The Fight Science Podcast

David Nolan is one of the most sought out coaches in the UK and is currently completing his PhD investigating the factors that influence the expression of maximal strength in athletes.

In this episode we discuss the results of the first study of his PhD along with his philosophies of coaching and what you should do if you are wanting to work with elite level athletes.

Chef Mario Limaduran is the Executive Chef at sports performance company, Trifecta.

Chef Mario works alongside the UFC Performance Institute preparing all of the meals that UFC athletes consume during Fight Week. His work is not only to safely get the athletes to weight and have them performing, but to present nourishing food that is both aesthetic and flavourful.

In this episode we detail what an average Fight Week looks like for Chef Mario, the principles he follows for his athletes, and his recommendation for anyone wanting to improve their cooking skills at home.

Jackson Peos is a leading researcher in the field of Diet Breaks and Refeeds for athletes.

His PhD is focussed on assessing the effects that Intermittent Energy Restriction approaches have on body composition, performance, metabolism, mood and adherance against traditional Continious Energy Restriction approaches.

The information in this episode is extremely useful for any athletes who competes in weight based sports and offers novel approaches for coaches.

World-renowned Nutritionist Tyler Minton joins The Fight Science Podcast to discuss his philosophy when it comes to working with Fighters.

A former professional fighter himself, Tyler has maintains the perfect balance of Art and Science when it comes to safely guiding his athletes through the weight making process.

In this episode we discuss; his new business venture, his relationship with the UFC PI, his work with Aussie Superstar Megan Anderson, and how he gets his athletes to safely make weight.

Megan Bray is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and Sports Dietitian who is the Co-Director of Food Mind Body, a Practice that specializes in Eating Disorder Treatment and the Non-Diet Approach to Nutrition.

In this episode we discuss; The Eating Disorder Spectrum, typical behaviors associated with Disordered Eating, red flags to look out for, where to find specialized help, and new government initiatives to make access to specialized care easier for people living with an Eating Disorder.

Dr. Reid Reale joins The Fight Science Podcast to discuss his new role at the UFC Performance Institute in Shanghai, and his previous work with the Australian Institute of Sport.

Reid conducted the first study that looked at water loading as a technique for acute weight loss in combat athletes.

In this episode we discuss; his philosophy when it comes to making weight, what he assesses and monitors during the process, the different fight week strategies to acutely manipulate weight and what he learnt from his water loading study.

In this episode we discuss the practical applications of guiding a Combat Athlete through the weight making process.

Coach Ben Zhuang is a Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt and runs SCHOOL Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu. He also works out of MusclePharm HQ is Burbank, California.

He has helped countless UFC athletes prepare for their fights and is a leading coach within the US Combat Sports community.

Dr. Oliver Barley joins The Fight Science Podcast to discuss the Current State of Weight Cutting in Combat Sports.

Oliver has recently earned his PhD from Edith Cowan University where he and his team completed a number of insightful studies in the field of Weight Cutting.

In this episode we discuss; The prevalence of weight cutting in combat sports, the limitations of hydration testing, how weight cutting can cause mental fatigue, and his latest research in heat acclimation and how it can be used to improve weight cutting practices.

Clint Wattenberg, Director of Performance Nutrition at the UFC PI, Las Vegas, joins The Fight Science Podcast to discuss his philosophies when it comes to Performance Nutrition for fighters.

In this episode we discuss; the importance of accurately assessing body composition, understanding energy systems, tailoring your plans for the individual, strategies for fight week, the importance of the post weigh-in period, and how to incorporate good practices throughout the entire year.

Clint and his colleagues are leading the way in innovative research and practice. This is a great discussion that sets the standard for everyone involved in this field.

Dr. Carl Langan-Evans joins The Fight Science podcast to discuss the latest evidence in the field of Combat Sport Nutrition.

In 2011, Carl co-authored the infamous 'Making Weight in Combat Sport' which has served as a staple blueprint for practitioners working in the area.

In this episode we discuss; his recent trip to UFC Greenville, new findings since releasing this article, the responsibility of practitioners working in this field, energy availability and it's relation to RED-S, the concept of 'within daily energy balance', the wild post fight hyperphagic response many fighters experience and findings from his latest research.

I highly recommend this episode for all combat athletes, coaches, practitioners and students.