An Alternative Structured Weight Management Protocol to Rapid Weight Loss in Mixed Martial Arts: A Prospective Interventional Study of Pre-Competition Weight Management Strategies in Professional Athletes

Clóvis Albuquerque Maurício¹Guilherme Artioli²Aleksandro Gonçalves¹Rafael Pereira Azevedo Teixeira¹Victor Hugo Vieira¹Ciro José Brito³Rodrigo Cunha de Mello Pedreiro⁴Diego Valenzuela⁵Esteban Aedo-Muñoz⁶Emanuela Pierantozzi⁷BIANCA MIARKA^1*

• ¹Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• ²Manchester Environmental Research Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester, England, United Kingdom
• ³Juiz de Fora Federal University, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
• ⁴Estácio de Sá University, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• ⁵Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Santo Tomás, Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan Region (RM), Chile
• ⁶Metropolitan University of Educational Sciences, Ñuñoa, Santiago Metropolitan Region (RM), Chile
• ⁷University of Genoa, Genoa, Liguria, Italy

In Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), a combination of combat techniques and physical demands takes center stage. Before competition, many athletes engage in rapid weight loss (RWL) strategies to qualify for lower weight classes, aiming to gain a competitive edge by facing smaller or less physically dominant opponents. This practice is driven by the belief that regaining weight after the official weigh-in enhances strength, power, and resilience during the bout. For MMA athletes, adhering to an evidence-based Weight Management Protocol (WMP), targeting a 10% body weight reduction within seven days prior to weigh-in, poses a significant challenge. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of a structured nutritional strategy, including controlled dietary interventions and fluid manipulation, tailored for athletes seeking to lose 10% of body mass, along with evidence-based recommendations for post-weigh-in recovery. We followed 31 professional MMA athletes (28 males, aged 28±4 years), all with established experience in RWL protocols. The study was divided into two phases: pre-and post-RWL assessments. Athletes achieved a mean weight reduction of 7.25 kg (10.6%) within the seven days leading up to the weigh-in, conducted eight days before competition. They demonstrated a mean weight regain of 7.5 kg (11.2%) within 30 hours post-weigh-in, indicating effective rehydration and recovery. Starting seven days before the weigh-in, athletes consumed 7 liters of fluids per day, with intake gradually decreasing. On the day before the weigh-in, they consumed only 0.5 liters. Following adherence to the protocol, 67.7% (21 athletes) secured victory in their bouts.