The Use of Performance Tests for the Physiological Monitoring of Training in Combat Sports: A Case Study of a World Ranked Mixed Martial Arts Fighter

Currently there is little data on the changes in physiological performance of combat athletes in response to changes in training during fight preparation. Therefore the aim of this study was to examine the use of the 30-s Wingate test as a means of monitoring an athlete’s performance during their fight preparation. A world ranked mixed martial arts fighter volunteered to participate in the eight week study. Upper and lower body anaerobic performance was assessed at baseline and three and six weeks into the preparation phase with the final assessment two weeks after the tapering period. Upper and lower body maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) was measured before and after the eight weeks of fight preparation. Increases in training load were matched by substantial decreases in upper and lower body anaerobic performance during first three and six weeks of the preparation phase. During the tapering period anaerobic performance substantially increased in both the upper and lower body. The upper and lower body VO2 max (14% and 3% respectively) substantially increased after the eight week preparation phase with upper body peak power (10.5%) and maximum heart (4%) higher. Our data suggest that Wingate performance is able to track changes in training loads and can assist in the monitoring of performance of high-intensity combat athletes