Comparison of combat outcomes: technical and tactical analysis of female MMA

The aim of the present study was to compare the technical-tactical aspects of female professional mixed martial arts (MMA) matches by combat outcomes and rounds from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC™). We analyzed 174 rounds separated by Combat Outcomes (Split Decision n=54; Unanimous Decision n=72; KO/TKO n=28; Submission n=20) of 2012-2014 events. The time-motion variables were categorized into total combat time separated by the amount of time spent performing low or high intensity activity per round, on stand-up or groundwork situations. The principal findings showed significant differences between Split and Unanimous Decision outcomes vs. KO/TKO and Submission groups in stand-up combat with low intensity by round (160.4±83.6s and 158.4±87.6s vs. 44.8±38.8s and 42.1±44.1s, respectively, p<0.001) and in total combat time by round (300.7±0.3s and 300.0±0.4s vs. 154.4±95.2s and 204.2±96.6s, respectively, p<0.001). Significant differences were found when compared the Total, Head and Leg Strikes Attempts, where winners by KO/TKO and Submission demonstrated lower frequencies than Split and Unanimous Decision(p<0.001; for all comparisons). In conclusion, technical-tactical skills can be associated with contextualized practices, where female athletes who finalized the matches by KO/TKO and Submission had higher values of striking and grappling actions during the groundwork combat, while those who had Split or Unanimous Decision outcomes showed higher values of striking actions during stand-up combat.