ITS FINALLY HERE!
Volume 2 of the @ufcpi journal
can be downloaded here:https://ufc-pi.we https://t.co/qWXsLXC13t
Link in bio https://t.co/tsQdu33dQl
— UFC PI (@UFCPI)
May 4, 2021
The UFC Performance Institute has taken a deep dive into mixed
martial arts with a 484-page study of the sport.
The digital journal, which is entitled, “A Cross-Sectional
Performance Analysis and Projection of the UFC Athlete,” is the
second volume of its kind and includes data and insights collected
by the UFC PI over the course of the last four years of working
with hundreds of fighters. The journal is designed as a resource to
help athletes “in all aspects of their health, well-being, and
performance.”
The journal is “part analytics and part educational” and is divided
into the following five sections, per a release:
PART I – Strategy & Goal Setting
-Contains comprehensive data from competition analysis; injury
audit data; performance diagnostic data from testing over 600 UFC
athletes; and a host of principles relating to optimizing
performance.
Part II – Off-Camp
-Offers a comprehensive overview of all the methods and
philosophies that the UFC Performance Institute team adopt when
fighters are off-camp, including sparring considerations and
planning technical sessions; concussion management; training load
management; and education on supplements and anti-doping.
Part III – Fight-Camp
-Reviews all the critical aspects of fight preparation, including
technical session planning; managing the weight descent; tapering;
and peaking for competition.
Part IV – Fight Week & Competition
-Addresses the most essential things to consider in order to
maximize competition in the Octagon, including weight cutting and
fight week fueling; travel; post-weigh-in rehydration; fight
warm-up; and the psychology of competition.
Part V – Post-Fight & Transition
-The post-fight section considers all the medical aspects of
injury, concussion, and return to training, as well as the process
of reviewing the fight and resetting goals and objectives for the
next fight cycle.
One of the most significant aspects of the study is the release of
the UFC’s first-protocol for concussions. That includes information
on symptoms, evaluation and diagnosis as well as a plan for
returning to competition after suffering a head injury.
The five-stage plan for returning to competition after a concussion
includes 24 to 48 hours of recovery, after which an athlete can
return to two various stages of non-contact drilling and strength
and conditioning. The final two stages feature a return to moderate
contact and finally, full contact — the last of which also requires
physician clearance. Fighters are encouraged to consult a
concussion assessment tool called the SCAT5 — a questionnaire
regarding symptoms — to help guide this progression. A later
section offers advice on the types of nutrition best utilized to
help with recovery from a concussion.
“Concussion symptoms can last anywhere from a few days to a few
months depending on the severity of the brain injury,” the journal
reads. “After a suspected concussion, it is important to follow up
with a licensed medical provider within 24 to 48 hours to steer the
athlete in the right direction for recovery. Medical involvement
becomes extremely important if symptoms persist more than 10 to 14
days. There are various types of concussions that athletes can
experience, and treatment should be individualized depending on
symptoms that they are experiencing. With a thorough evaluation and
the proper classification of the concussion type, the fighter’s
management and rehabilitation can be much improved.”
According to statistical study provided in the journal, concussions
account for 15.2 percent of injuries in male fighters and 9.2
percent of injuries in female fighters.
In addition to information on concussion management, “A
Cross-Sectional Performance Analysis and Projection of the UFC
Athlete” provides advice on choosing a weight class, cutting
weight, sparring considerations and travel, to name a few topics
that are covered.
“We were initially surprised as to how well our first journal was
received,” said Dr. Duncan French, vice president of performance
for the UFC Performance Institute. “But when we understood just how
valuable the resource was to the global combat sports community, we
aspired to create something even more comprehensive– a one-stop
resource that athletes and coaches can reference at any moment in
time. We honestly believe there is nothing like this out
there, and the collective expertise of every member of the UFC
Performance Institute team has been poured into Volume 2. We
are very excited to share all our philosophies and ideas with the
world.”