Technical mastery mixed martial arts is no longer a matter of striking or jiu-jitsu expertise. Advances in exercise science as well as heightened scrutiny over dubious weight cutting practices have forced a reevaluation of the role of nutrition, modern best practices around training and recovery.
As sport sciences advance, so too does the knowledge and appreciation that comes with the pillars of performance: Strength, conditioning, recovery, nutrition and other considerations.
Inside mixed martial arts (MMA), the UFC Performance Institute is the embodiment of the growing interest and understanding around exercise and recovery science. To better understand both the advances of sport science as well as the general pillars and how all it affects fighters, MMA Fighting spoke to Bo Sandoval, the Director of Strength and Conditioning at the UFC Performance Institute.