{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,18]],"date-time":"2026-09-18T17:46:23Z","timestamp":1789753583685,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":54,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,8]],"date-time":"2025-10-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1759881600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Nutr."],"abstract":"<jats:p>In Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), a combination of combat techniques and physical demands takes center stage. Before competition, many athletes engage in rapid weight loss (RWL) strategies to qualify for lower weight classes, aiming to gain a competitive edge by facing smaller or less physically dominant opponents. This practice is driven by the belief that regaining weight after the official weigh-in enhances strength, power, and resilience during the bout. For MMA athletes, adhering to an evidence-based Weight Management Protocol (WMP), targeting a 10% body weight reduction within 7\u202fdays prior to weigh-in, poses a significant challenge. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of a structured nutritional strategy, including controlled dietary interventions and fluid manipulation, tailored for athletes seeking to lose 10% of body mass, along with evidence-based recommendations for post-weigh-in recovery. We followed 31 professional MMA athletes (28 males, aged 28\u202f\u00b1\u202f4\u202fyears), all with established experience in RWL protocols. The study was divided into two phases: pre- and post-RWL assessments. Athletes achieved a mean weight reduction of 7.25\u202fkg (10.6%) within the 7\u202fdays leading up to the weigh-in, conducted 8\u202fdays before competition. They demonstrated a mean weight regain of 7.5\u202fkg (11.2%) within 30\u202fh post-weigh-in, indicating effective rehydration and recovery. Starting 7\u202fdays before the weigh-in, athletes consumed 7 liters of fluids per day, with intake gradually decreasing. On the day before the weigh-in, they consumed only 0.5 liters. Following adherence to the protocol, 67.7% (21 athletes) secured victory in their bouts. This study presents a structured, athlete-centered nutritional approach for RWL, offering a potentially safer and more effective alternative to uncontrolled practices. Future research should explore the physiological, psychological, and performance-related implications of such methods through larger, randomized controlled trials.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fnut.2025.1581698","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,8]],"date-time":"2025-10-08T04:17:38Z","timestamp":1759897058000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["An alternative structured weight management protocol to rapid weight loss in mixed martial arts: a prospective interventional study of pre-competition weight management strategies in professional athletes"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Cl\u00f3vis Albuquerque","family":"Maur\u00edcio","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Guilherme 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