Training Frequency, Weight, and Mental Well-being During COVID-19 Lockdown in Professional Mixed Martial Arts Fighters

Introduction : Mixed Martial Arts is a combat sport which includes weight management and periodized training schedules. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we intend to analyze training frequency, weight, and mood as a result of the lockdown. We hypothesize that overall training frequency will decrease as a result.

Methods : Seventeen professional MMA fighters completed survey, self-reporting behaviors associated with mixed martial arts training, nutrition, and mental-wellness as a result of COVID-19 lockdown. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was utilized to analyze results.

Results : Analysis determined that COVID-19 lockdown elicited a statistically significant (p≤0.05) decrease in self-reported MMA training frequency, grappling, fight ‘readiness’, happiness, and mood.

Conclusions : These results may warrant the need for potential physical and mental support following COVID-19 lockdown in professional MMA fighters. Although the fighters were able to maintain weight and meal frequency, they were unable to train adequately to maintain fight ‘readiness.’