Best Supplements for MMA – Recovery, Fat Loss, Performance
Supplements can be a complete waste of money and time. The whole market is dominated by pretenders, much like guys who have one BJJ session and suddenly think they’re capable of rolling with The Eagle. We’ve searched though, and found some best MMA supplements for 2019 and 2020.
If you’re looking to boost recovery, or improve performance and help make a weight cut more comfortable, we’ve got you covered.
A Word on Supplements for MMA
Before you go spending on supplements though, remember you need to have your diet and training on point to truly benefit from these products. Without proper nutrition and regular training, you’re likely not going to get the results you want.
We’re not going to be pushing ridiculous blends of products that risk your safety either, these are natural products from reputable suppliers. Not some jacked up guy in the back of a gym promising fat loss in 12 hours…
#1 Best Overall Supplement for MMA Fighters – US Only
ShredCBD
Why We Like It: ShredCBD offers a no nonsense way to recover effectively from fighter training and can support healthy weight loss and fat burning without any issue.
ShredCBD is a great way for you to get some CBD into your nutritional plan.
CBD is hot at the moment, but most CBD products carry risks of unwanted side effects or not even being legal due to THC content. We all remember the vape pen situation with Nate Diaz.
ShredCBD cuts out the crap, and focuses on CBD isolate, which will get you performing at your absolute best.
What We Don’t Like: It’s on the more expensive end of the spectrum, and so is more for those truly committed to training and recovery.
It works, but like most good things you have to pay a little more. It’s also only available in the USA. Which is a bit annoying.
Ingredients:
As you’ve probably guessed ShredCBD contains a high amount of CBD isolate, split across 2 days. It also contains green tea and garcina cambogia. Both herbs that have some good properties, including antioxidants and aids to effective fat loss.
Anything Else?
ShredCBD is a perfect way for fighters to train and recover fast, without messing about risking legal issues or performance issues.
It comes with free shipping on all orders and they do have multi buy deals available on their website.
Where Can I order ShredCBD?
ShredCBD is available to order directly from their website at www.shredcbd.com. If you want to see the benefits it can have for athletes then you can check those out here.
#2 BCAAs (Branched-Chain Amino Acids)
Transparent Labs BCAA Glutamine
Why We Like It: Transparent Labs BCAA Glutamine delivers 8g of branched-chain amino acids and 5g of glutamine per serving. These amino acids help you rebuild your muscles and increase stamina.
This supplement also has 5mg of coconut water powder. This ingredient is jam-packed with electrolytes and nutrients that MMA fighters usually lose through sweat.
What makes Transparent Labs BCAA Glutamine stand out is, well, its transparency. Every ingredient and its facts are 100% disclosed.
It also uses an all-natural formula, with no artificial or harmful compounds. It has pretty much everything you need – but nothing you don’t!
What We Don’t Like: It’s pricey. The brand uses high quality ingredients, but this can be too costly for some.
The good news is, there are plenty of other cheaper BCAA alternatives out there. They might not be of the same quality but will work just as well if you can’t afford anything more expensive at the moment.
Ingredients:
This supplement provides you with three vital BCAAs. Including 4g of leucine, 2g of valine, and 2g of isoleucine. You also get 5g of glutamine for muscle endurance support and 5mg of coconut water powder to replenish any nutrients lost through your hard training.
Anything Else?
If you’re looking for a quality BCAA supplement with no unnecessary ingredients. Transparent Labs BCAA Glutamine is a great choice.
The product is available in two flavors: green apple and blue raz.
Although it’s relatively new to the market. Transparent Labs has quickly gained the reputation of a premium and trustworthy company among its customers. Plus, they ship worldwide.
Where Can I order Transparent Labs BCAA Glutamine?
Transparent Labs BCAA Glutamine is available on their website. Shipping costs vary depending on the shipping method you choose, as well as the weight of the total order.
#3 Protein Supplement
Legion Athletics Whey+
Why We Like It:
Protein is essential for muscle growth and repair, and Legion Athletics provides one of the best whey isolate proteins on the market. Giving you 22g of pure protein per scoop (26.4g). Not only is it 100% natural but also sourced from grass-fed cows in Ireland.
If the flavor is important to you, then you’ll love Legion Athletics Whey +. They offer ten unique options you can choose from. You can also get an unflavored option if you’re looking for a pure whey without any added ingredients.
What We Don’t Like: It’s expensive and not for vegans. Also, some users prefer other top brands like Optimum Nutrition.
However, we went with Legion Athletics Whey+ instead of ON’s flagship protein powder because we prefer 100% natural ingredients.
Ingredients:
All natural, non-GMO, lactose-free pure protein isolate. It’s rich in calcium and immunoglobulins, which support your general health, reduce inflammation, and promote muscle hypertrophy.
Each serving of Legion Athletics Whey+ will supply your muscles with 22g of protein. That’s 90% of pure protein by weight.
Anything Else?
Protein powder is a great way to supplement your diet with beneficial building blocks for muscle growth, strength, and repair. These benefits can be of great help when you’re looking to bounce back from hard training and fights fast.
That said, protein powder is just protein. The same one you get from food. So if you’re already fueling yourself with enough of this macronutrient through your diet, supplementing with whey might not be essential for you.
Where Can I order Legion Athletics Whey+?
Legion Athletics Whey+ is available both on the company’s website and Amazon. They offer free shipping in the USA for any order and free worldwide shipping for orders over $100.
#4 Pre Workout
4 Gauge
Why We Like It: 4 Gauge uses natural stimulants that boost your energy during training. It contains a low dose of caffeine to prevent side effects like jitters and crashes.
The company that makes 4 Gauge, Roar Ambition, are known for their openness about the ingredient facts. You know exactly what you’re getting when buying their products.
What We Don’t Like: We aren’t the biggest fans of stimulant-based pre workouts. They often give you short bursts of energy followed by a crash afterwards. Plus, they don’t help you recover faster like ShredCBD and BCAAs. Not to mention side effects like anxiety, insomnia, and heart palpitations in sensitive users.
Another downside is that it’s only available on the 4 Gauge official website. If you’re a bargain hunter like us, this can be a bit frustrating.
However, we’ve included 4 Gauge here because it has plenty of positive user reviews online. And many athletes say it works for them.
Ingredients:
Rhodiola Rosea (100mg)
Acetyl L-Carnitine (500mg)
Citrulline Malate (6g)
Creatine Monohydrate (1g)
L-Theanine (200mg)
Red Beetroot Extract (300mg)
Coconut Water Powder (300mg)
Caffeine (150mg)
These ingredients are thought to promote both mental and physical energy. There’s also Red Beetroot extract, which works to improve your muscle pumps.
Anything Else?
4 Gauge is a solid pre workout for fighters looking to increase their performance. It’s not our favorite product on this list, but if you aren’t afraid of the usual stimulant side effects, then it might just be the right pick for you!
Where Can I order 4 Gauge?
As we said, it’s only available on the official website. The good news is that they offer worldwide shipping as they have facilities in the USA and U.K.
CBD and MMA Recovery
Training hard? Then you’ll want to make sure you’re getting 7-9 hours of sleep every night. The first thing you’ll notice from a lack of sleep is slow recovery.
Studies show that just one week of poor sleep can drastically reduce male’s T levels. This can also lead to fatigue, slow reflexes, and generally weak performances as a fighter.
This is where CBD comes into play. It’s a natural and legal ingredient that’s been gaining steam due to its benefits for athletes.
CBD’s biggest strength is its ability shown to promote deep and rejuvenating sleep. By doing so, it will have a knock-on effect on your energy levels and recovery times. Giving you that extra edge over your opponent. CBD also reduces inflammation, which is another key part of your recovery process.
Okay we get it. CBD is great. But the problem is that many CBD products out there are poorly regulated. Many of them have higher than allowed THC levels and can produce side effects.
We’ve sifted through dozens of CBD products on the market and only one made the cut – ShredCBD. It contains a pure CBD isolate with under 0.1% THC, making it perfectly legal in the U.K and USA. It also comes in capsules that are more convenient than regular CBD oils. It delivers all the usual benefits that CBD offers, plus fat loss and extra mental sharpness thanks to the green tea extract. Otherwise, it’s a 5-star rating from us.
BCAAs and Fighter Performance
BCAAs are essential amino acids that help you with muscle growth and physical performance. In case you wondered, there are three BCAA’s:
Leucine
Valine
Isoleucine
Many gym enthusiasts take BCAAs because of their energy benefits. BCAAs work by reducing serotonin levels in your brain, making you feel less fatigued. A study also showed that BCAAs help to increase muscle protein synthesis.
This makes BCAAs a great addition to anyone who wants to boost their performance. Regardless if you’re a pro athlete or just involved in MMA recreationally.
Does Protein Help With MMA Recovery?
Yes, protein powder most definitely helps with recovery. Protein is an essential building block for your muscles, helping you to look better, feel stronger, and bounce back from your training sessions faster.
Whey protein seems to be superior to other forms of protein powders out there. Studies show that your body absorbs it like a sponge.
That said, protein powders have indeed been overhyped by marketing companies these days. While these supplements can be beneficial, they’re not mandatory if you eat a proper diet with lean meats, eggs, and plant protein sources.
In other words, protein powder is not a miracle ingredient. But it can certainly help if your diet lacks this critical macronutrient.
Best Natural Pre Workout Sources for MMA Performance
These are the best natural ways to boost your energy for MMA training and fights:
Pre workouts
Natural pre workout supplements use a range of ingredients that will give you a clean energy kick. These include caffeine, green tea, Rhodiola rosea, creatine, and l-carnitine.
For example, caffeine and green tea trigger thermogenesis. This is a process where your metabolism works harder to regulate the core body temperature. This results in more calories being burned.
However, caffeine is a stimulant, and some people don’t react well to stimulants in general. If that’s you, it might be better to look for stim-free options.
While CBD is by far our favorite non-stim ingredient for recovery and performance, there are other alternatives. Such as creatine, carnitine, and Rhodiola Rosea.
Rhodiola is shown in studies to reduce both physical and mental fatigue. Carnitine, on the other hand, boosts your mitochondria – energy factories of your body.
The benefit of taking a pre workout without stimulants is that you’ll avoid those irritating side effects like jitters, anxiety, and insomnia.
Diet
Eating foods like eggs and beef liver will provide you with vitamins B6 and B12, which are essential for energy production. Not to mention that these foods also provide you with choline and other ingredients that make you mentally sharp.
Additionally, don’t forget to drink plenty of water! Some athletes like to add a sprinkle of sea salt and lemon juice for extra electrolytes.
It’s just as important to avoid junk too. This includes alcohol, sugar-filled ‘energy drinks,’ and fried foods. The problem with sugars is that they’ll spike your blood glucose levels only to have them crashing down afterward. This can leave you feeling moody and fatigued. Aim to eat more complex carbs such as yams and wild rice for sustained energy.
Sleep
Some people say that sleep is the best legal performance enhancing drug. We don’t know if we’d go that far, but sleep is important for sure – it will naturally increase your energy levels and promote your recovery.
Stress and other lifestyle factors can prevent you from falling asleep. Some of the supplements on this list can help with that, and boost your fighting performance in the process.
Best supplements for MMA Conclusion
So there you have it, these were the best supplements for MMA. To quickly recap, here are our top 4 picks:
ShredCBD – Our favorite supplement for recovery and energy, helping you to train harder for longer as well as giving you that competitive edge. It’s natural, legal and used by athletes all over the world.
BCAAs – these are essential building blocks for muscle growth and recovery.
Protein – it helps to improve your strength and muscle repair.
Pre workout – delivers a clean burst of energy to help you power through your workouts.
Whether you’re a pro athlete or just someone who likes to stay active in general. The products listed above will help you feel stronger and faster, as well as making that weight cut a little easier.
The top spot award goes to ShredCBD. It’s without a doubt the best CBD product we’ve laid our hands on. From the effective and safe formula to the convenience of delivering it all in 2 capsules per day, it has pretty much everything an MMA fighter needs for peak performance in the ring.
Whilst ShredCBD is marketed as a fat burner, it’s way more than that and offers up a whole load of other benefits when it comes to training and performance.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9405716
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17157290
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16282192
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28638350
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4445839/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29325481
