## 4 Discussion
In this context, body composition monitoring using identical BIA measurement devices [26] is particularly important for combat sports athletes seeking to compete in the appropriate weight category while maintaining a'safe weight', which, as suggested by the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) position statement, should not be below a minimum cut-off of 5% of male body fat levels [30]. In addition, on the basis of the results of our study, it can be hypothesized that the minimum body fat percentage needed to maintain a'safe weight' demonstrated slightly higher values than the limits suggested by the NATA; thus, the fat levels should not be below 6.6% to 7.8% according to the body composition of combat sports athletes' assessed using the BIA method. The findings of this study were also consistent with other evidence suggesting that combat sports athletes from lighter weight categories have a tendency to have a lower body fat percentage compared to sportsmen from heavier weight divisions [20; 53]. In spite of that, our previous study also referred to the fact that almost 90% of combat athletes cut weight aggressively on average by 4.6% using the rapid weight loss method five days before taking part in competition [54]. Hence, it can be speculated that the body fat percentage varies during the athletic season, and for that reason, the monitoring of body fat mass is necessary for making the most acceptable decision on the ability of an athlete to compete in a specific weight division. Furthermore, the findings of this research could encourage periodic evaluations of body composition in relation to the fact that previous evidence showed poor eating habits among combat athletes [54; 55; 56]. In some sports, the body composition of different athletes is directly related to the physical constraints of the sport. In this respect, both high fat-free mass and low-adipose tissue levels were associated with improved athletic performance [57]. A lower body fat percentage could result in better aerobic fitness, powerful endurance, swift efficiency in movement, and flexibility, while a higher body fat percentage could act as a barrier to the development of these physical capabilities [57; 58]. Our study also revealed that the magnitude and the variation of body fat mass may predict body composition assessments such as body mass index and muscle-to-fat ratio. Considering the evidence that an increase of 1% in body fat may result in an increase of 0.5 kg/m\({}^{2}\) in body mass index and a decrease of 1.3 in the muscle-to-fat ratio; consequently, the findings of this study additionally reinforce the importance of the recommendation for monitoring the outcomes of both adiposity and muscle-to-fat ratio among male athletes in combat sports. As body composition plays a key role in the development of the physical fitness and performance of athletes taking part in weight-category competitions, the implicationswe propose are consistent with the findings of the study carried out by [PERSON] et al. [59], [PERSON] et al. [58], [PERSON] et al. [60], and [PERSON] et al. [61], indicating a negative association between body fat percentage and body mass index in athletes. Aside from these findings, lower adaptations to both aerobic and anaerobic exercises in combat sports athletes were revealed. Furthermore, [PERSON] et al. [15] reported that if the percentage of body fat is below the average values, more intense training may be necessary to reduce body fat levels while maintaining muscle mass. However, emphasis should be laid on the fact that athletic performance is multivariable; therefore, it demands an analysis of physical, tactical, and technical attributes that ought not to be restricted only to anthropometric assessment, i.e., body fat percentage.