So, you want to be a combat sports superstar? Whether MMA, Boxing, Muay Thai or all of the above, being a professional athlete takes dedication. Years and years of blood, sweat, training and more training. Maximizing your potential with rigorous training sessions. In most cases, three to four sessions a day.
But, training isn’t the only tool necessary to make it. Athletes also must know how to prepare their bodies for war. Also, whether in training sessions or an actual bout, fighters need to make sure that they are getting the most out of their body with everything that they do.
For most elite athletes to reach peak performance both physically and mentally, the addition of a regimen of supplements is crucial.
Adding a few of these reviewed supplements into your arsenal will have you at the top of your game when the biggest moment in your fight career finally arrives.
Protein Powder
The FDA doesn’t endorse protein supplements or test them like traditional medications. Because of that, athletes can’t always be exactly sure what is really in them. However, the right protein powder can immensely boost building muscle, repairing tissue, and responsible for hormone synthesis.
Like all supplements, nothing can be substituted for a properly balanced diet. However, if balanced properly, protein supplements will help athletes lose weight and keep lean tissue.
The key to picking a safe protein powder? Simple. Only use supplements that contain protein as the main ingredient. And, make sure all the necessary amino acids are packed in as well.
Our Choice:
BSN SYNTHA-6 Edge Protein Powder
Syntha-6 Edge is one of the most affordable proteins on the market. It also features protein as the main ingredient as stated above as well as having 11g of essential amino acids. It features 24g Protein, 6g carbs, 3.5g fat, and only 150 calories.
BSN also heavily concentrates on taste. Syntha-6 Edge is available in 6 different flavors. Much different than most companies who only offer vanilla or chocolate flavor which in most cases is hard to stomach.
Pros
- Support muscle growth and recovery
- Muscle protein synthesis
- Great taste
Cons
- Lots of fillers
- No digestive enzymes
Current Best on the Market:
Naked Whey
Naked Whey is by far the absolute best protein on the market as of now. Unfortunately, it comes with a pretty hefty price tag. Naked features 100% Grass-Fed Pure Whey Protein with zero additives. Naked Whey has no artificial sweeteners, flavors, or colors and is GMO-Free, Growth Hormone Free, Soy Free, and Gluten-Free.
It’s packed with 25g of Protein, 2g of Sugar, 3g of Carbs, 120 Calories, and 5.9g of BCAAs. With no additives, athletes can be positive of exactly what they’re putting in their bodies.
There are 5 different flavors of Naked Whey, with my personal favorite being vanilla. The powder mixes incredibly well with no clumping.
If you’re willing to pay the price, you can be confident in knowing you’re consuming the best the market has to offer.
Pros
- Blends easily
- Tastes incredible
- Healthiest/purest powder on the market
Cons
- Very expensive
Pre-Workout
Everyone’s favorite friend in the gym. Most people just know pre-workout as the super powder you mix with water to achieve all the ‘gains’ you could want and more. But, truthfully the wrong pre-workout could be just as detrimental as the right one is beneficial.
Pre-workout allows for maximum mental concentration and peak energy to power through long workouts. It also aids to elicit rapid metabolic and cardiovascular adaptations, including increased exercise performance, muscle buffering capacity, aerobic capacity (VO2peak) and fat oxidation.
Our Choice:
GAT Nitroflex
GAT is a long-time trusted brand when it comes to combat athletes. Nitro flex is a clinically tested, high-intensity pre-training formula with potent ingredients to help magnify energy, alertness, strength, stamina, pumps and enhance testosterone during workouts.
One of the highlights of Nitroflex is its balance in feeling after being consumed. Sharp focus and peak performance occur before you know it, while never feeling the jittery, palm-sweating feeling that other pre-workouts on the market give you. It also has a wide variety of different flavors with more being added often. So, if you like the formula, chances are you will never get tired of using it.
It is important to remember that Nitroflex contains caffeine and should not be used with any other caffeinated beverages.
Pros
- Variety of great-tasting flavors
- Boosts energy, endurance, and focus
- Relatively cheap
Cons
- Contains a lot of caffeine
- Includes some artificial sweeteners
Current Best on the Market:
OMG Pre-Workout
OMG contains 100% natural ingredients and no harsh or dangerous stimulants, which means you get to enjoy a smooth pre-workout energy rush that pumps you up without burning you out. The product is also made in a GMP Certified facility and 3rd Party Tested for excellent purity and potency, and also tested by the FDA.
With 6 flavors to choose from, athletes should feel a repetitive cycle in their workouts. Plus, Hardbody Supplements offers a 100% money-back guarantee on the product if you don’t like it. But, you’ll probably love it.
Pros
- Variety of great-tasting flavors
- Natural sweeteners
- 3rd party tested
Cons
- Limited Flavoring
BCAAs
BCAAs are essential nutrients that the body obtains from proteins found in food, especially meat. Taking BCAAs may reduce fatigue from exercising and improve exercise recovery. Also, they could help with muscle soreness and muscle recovery.
Consumption of BCAAs could lower blood sugar. So, if you’re an athlete that suffers from diabetes, be sure to monitor yourself closely if you choose to take the amino.
Our Choice:
Evlution Nutrition
You’ll notice that when purchasing BCAAs, maybe companies advertise a great tasting product. However, after trying my fair share of products, not too many brands can honestly say that the powder inside of the container matches the taste of the image on the front of it. Evlution Nutrition delivers on the flavor that they promise while still being effective.
Pros
- Mixes easily
- Contains 2.5 grams of Leucine
- 3rd party tested
Cons
- 2 scoops are one serving
- 'Foamy' texture upon mixing
Current Best on the Market:
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard BCAA
As the name suggests, Optimum Nutrition has been the gold standard for BCAAs for a very long time. There are 4 distinctive flavorings to choose from which all taste true to the promised flavor.
Another distinctive difference from Gold Standard is how they’re able to get that flavor with 0 grams of sugar. It’s sugar-less, banned substance tested, and flavorful. What more could an athlete want?
Pros
- Mixes easily
- Banned Substance Free
- Great Price
Cons
- Have To Find A Complementary Pre-Workout To Suit
- 'Foamy' texture upon mixing
Creatine
Creatine is a chemical that is already found in the body. Additionally, it’s main use is to improve exercise performance and increase muscle mass in athletes. It’s allowed by the International Olympic Committee, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and professional sports. Research shows that creatine also seems to modestly improve upper body strength and lower body strength in both younger and older adults.
Our Pick:
Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine
In my opinion, flavorless creatine is the way to do. I’ll be the first to admit, creatine is only in my rotation of supplements in the colder months of the year. However, I find that mixing a flavorless product in your favorite drink makes creatine a lot more digestible.
The value of this product will also give athletes a bang for their buck. Just remember to have your own scooper, as, for some reason, this product doesn’t.
Pros
- Great Price
- Increases Muscle Size
Cons
- Trouble Mixing
Current Best on the Market:
BSN Cell Mass Micronized Creatine Powder
BSN easily has one of the most dissolvable creatine powders on the market. There is no having to guess what the contents of the product are. Simply put, the product is 100% micronized creatine powder. Nothing more, nothing less. The product is also packed with 5g of creatine monohydrate per serving, which is the industry standard of the recommended intake.
Pros
- Simple And Effective Ingredients
- Increased Recovery
Cons
- Too Expensive For Low Servings
Fish Oil
Fish oil is one of planet Earth’s biggest kept secrets for those who are savvy about the world of supplements. Joint health, heart health, weight management, and increased brain function are some of the benefits an athlete can gain from the Omega-3s in fish oil. When trying out fish oil for the first time, you’ll probably encounter a few common problems. Giant size capsules that are difficult to swallow, and all of the capsules sticking together. But don’t worry, the benefits of taking Omega-3s outweigh those minor issues.
Our Pick:
Nature’s Bounty Fish Oil
One of the biggest reasons why Nature’s Bounty is my favorite fish oil is due to its accessibility. Whether you’re at Wal-Mart, CVS, or any other grocery store/pharmacy, chances are you’ll find Nature’s Bounty. Additionally, from my experience, the product is almost always on sale.
The product is overseen by scientists, manufacturing specialists and quality experts, each dedicated to maintaining the highest quality standards. Nature’s Bounty only uses ingredients from suppliers that meet GMP supplement quality standards. Plus, the daily dose will give you 1,080mg of omega 3 fatty acids.
If you can stand the taste, you can’t go wrong.
Current Best on the Market:
Arazo Nutrition Omega 3 Fish Oil
Arazo has mastered the production of fish oil. In each dosage, an athlete will consume 2,250mg of omega 3 fatty acid. Currently, that number is the industry standard for excellence.
What sets Arazo apart is their attention to detail. Consumers have reported having burping issues after taking Omega 3s as well as issues with how the supplement smells and tastes. Arazo’s product features a ‘burpless’ technology partnered with a lemon scent which makes consumption of the product effortless. Well, except the size of the capsules.
The product is also made in an FDA and GMP Certified Facility in America and is heavy metal tested for purity.
Pros
- No fishy smell or taste
- 2250mg per serving
- Lemon taste
- Burpless coating
Cons
- Expensive
- 3 capsules = 1 serving
The Verdict
Taking supplements in combination with a healthy diet is the best way for an athlete to achieve peak performance. Especially for those that plan on competing one day on a professional level.
Not all supplements are necessary. Depending on your daily diet and training routine, you may need an extra boost in some places while you are fine in others. It’s all about finding out what works best for the individual athletes.
This list is designed to help the loss wonderers who are slowly making their way into the realm of high-level athletes. With a regimen of any of the supplements on this list, one can expect to train harder, become stronger, and perform at their peak.
1 thought on “The Best Supplements Guide For Combat Sport Athletes 2022”
Middle Easy is literally the BEST mma community anywhere, I read it everyday, and im also so grateful it helps some others!