significantly more likely not to experience injury (49.8% vs 59.4%, P < 0.001), whereas MMA fighters were significantly more likely to experience 1 injury (typically contusion/bruising, P < 0.001). Boxers were more likely to experience loss of consciousness (7.1% vs 4.2%, P = 0.01) and serious eye injury (1.1% vs 0.3%, P = 0.02). The overall injury incidence in MMA competitors appears slightly higher than for boxers, but MMA fighters experience more minor contusion/bruising injuries. Boxers are more likely to experience serious injury such as concussion/head trauma involving loss of consciousness or eye injury such as retinal detachment.

Analysis of injury types for mixed martial arts athletes.

[Purpose] The purpose of the present study was to examine the types of injuries associated with mixed martial arts and their location in order to provide substantial information to help reduce the risk of these injuries during mixed martial arts. [Subjects and Methods] Data were collected from 455 mixed martial arts athletes who practiced mixed martial arts or who participated in mixed martial arts competitions in the Seoul Metropolitan City and Gyeongnam Province of Korea between June 3, 2015, and November 6, 2015. Questionnaires were used to collect the data. The convenience sampling method was used, based on the non-probability sampling extraction method. [Results] The arm, neck, and head were the most frequent locations of the injuries; and lacerations, concussions, and contusions were the most frequently diagnosed types of injuries in the mixed martial arts athletes in this study. [Conclusion] Reducing the risk of injury by establishing an alert system and preventing critical injuries by incorporating safety measures are important.

Injury Profile of Mixed Martial Arts Competitors

To provide an updated comprehensive profile of mixed martial arts (MMAs) injuries. Correlational and multivariate analyses were conducted on cross-sectional data to examine injuries sustained during 711 MMA bouts. One physician diagnosed any injuries occurring during the bouts. Various sports venues in Kansas and Missouri holding MMA competitions. Male and female and amateur and professional MMA competitors contributing to 1422 fight participations (fight participations = 711 bouts × 2 fighters/bout). State, level (amateur or professional), gender, number of rounds, and bout outcome (knockout/technical knockout [KO/TKO] vs other outcomes [eg, decision]). Injuries/fight participations, injury sustained (yes vs no), and fighter referred to emergency room (ER; yes vs no). The overall injury rate was 8.5% of fight participations (121 injuries/1422 fight participations) or 5.6% of rounds (121/2178 rounds). Injury rates were similar between men and women, but a greater percentage of the injuries caused an altered mental state in men. The risk of being injured was significantly greater for bouts held in Kansas, at the professional level, lasting more rounds, and ending in a KO/TKO. Fighters also were more likely to be referred to the ER if they participated in longer bouts ending in a KO/TKO. The observed injury rate was lower than previously reported suggesting recent regulatory changes have made MMA a safer sport. Increased clinical awareness and additional research should be extended to head-related injuries in MMAs especially those associated with KOs/TKOs.

Interrater Agreement of an Observational Tool to Code Knockouts and Technical Knockouts in Mixed Martial Arts

Interrater agreement evaluation of a tool to document and code the situational factors and mechanisms of knockouts (KOs) and technical knockouts (TKOs) in mixed martial arts (MMA). Retrospective case series. Professional MMA matches from the Ultimate Fighting Championship-2006-2012. Two nonmedically trained independent raters. The MMA Knockout Tool (MMA-KT) consists of 20 factors and captures and codes information on match characteristics, situational context preceding KOs and TKOs, as well as describing competitor states during these outcomes. The MMA-KT also evaluates the mechanism of action and subsequent events surrounding a KO. The 2 raters coded 125 unique events for a total of 250 events. The 8 factors of Part A had an average κ of 0.87 (SD = 0.10; range = 0.65-0.98); 7 were considered "substantial" agreement and 1 "moderate." Part B consists of 12 factors with an average κ of 0.84 (SD = 0.16; range = 0.59-1.0); 7 classified as "substantial" agreement, 4 "moderate," and 1 "fair." The majority of the factors in the MMA-KT demonstrated substantial interrater agreement, with an average κ of 0.86 (SD = 0.13; range = 0.59-1.0). The MMA-KT is a reliable tool to extract and code relevant information to investigate the situational factors and mechanism of KOs and TKOs in MMA competitions.

Striking dynamics and kinetic properties of boxing and MMA gloves

&lt;p&gt;With the growing popularity of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) as a competitive sport, questions regarding the dynamic response and properties of MMA gloves arise. High-energy impacts from punches are very similar to boxing yet MMA competition requires the use of 4 oz fingerless glove, compared to the larger full enclosure boxing glove. This work assessed the kinetic properties and strike dynamics of MMA gloves and compared findings with traditional boxing gloves. Gloves mounted on a molded fist were impacted repetitively on an instrumental anvil designed for impact, over a 5 hour period resulting in 10,000 continuous and consistent strikes. Kinetic data from impacts were sampled at the beginning of the data collection and subsequently every 30 minutes (every 1,000 strikes). MMA gloves produced 4-5 times greater peak force and 5 times faster load rate compared to the boxing glove. However, MMA gloves also showed signs of material fatigue, with peak force increasing by 35% and rate of loading increasing by 60% over the duration of the test. Boxing glove characteristics did deteriorate but to a lesser extent. In summary, the kinetic properties of MMA glove differed substantially from the boxing glove resulting in impacts characterized by higher peak forces and more rapid development of force. Material properties including stiffness and thickness play a role in the kinetic characteristics upon impact, and can be inferred to alter injury mechanisms of blunt force trauma.&lt;/p&gt;

Fight Kids: The Future of Mixed Martial Arts or a Detriment to America's Youth? A Call to Regulate Children's MMA

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a full-contact combat sport that has been labeled the “fastest growing sport in the world.” MMA consists of hand-to-hand combat between two fighters trained in various forms of martial arts. Typical MMA bouts consist of punches, kicks, elbow and knee strikes, joint manipulation, and strangulation techniques. MMA bouts end in a submission (a “tap out”), knockout, or by a judge's decision. MMA is well known for its violence and brutal nature, with many fighters suffering lacerations, concussions, and broken or manipulated joints and bones. The Ultimate Fighting Championship, the largest MMA promotion company, has become immensely popular, landing itself on the FOX network and increasing its viewership by the millions. Many viewers include children who now practice and compete in MMA. The problem, however, is that there are no laws or rules that govern or regulate underage MMA competitions. This has led to unregulated MMA competitions featuring children fighters, which poses a serious health risk to the children. A longstanding debate exists whether children should participate in MMA fights or whether MMA should be banned entirely. This Note balances the competing views and rejects the proposal for banning MMA and instead calls for the regulation of children MMA competitions. This Note will offer three proposals in which regulating children's MMA can be accomplished. Keypoints for the Family Court Community Addresses an ongoing and unaddressed problem of underage children competing in mixed martial arts (MMA) Educates the reader as to what is MMA, giving a brief background and information as to this sport which has exploded in popularity over recent years With the inconsistent regulation of MMA in this country, this is a problem that will worsen without giving it the necessary attention Helps to dilute the misconceptions and misunderstanding of MMA as a whole Addreses the health concerns and risks to underage children participating in MMA Discusses and suggests several alternatives to help resolve this issue

Mental Toughness of Mixed Martial Arts Athletes at Different Levels of Competition

This study investigated whether mental toughness distinguishes mixed martial arts (MMA) athletes competing at different levels. It was theorized that higher mental toughness would separate those competing at the professional level compared to lower levels. Male MMA competitors (N = 136, M age = 27.1 yr., SD = 4.8) were categorized as amateur, semi-professional, or professional and assessed by questionnaire using the Psychological Performance Inventory-A and the Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire. There were statistically significant differences between the three groups on mental toughness. The professional group had higher scores compared to semi-professional and amateur groups with regard to confidence, positive cognition, and determination. The findings supported previous work that athletes performing at higher levels have superior mental toughness.

Fading red? No evidence that color of trunks influences outcomes in the ultimate fighting championship (UFC)

Fading red? No evidence that color of trunks influences outcomes in the ultimate fighting championship (UFC)

The “Sweet Science” of Reducing Periorbital Lacerations in Mixed Martial Arts

The popularity of mixed martial arts competitions and televised events has grown exponentially since its inception, and with the growth of the sport, unique facial injury patterns have surfaced. In particular, upper eyelid and brow lacerations are common and are especially troublesome given the effect of hemorrhage from these areas on the fighter's vision and thus ability to continue. We propose that the convexity of the underlying supraorbital rim is responsible for the high frequency of lacerations in this region after blunt trauma and offer a method of reducing subsequent injury by reducing its prominence.

Vomiting as a reliable sign of concussion

Concussion is the most common type of traumatic brain injury, with headache being the most frequent symptom of mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) (including dizziness, vomiting, nausea, lack of motor coordination or difficulty balancing). Concussion may be caused by a blow to the head, or by acceleration forces without a direct impact. Often, MTBI occurs as the result of a sports injury. Loss of consciousness is always present, unlike vomiting. Therefore, we hypothesize vomiting to be considered as a cardinal sign of concussion. Stimulation of vomiting centres finally triggers vomiting. Professional boxers and mixed martial arts competitions reluctantly agree with stringent rules and protective clothing. We discuss the issue of further protection for those engaged in these and other sports.

Current Review of Injuries Sustained in Mixed Martial Arts Competition

Mixed martial arts (MMA) have enjoyed a tremendous growth in popularity over the past 10 years, yet there remains a paucity of information with respect to common injuries sustained in MMA competitions. In the available studies, certain trends pertaining to risk factors for injury, as well as the most common injuries sustained in MMA competition, were noted. Common risk factors include being the losing fighter, history of knockout or technical knockout, and longer fight duration. Common injuries that were noted include lacerations and abrasions, followed by injuries to the face and ocular region. Concussions with or without loss of consciousness also were noted in MMA competition.

Physiological Differences In Mixed Martial Artist And Traditional Martial Artists: A Pilot Study

To determine the difference, if any, in the physiological characteristics of mixed martial arts athletes and traditional martial arts athletes. Twelve male participants age 18 to 36 yr volunteered for the study. Group 1 (n = 6) was comprised of professional and amateur mixed martial artists from northern Louisiana. Group 2 (n = 6) was traditional martial artists recruited from a local karate tournament. Each group performed the same tests. Tests included height, weight, body composition (TanitaTM bioelectrical impedance device), flexibility (sit and reach), leg power (vertical jump), muscular endurance (1-minute push-up and 1-minute sit-up), grip strength (20.5 kg plate hold), muscular strength (1 rep max bench press), and o2max. Body composition was the only significant difference (p < 0.05) between the 2 groups. The mixed martial artists were significantly leaner than the traditional martial artists. This was not surprising because class separation for traditional martial artists goes by age rank, while mixed martial arts competition is broken down into weight classes. In order to compete in a lower weight class, mixed martial artists reduce their body mass to make a specific weight class. In doing this, percent body fat is typically reduced. There were 2 major limitations to this study. One was the timing of testing. The traditional martial artists were tested 1-2 hr after competing in a karate tournament, while the mixed martial artists were tested weeks before their next fight. The other limitation was the number of participants. Though only one significant difference was found between the groups, it can be suggested that a high level of physical fitness is essential for performance in mixed martial arts and traditional martial art competitions. Mixed martial artists usually train at high intensities with various forms of interval training to improve their aerobic capacity. This helps condition them for their fights. Although o2max was not found to be significantly different between the 2 groups, there was a trend for the mixed martial artists having higher aerobic capacities. Had there been more participants and lower standard deviations for o2max, this variable may have been significantly different. Future studies should attempt to test the groups during the same time frame, have more participants, measure psychological characteristics, and consider using a DXA scan to measure bone mineral density. Acknowledgments: We would like to thank Dr. David Jordan for letting us use his tournament to recruit participants.

Injury trends in sanctioned mixed martial arts competition: a 5-year review from 2002 to 2007

Background:Professional mixed martial arts (MMA) competition is a full-contact sport that has risen rapidly in popularity in recent years. However, there is limited information regarding the incidence of competition injuries...

No holds barred sport fighting: a 10 year review of mixed martial arts competition

Objective: To identify the most salient medical issues that may be associated with mixed martial arts competition by determining the types and proportions of match stoppages. Methods: Publicly available video...