Physiological characters in mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a relatively new sport and is a mixture of many different martial arts. Currently, study on the physiological characters in the sport is very limited. The present study evaluated the physiological characters in 5 active male MMA athletes at two occasions with one year between. Aerobicand anaerobic capacity were estimated through measurement of VO2max and anaerobic threshold using both treadmill running and arm cycling. Muscle strength was evaluated through series measurements. Body composition and personal competition records were also examined. The subjects presented above average aerobic capacity, but rather high anaerobic capacity and threshold levels compared with other similar sports. No significant difference in VO2max, anaerobic threshold or body composition was observed between the two test occasions, despite a decreased tendency in muscle strength/power in the second test compared to the first. The results were interpreted to indicate either the MMA athletes had reached the physiological requirements for MMA or the one year physical training was inefficient in further improving the parameters.