The effect of body measurements on success in mixed martial arts

Whilst most anthropometrical research within sport has focussed on muscle and fat distribution, more studies are measuring the relationship between stature and wingspan, which has been found to be selective criteria in many sports. In this study the stature, wingspan and stature-to-wingspan ratio (S:W) was recorded for N = 474 elite and international mixed martial arts (MMA) competitors who appeared in televised bouts over the course of one calendar year. Each weight division was split into three or four ranking groups (RG) depending on division size. One-way ANOVA (≤0.05) found that shorter competitors are ranked higher in flyweight and in the middle in women’s straw weight. Independent t-tests (≤0.05) found that shorter competitors also have more chance of winning or competing for a world title in featherweight and flyweight. Overall, whilst MMA competitors have a S:W of 1:1.024, due to thepaucity of significant differences found, it was determined that anthropometrical measurements cannot be used to predict success in elite and international mixed martial arts.