Colin S. Doherty

UEFA's men's club competitions provide distinct competitive contexts yet limited research has compared the circumstances associated with open-play and set-piece goals across these tournaments. This retrospective observational study examined whether goal type was associated with competition and match-specific contextual factors across the 2023-2024 UEFA Champions League (UCL), UEFA Europa League (UEL), and UEFA Europa Conference League (UCFL). A total of 1,209 goals from 385 matches were coded and analysed using mixed-effects logistic regression, with competition, goal time, scoring-team venue, match context, defensive pressure, and competition stage included as fixed effects and match included as a random intercept. Open play accounted for 969 goals (80%) and set pieces for 240 goals (20%). The primary analysis provided limited evidence of competition-level differences. Match context and defensive pressure were associated with goal type, although both associations attenuated after penalties were excluded. In the post hoc penalty-excluded analysis, UEL goals had higher adjusted odds of originating from open play than a non-penalty set-piece compared with UCFL goals. Goal time, scoring-team venue, and competition stage provided little evidence of associations with goal type. These findings describe the composition of goals that were scored rather than scoring probability or effectiveness. Competition-level estimates should therefore be interpreted as descriptive contextual associations, and penalties should be considered separately from other set-piece situations.

Background: Mixed martial arts (MMA) and Muay Thai (MT) are widely practiced combat sports, yet research on the full spectrum of competition-related health problems (HPs) remains limited, particularly for MT. Existing studies in both sports primarily focus on retrospective analyses of severe injuries, often estimating time lost from training or competition. This study describes the incidence of all competition HPs reported seven days after MMA and MT contests, and determines the number of days impacted by tracking athletes’ self-identified worst HPs until resolution. Methods: Data on competition HPs were collected using an online questionnaire completed seven days after each MMA and MT event (n = 26). The questionnaire included the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre Questionnaire on Health Problems 2 (OSTRC-H2). The Combat Sports Commission of Western Australia provided competition exposure time data. Incidence rates of HPs were calculated per 100 min of exposure (HPIR_ME). Competitors reporting HPs were followed up weekly using the OSTRC-H2 questionnaire until their worst HPs resolved. Results: Of the 175 competitors (238 responses) who completed the questionnaire (76% male; age: 27 ± 6 years), 81 competitors (92 responses) reported a total of 411 HPs (315 injuries, 96 illnesses). Among the 92 worst HPs, 26 were substantial, and 24 prevented training. The HPIR_ME was 20.1 (95% CI: 16.5–24.4) for MMA and 25 (95% CI: 22.3–28) for MT. Follow-up captured 78 (85%) of the worst HPs, with 175 responses collected over 14–70 days post-competition. The median days impacted by the worst HPs were 20 for MMA and 16 for MT. Conclusions: Among respondents, 39% reported at least one HP. On average, the worst HPs resolved in less than three weeks. These findings provide valuable insights into the frequency and impact of competition HPs,offering important information for promoters, athletes, coaches, and regulatory bodies to better understand and address the health challenges faced by combat sports athletes.

In mixed martial arts, punches commonly lead to a knockout (KO) or technical knockout (TKO), though factors influencing such punches are unclear. This study assessed how differences in height, reach, and combined difference (height + reach) influence fight-ending punches. We analysed 264 Ultimate Fighting Championship contests that concluded with a KO/TKO from hooks, straights, uppercuts, or overhand punches. Three multinomial logistic regression analyses assessed the influence of (a) reach, (b) height and (c) combined difference on likelihood of punch type, with overhand punches as the reference category. Pairwise comparisons for punch type were conducted, and probability differences were compared across the lower, middle, and highest point difference for reach (−20, 0, + 20 cm), height (−20, + 10, + 40 cm), and combined (−50, 0, + 50 cm). The punches with the highest frequency were hooks (51%) and straights (35%). For all models, the straight punch was more likely than the overhand (odds ratio: 1.06–1.10, p < 0.05). At 0 cm and 20 cm reach difference, the punch probability differences for straight and uppercut punches compared to uppercut and overhand was between 27–47% (p < 0.05). Similar findings were observed at +10 cm height difference, but at height +40 cm straights were 76% more likely than uppercuts and overhands (p < 0.05) for bouts that concluded with a KO/TKO. The combined model showed similar results to the reach model findings. These results can help inform coaches and fighters to prepare both offensive and defensive tactics by providing information on the most likely fight-ending punch depending on their specific matchups.

This study investigates the rapid weight loss (RWL) and rapid weight gain (RWG) of contest winners and losers from Muay Thai (MT) and mixed martial arts (MMA) events. The relationship between rapid weight change variables of males and females, and competitive success is also examined. Data from a weight management questionnaire was collected one day post-competition from 185 participants across 24 fight events, resulting in 263 responses (MMA: n = 78, MT: n = 185). Official and secondary weigh-in data were provided by the Combat Sports Commission. The results show that in MT, contest winners compared to losers had significantly greater RWL–7 days (5.9 ± 2.6% vs. 4.6 ± 2.7%, p = 0.01), RWG (6.2 ± 2.9% vs. 4.7 ± 2.8%, p = 0.003), and RWG/RWL ratio (108% [86–132%] vs. 86% [60–119%], p = 0.038), while no significant differences were observed for MMA. Mixed logistic regression models that controlled for age showed that a 1% increase in female RWL–24 h ([OR = 1.57, R² = 0.105, p = 0.001]) was associated with a 1.6 times higher likelihood of winning compared to female athletes without this increase. We emphasise that associations do not imply causation, and it is possible that other factors which align with rapid weight change practices may impact the observed relationship. Nonetheless, MT contest winners show greater RWL, RWG, and RWG/RWL ratio than losers, and female rapid weight changes appear to be associated with competitive success in this cohort.

Introduction: This study evaluated the shear wave elastography (SWE) in kilopascals (kPa) and metres per second (m/s) of immunohistochemical (IHC) factors, molecular subtypes, and the relationship between Kiel‐67 (Ki67) and IHC factors to explore their prognostic significance in malignant breast cancer.Methods: This single‐centre study included 303 patients with 405 solid breast lesions, biopsied and examined using B‐mode ultrasound and SWE. Elastography mean (Emean), maximum (Emax), and ratio (Eratio) variables in kPa and m/s were calculated for each lesion.Results: Among 405 samples, 114 malignant lesions were identified. In IHC comparisons, only the E ratio (m/s) showed a significant difference, with Ki67 high significantly greater than Ki67 low (p = 0.016). Molecular subtype comparisons using kPa and m/s values revealed significant differences in Emean and Emax (p < 0.05), with HER2+ subtypes showing the highest values. Correlation analyses showed a significant relationship between Ki67 and molecular subtypes for Eratio in both kPa and m/s (p < 0.05). Triple‐negative cytokeratin (CK5/6) positive was significantly greater than CK5/6 negative for Eratio in kPa (14.1 ± 3.9 vs. 7.9 ± 0.7, p = 0.029) and m/s (3.7 ± 0.5 vs. 2.8 ± 0.4, p = 0.021).Conclusion: Both kPa and m/s SWE variables identify similar yet slightly different results for prognostic IHC factors and molecular subtypes. Examining both kPa and m/s SWE variables may be useful as a non‐invasive method for predicting IHC factors and molecular subtypes to characterise breast lesions before biopsy or surgery.

Combat sports athletes often undergo rapid body mass loss (BML), which presents health risks. Hydration testing has been proposed as a possible solution to reduce or eliminate rapid BML. However, combat sports athletes may exhibit distinct physiological characteristics due to repeated exposure to BML. Thus, traditional and emerging hydration biomarkers should be investigated to determine their potential suitability for field use in this cohort. This study examined whether BML can explain changes in serum and urine osmolality (SosmΔ, UosmΔ), tear osmolarity (TosmΔ), hematocrit (HctΔ), and urine‐specific gravity (USGΔ) after mild–moderate passive dehydration. Biomarker reliability was also assessed across two trials. Fifteen male and female combat sports athletes (age: 26.3 ± 5.3 years, body mass: 67.7 ± 9.9 kg) underwent a sauna protocol twice (5–28 days apart) aiming for 4% BML. The average BML in Trials 1 and 2 was 3.0 ± 0.7%. Regression analysis revealed that BML explained HctΔ (R² = 0.22, p = 0.009) but not SosmΔ (R² = 0.11, p = 0.079) or other biomarkers. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were significant for all biomarkers except TosmΔ (ICC = 0.06, p = 0.37) and post‐Tosm (ICC = 0.04, p = 0.42); post‐Hct performed best (ICC = 0.82, p < 0.001). Contingency tables with post‐Sosm (295 mOsm/kg) and post‐USG (1.020) cutoffs revealed an 80% true negative rate (TNR) and a 62% true positive rate (TPR). Increasing the Sosm cutoff to 301 mOsm/kg decreased the TNR to 52% but increased the TPR to 83%. Although blood parameters were most sensitive to BML, they could only explain 11%–22% of biomarker variation. The typical USG cutoff misclassified 42% of athletes postdehydration, and reliability was generally poor‐moderate. Alternative strategies should be pursued to manage rapid BML in combat sports.

Introduction: This study aimed to compare shear wave elastography (SWE) of benign and malignant breast lesions, evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of previously suggested thresholds for identifying malignant breast lesions, and compare SWE measures across histopathological type and grade.Methods: This single‐centre study included 303 patients, and 405 solid breast lesions were biopsied and evaluated by mammography, which may have included contrast‐enhanced mammography, conventional B‐mode ultrasound, and SWE. Following this, elastography mean (E_mean), maximum (E_max), and ratio (E_ratio) variables were calculated for elasticity in kilopascals (kPa) and speed in metres per second (m/s).Results: Malignant (n = 113) samples were significantly higher than benign (n = 267) across all SWE variables [median (interquartile range)]; E_mean (kPa) [132.8 (34), vs. 41.9 (53.6), p < .001], E_mean (m/s) [6.9 (1), vs. 3.7 (2.2), p < .001]. The highest combined sensitivity and specificity were for E_max (97%, 73%) at >80 kPa, and E_mean (96%, 76%) at >5.2 m/s. Histopathological grade 3 (kPa), E_mean [145.8 (22.5), p = .012], E_max [147.8 (19.4), p = .009], and E_ratio [11.7 (6.6), p = .006] were significantly higher than grades 1 [129.2 (37.3), 133.2 (35.9), 7.53 (4.7)] and 2 [127.3 (36.4), 133.3 (34.2), 8.3 (6.1)].Conclusion: Breast elastography is a sensitive complementary technique that can distinguish between malignant and benign lesions and help characterise histological profile and grade.