Performance Metrics of Anaerobic Power in Professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Fighters.

Abstract

Background: Mixed martial arts (MMA) requires athletes to generate repeated bursts of high-intensity effort with minimal recovery time. Despite the sport's reliance on anaerobic power, there are minimal data assessing pre-competition physiological capacity in MMA fighters. This study aimed to evaluate anaerobic performance using the Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) and Countermovement Jump (CMJ) in professional MMA athletes, and to examine relationships between performance metrics across weight classes. Methods: Twelve professional male MMA fighters (age 29.00 ± 4.80 years, weight 85.60 ± 13.90 kg) completed both CMJ and WAnT assessments using sensor-integrated devices (Just Jump mat and Wattbike Pro). CMJ height and WAnT variables (peak power, average power, and fatigue index) were measured. Pearson correlations were used to examine the relationships between CMJ and Wingate outputs. Independent t-tests compared performance between lighter (<83.9 kg) and heavier (≥83.9 kg) weight groups. Results: CMJ performance showed significant positive correlations with both average power (r = 0.71, p < 0.001) and peak power (r = 0.61, p = 0.004). Peak power was also positively correlated with fatigue index (r = 0.84, p < 0.001), suggesting greater fatigue in higher power-producing athletes. Finally, the heavier weight group of fighters produced significantly (p = 0.03) more peak power when compared to the lighter weight group. Conclusions: The findings support the use of CMJ and WAnT testing as practical tools for evaluating anaerobic performance in MMA athletes. These assessments can help guide individualized training strategies, particularly when accounting for weight group specific differences in power and fatigue dynamics.