Maximum Isometric and Dynamic Strength of Mixed Martial Arts Athletes According to Weight Class and Competitive Level

Orlando Folhes; Víctor Machado Reis; Diogo Luís Marques; Henrique Pereira Neiva; Mário Cardoso Marques

doi:10.3390/ijerph19148741

Maximum Isometric and Dynamic Strength of Mixed Martial Arts Athletes According to Weight Class and Competitive Level

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jul 18;19(14):8741. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19148741.

Authors

Orlando Folhes¹, Víctor Machado Reis^{2

3}, Diogo Luís Marques^{1

3}, Henrique Pereira Neiva^{1

3}, Mário Cardoso Marques^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Sport Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal.
² Department of Sport Sciences, Exercise and Health, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal.
³ Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal.

Abstract

Mixed martial arts (MMA) athletes must achieve high strength levels to face the physical demands of an MMA fight. This study compared MMA athletes' maximal isometric and dynamic strength according to the competitive level and weight class. Twenty-one male MMA athletes were divided into lightweight professional (LWP; n = 9), lightweight elite (LWE; n = 4), heavyweight professional (HWP; n = 4), and heavyweight elite (HWE; n = 4). The handgrip and isometric lumbar strength tests assessed the isometric strength, and the one-repetition maximum (1RM) bench press and 4RM leg press the dynamic strength. Univariate ANOVA showed differences between groups in absolute and relative 1RM bench press and absolute isometric lumbar strength. Post hoc tests showed differences in 1RM bench press between HWE and LWE (117.0 ± 17.8 kg vs. 81.0 ± 10.0 kg) and HWE and LWP athletes (117.0 ± 17.8 kg vs. 76.7 ± 13.7 kg; 1.5 ± 0.2 kg·BW^-1 vs. 1.1 ± 0.2 kg·BW^-1). In addition, there was a correlation between 1RM bench press and isometric lumbar strength for absolute (r = 0.67) and relative values (r = 0.50). This study showed that the 1RM bench press and isometric lumbar strength were associated and could differentiate MMA athletes according to their competitive level and weight class. Therefore, optimizing the force production in the upper body and lower back seems important in elite and professional MMA athletes.

Keywords: combat sports; dynamic strength; elite athletes; heavyweight; isometric strength; lightweight; mixed martial arts; physical performance; professional athletes.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Athletes
Hand Strength
Humans
Male
Martial Arts*
Muscle Strength*
Weight Lifting

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), I.P., project number UIDB/04045/2020, and grant number SFRH/BD/147608/2019.