Are there any good vegan MMA fighters?

[MusclesMarinara]

This bottom row wasn't even cooked. No one wants floppy pink bacon

 

[MescalineDreams]

Bradley went back to eating meat. He said being vegan made him weaker, he'd get injured more often and his recoveries would take longer.

And Hay only became vegan later when he was washed up, not when he was champ.

Common on theme for a lot of vegan athletes

I think there's some place for veganism in athletes but it seems mostly in endurance

 

[PirateTetra]

Jake Shields is probably the most successful vegan I can think of in MMA.

 

[Iron Nick]

Common on theme for a lot of vegan athletes

I think there's some place for veganism in athletes but it seems mostly in endurance

There are a couple of vegan football (soccer) players, and some of their physique's aren't different from mma-fighters (as long as we're not talking Yoel Romero or Paulo Costa, albeit very muscular soccer players exist as well), while they're at the same time some of the most athletic people on earth, especially when it comes to explosivity and anaerobic cardio.

 

[MescalineDreams]

There are a couple of vegan football (soccer) players, and some of their physique's aren't different from mma-fighters (as long as we're not talking Yoel Romero or Paulo Costa, albeit very muscular soccer players exist as well), while they're at the same time some of the most athletic people on earth, especially when it comes to explosivity and anaerobic cardio.

definitely possible but also very individual

Some people have genetics that hold up to a plant dominated diet better than others

Plus we live in the era where you can basically just eat kilos of spiralina and blue green algae every day if desired lol

I'd be more interested in knowing how athletes respond long term to such a diet free of certain fats / nutrients and cholesterol in the long term, like 5-10+ Years down the road

Lots of people can do it for a bit, even a few years and feel great but long term seems to cause the most issue

 

[mkt]

There are a couple of vegan football (soccer) players, and some of their physique's aren't different from mma-fighters (as long as we're not talking Yoel Romero or Paulo Costa, albeit very muscular soccer players exist as well), while they're at the same time some of the most athletic people on earth, especially when it comes to explosivity and anaerobic cardio.

In most of those cases, the athletes built up their bodies with omnivorous diets...and sometimes other "supplements." They may be able to maintain their athleticism for a while, but in many cases they go back to eating meat, as shown by some examples in this thread (as well as others, including some basketball players who tried going vegetarian in the 1970s).

 

[HUGHPHUG]

He's a pescatarian, no?

pretty sure he's not religious dude

 

[BoTyson]

Vegan fighters have a problem with hurting other humans, or making 'other sentient beings' bleed because its animal product and it might go in their mouth.

Vegan fighters only fight trees and plants.

So you know when you see them karate dudes karate chopping pieces of wood, or Muay Thai guys kicking down trees...

Those are vegan fighters.

 

[TCE]

Am I the only one who had to google pescatarian?

I had to as well, lol.

 

[Iron Nick]

In most of those cases, the athletes built up their bodies with omnivorous diets...and sometimes other "supplements." They may be able to maintain their athleticism for a while, but in many cases they go back to eating meat, as shown by some examples in this thread (as well as others, including some basketball players who tried going vegetarian in the 1970s).

Fair enough, but i don't see how the (possible) benefit of animal-based protein having a (bit) higher valence than plant-based protein, makes the former superior to the latter, especially when the latter holds a lot of advantages in regards to cardiovascular health and the reduction of inflammation in the body.

 

[-Nada-]

I don't know many. It'll be more however in the future, since besides the ethics arguments, going vegan has helped a lot of athletes with their performance and regeneration.
There are a couple of vegan football (soccer) players, and they're the best athletes in terms of agility, endurance and explosivity in all sports that don't have athletic accomplishments as a goal. (Like for example 5k running, olympic weight lifting and so on.)

EDIT: Bayern Munich player Serge Gnabry is vegan and known for his athleticism, especially in terms of acceleration and sprint speed (besides his great footballing ability).

Yap, there are a lot of newer studies that support a Pescatarian or Vegan diet as the most benefecial. Pescatarians have a slight benefit due to Omega 3 and some Vitamins in high quality fish. Wouldn't be suprised if a Vegan diet or slight varient versions would be the way to go in the future for athletes.

 

[Iron Nick]

@ TS

Mac Danzig is a vegan fighter - don't know if you consider him good though.

 

[mkt]

Fair enough, but i don't see how the (possible) benefit of animal-based protein having a (bit) higher valence than plant-based protein, makes the former superior to the latter, especially when the latter holds a lot of advantages in regards to cardiovascular health and the reduction of inflammation in the body.

• The bioavailablity of protein isn't just slightly advantageous. We're talking 92-100% for meat/dairy compared to 70% and less (some much less) for many plants
• I don't buy the cardiovascular or inflammation arguments at all. While there haven't been comparative studies, you can many case studies (and thousands of comments) from people following keto and even carnivore diets who have greatly reduced inflammation, auto-immune disorders, diabetes and many other ailments. Some are in their 60s and 70s. Plants actually have a lot of anti-nutrients, lectins, oxalates, etc. that can cause harm. While animals can fight or run away, plants have built-in toxins as self-defense, i.e., to not be eaten. Check out the work of Dr. Paul Saladino and others (Drs. Ted Naiman, Ken Berry, etc. as well as former vegan "Born Again Meat Eater" on Twitter, who's in his 60s and cured multiple ailments).

 

[Iron Nick]

• The bioavailablity of protein isn't just slightly advantageous. We're talking 92-100% for meat/dairy compared to 70% and less (some much less) for many plants
• I don't buy the cardiovascular or inflammation arguments at all. While there haven't been comparative studies, you can many case studies (and thousands of comments) from people following keto and even carnivore diets who have greatly reduced inflammation, auto-immune disorders, diabetes and many other ailments. Some are in their 60s and 70s. Plants actually have a lot of anti-nutrients, lectins, oxalates, etc. that can cause harm. While animals can fight or run away, plants have built-in toxins as self-defense, i.e., to not be eaten. Check out the work of Dr. Paul Saladino and others (Drs. Ted Naiman, Ken Berry, etc. as well as former vegan "Born Again Meat Eater" on Twitter, who's in his 60s and cured multiple ailments).

There's still enough examples of athletes having more than enough muscle mass to compete and be successful in any sport (apart from maybe pro bodybuilding, though there's some vegan athletes as well) and mixed martial arts shouldn't be a problem here, since it's not just strength based but also very cardio-based (and doesn't require a lot of muscle - unless you want to be a weight bully, like some fighters who cut insane amounts of water-weight) and if there's one thing where being vegan or at least vegetarian helps, it is with endurance.
As for your second argument: I'm not completely dismissing what the studies that argue pro meat have found out, but i'm pretty certain that at least red meat does increase inflammation and the risk for cancer as well.
There's a lot of cases where people went vegan and their aches have tremendously gone back.
My mother went vegan because her doctor recommended it to her because of her arthritis and she immediately had way less joint pain and problems that come with it and to be more clear: she wasn't eating a "junk-diet" prior to being vegan and she doesn't eat perfectly clean now.

Appreciate it by the way that despite our different views in regards to nutrition, you're not being an a**.
I hope i'm not one either, haha.

 

[BoTyson]

In all seriousness i wanna know how gorillas get enough protein just munching twigs to be that muscular.

 

[MescalineDreams]

Fair enough, but i don't see how the (possible) benefit of animal-based protein having a (bit) higher valence than plant-based protein, makes the former superior to the latter, especially when the latter holds a lot of advantages in regards to cardiovascular health and the reduction of inflammation in the body.

I used to believe the same

In fact I had an account here back in 2007 which got banned because I was zealously promoting raw veganism

There's a lot more than just protein we get from animal foods however

Even things like cholesterol and saturated fat which are falsely demonized but also a building block of our hormones, brain and nervous system

Dha, epa, b12, k2, fat solvable vitamins like A and D, iron, zinc, alpha lipoid acid, choline, creative, taurine, glycine, All of which you can easily become low or deficient in pursuing a vegan diet improperly



It can be done but requires all bases to be covered, protein being probably the easiest to manage.

 

[MescalineDreams]

There's still enough examples of athletes having more than enough muscle mass to compete and be successful in any sport (apart from maybe pro bodybuilding, though there's some vegan athletes as well) and mixed martial arts shouldn't be a problem here, since it's not just strength based but also very cardio-based (and doesn't require a lot of muscle - unless you want to be a weight bully, like some fighters who cut insane amounts of water-weight) and if there's one thing where being vegan or at least vegetarian helps, it is with endurance.
As for your second argument: I'm not completely dismissing what the studies that argue pro meat have found out, but i'm pretty certain that at least red meat does increase inflammation and the risk for cancer as well.
There's a lot of cases where people went vegan and their aches have tremendously gone back.
My mother went vegan because her doctor recommended it to her because of her arthritis and she immediately had way less joint pain and problems that come with it and to be more clear: she wasn't eating a "junk-diet" prior to being vegan and she doesn't eat perfectly clean now.

Appreciate it by the way that despite our different views in regards to nutrition, you're not being an a**.
I hope i'm not one either, haha.

A vegan diet can be a very powerful tool for cleansing and healing / allowing the body to clean itself and function more effeciently


Anyone dismissing the healing power of plants is a fool.

But it's one of those things, sometimes the truth lies in the middle

 

[Iron Nick]

I used to believe the same

In fact I had an account here back in 2007 which got banned because I was zealously promoting raw veganism

Oh the irony, haha!
you most likely were vegan back than, weren't you? (and if so, are you still vegan?)

There's a lot more than just protein we get from animal foods however

Even things like cholesterol and saturated fat which are falsely demonized but also a building block of our hormones, brain and nervous system

Dha, epa, b12, k2, fat solvable vitamins like A and D, iron, zinc, alpha lipoid acid, choline, creative, taurine, glycine, All of which you can easily become low or deficient in pursuing a vegan diet improperly



It can b done be done but requires all bases to be covered, protein being probably the easiest to manage.

I'm no nutritionist or scientist by any mean, so yeah, i don't know everything, but from what i've seen, people's biggest concern is the amount/quality of protein you'll get during the employance of a plant-based diet, so that is what i adressed (mainly).
Other than that, i just do know that a (mainly whole food)-vegan diet is generally super healthy and helps a lot against many ills and aches, and also seems to go very well with anything that isn't purely strength-based. (Not saying it doesn't work with strength-based sports, just saying that the majority of vegan athlete's aren't bodybuilder or strongmen!).
Carl Lewis for example ran his best time when he was on a vegan diet.

Cheers bro!

 

[Iron Nick]

In all seriousness i wanna know how gorillas get enough protein just munching twigs to be that muscular.

Wild animals are just different haha.
Honestly, pay attention to dogs who're suddenly taken more often for a walk or similar stuff, they're immediately building muscle, while also losing fat.

To sound a bit more scientific: from what i know, almost all mammals have higher testosterone than humans, and as we know that helps a lot with building muscle. Besides that, the just eat absurd amounts of stuff in general and are (apparently) able to turn cellulose to fatty acids, which is an important source of energy.

 

[BoTyson]

Wild animals are just different haha.
Honestly, pay attention to dogs who're suddenly taken more often for a walk or similar stuff, they're immediately building muscle, while also losing fat.

To sound a bit more scientific: from what i know, almost all mammals have higher testosterone than humans, and as we know that helps a lot with building muscle. Besides that, the just eat absurd amounts of stuff in general and are (apparently) able to turn cellulose to fatty acids, which is an important source of energy.

There is that aquatic human theory also which some people think is the reason we walk on 2 legs, have no hair and our nose is shaped the way it is, which would also mean fat/blubber.