What did I do?

I explored the technical, physiological and biomechanical determinants of performance in a highly complex yet under-researched sport, mixed martial arts (MMA).

Why did I do it?

Successful performance in MMA is likely due to a complex interaction of an array of technical, mechanical and physiological factors. Despite this complexity and the sport’s considerable popularity, there has yet to be a series of thorough investigations into the determinants of MMA performance.1 Identifying primary physical qualities and understanding their development can play a vital role in informing training strategies.2

How did I do it?

My thesis consisted of four major investigations:

In study 1, I determined the techniques and combat strategies that had the greatest influence on achieving victory at the elite level of MMA. Decision tree induction (chi-square automatic interaction detector (CHAID)) was applied to a representative sample containing performance indicators from 234 Ultimate Fighting …