Author(s): CIMADORO, G., YUPANONA, A., REUNGTHAIA, R., KAEWJARATWILAIB, T., CHOTTIDAOC, M., MAKAJEA, N., Institution: ST MARY'S UNIVERSITY TWICKENHAM , Country: UNITED KINGDOM, Abstract-ID: 2773

INTRODUCTION:
To identify physiological and global time-motion features associated with winning in authentic professional Muay Thai (5×3-min rounds; 2-min rests) in elite Thai athletes.
METHODS:
Sixteen elite Thai male fighters (8 matched pairs) completed baseline DXA, incremental treadmill testing (VO₂max; gas-exchange threshold), and a 30-s Wingate. During eight sanctioned contests, heart rate (%HRmax), capillary blood lactate (pre-fight and post-round), attack frequency, and active-to-passive ratio (A:P) were quantified and analysed using mixed/generalised models.
RESULTS:
Baseline anthropometry/body composition, VO₂max and Wingate performance did not distinguish winners from losers (all padjBH>0.05). Baseline threshold indices suggested higher fractional utilisation in winners (HR at threshold as %HRmax: g=1.20), but this did not remain significant after multiplicity correction. During contests, blood lactate showed an outcome×round interaction (p=0.003; f²=0.50): losers accumulated more lactate than winners in Round 4 (+0.84 mmol·L⁻¹; g=1.50) and Round 5 (+0.65 mmol·L⁻¹; g=1.11). Attack frequency showed an outcome×round interaction (p=0.008), with both groups increasing attacks across rounds but a larger final-round surge in losers. A:P showed an outcome×round interaction (p<0.001): winners displayed a U-shaped pacing profile, peaking in Round 4, whereas losers increased A:P into Round 5. Heart rate increased each round (p<0.001) without an outcome×round interaction (p=0.158).
CONCLUSION:
In elite Thai Muay Thai, winning appears to relate more to tactical pacing and late-round metabolic stability than to laboratory-measured maximal capacity.

References:
Crisafulli A et al. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2009;
Cappai I et al. Int J Perform Anal Sport. 2012.