Competitive performance indicators of top MMA fighters
Authors:   Kharkiv State Academy of Physical Culture, Ukraine, Ananchenko Konstantin , Tropin Yura ,   Kharkiv State Academy of Physical Culture, Ukraine, Perevoznyk Volodymyr ,   Kharkiv State Academy of Physical Culture, Ukraine, Volodchenko Alexandr ,   Kharkiv State Academy of Physical Culture, Ukraine, Bochkarev Sergiy ,   Department of Physical Education National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute», Ukraine
Published: February 2025

Purpose: to determine the performance indicators of top MMA fighters. Material and methods. The study involved 80 top MMA fighters who have their own records in terms of performance indicators. These indicators reflect the statistics of all fighters from the UFC 28 tournament (since 2000) to the present day. All participants in the study were divided, depending on weight categories, into four groups of 20 fighters each: lightweight (57 kg, 61 kg), light (66 kg, 70 kg), middleweight (77 kg, 84 kg) and heavy (93 kg, 120 kg). The initial data on the performances of the strongest male MMA fighters were taken from the UFC website. The following methods were used: analysis of scientific and methodological information and Internet sources; analysis of protocols and video recordings of competitive activity; methods of mathematical statistics. Results: fighters of each weight group have their own characteristics in the indicators of competitive activity. It was determined that the greatest number of fights is among athletes of the lightweight weight group. The greatest number of victories is among fighters of the middle weight group. The greatest number of fights won by knockout is among fighters of the heavy weight group. The greatest number of victories by submission and by court decision is among fighters of the middle weight group. The winning streak is the longest among athletes of the lightweight weight group. The shortest average fight time is among fighters of the heavy weight group. The longest average fight time is among fighters of the lightest weight group. The time of control in fights and the time in the top position is the highest among athletes of the middle weight group. Fighters of the lightest weight group spend more time fighting in the bottom position. The average number of knockdowns in a fight is the highest among athletes of the middle weight group. The highest average number of knockdowns per 15 minutes occurs in fighters of the heavy weight group. The total number of accented blows, execution of accented blows per minute and defense against accented blows are higher in athletes of the light weight group. The best accuracy of execution of accented blows and a positive difference in blows are in fighters of the heavy weight group. The highest number of missed blows per minute are in athletes of the lightest weight group. The number of takedowns and their success are the highest in athletes of the middle weight group. Also, the average number of attempts to perform a submission per 15 minutes is the highest in fighters of the middle weight group. In athletes of the light weight group, the number of attempts to perform a submission and defense against takedowns is the highest. Conclusions. The application of methods of pedagogical observation and mathematical statistics allowed us to determine the main indicators of the competitive activity of top MMA fighters for each weight group. The conducted studies indicate differences in the indicators of competitive activity of fighters of different weight groups. The high coefficient of variation for many indicators of competitive activity characterizes the individuality of each athlete in terms of fighting. The indicators obtained during the study can be used to plan the training process of qualified fighters and to solve the issues of managing their preparation for competitions.