Comparisons of Pacing Strategy and Technical-Tactical Behaviors in Female Mixed Martial Arts Rounds

摘要

Socially and historically, there has been a clear distinction between combat sports experienced bymen and women, and only in the last two decades have better chances and recognition for womenbecome apparent (Kociuba et al., 2017). For instance, in the United States, prior to the successof the female Ultimate Fighter Championship, there was little primary coverage of female combatcompetitors (Miarka et al., 2016). Official female mixed martial (MMA) events usually consist ofthree to five 5-min rounds that can be won by referee’s decision (Matthews and Nicholas, 2016) andthat can be decided before the end of the official combat time, modifying fighting and preparatorytimes on standing and ground combat (Antonietto et al., 2019). This fight-ending or ending-roundhas a winning criterion, involving a loss of consciousness called knockout (KO) or a technicalknockout (TKO) when the referee decides during a round that an MMA athlete cannot safelycontinue the combat for any reason (Follmer et al., 2019). These ending-rounds by KO or TKOcould occur from an intense strike sequence or with a precise single strike action (James et al.,2017) or by a choke or joint locking submission (James et al., 2017).