Weight Loss and Competition Weight Comparing Male and Female Mixed Martial Artists Competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) Flyweight Division

Abstract

Background: Although there is much literature demonstrating weight changes in professional mixed martial arts (MMA) athletes, there is minimal data comparing male and female MMA athletes. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to compare weight changes between professional male and female MMA athletes leading up to competition. Methods: One hundred and three professional flyweight MMA athletes competing for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) were used for the study. Weight was obtained at multiple time points leading up to the competition. Two-way ANOVAs and post hoc t-tests were used, and significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: ANOVA revealed there was a significant main effect of condition for weight changes (p < 0.001) and a significant main effect of sex on weight changes (p = 0.002) prior to competition. Post hoc analysis revealed that males lost more weight prior to the official weigh-in and gained more weight prior to competition when compared to females (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: MMA athletes lose weight prior to the official weigh-in and gain weight prior to competition. Moreover, male MMA athletes lose more weight prior to and gain more weight after when compared to female MMA athletes competing in the UFC’s flyweight division.