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Are you an MMA fighter actively sparring in the ring? You may be new to MMA, and you’re interested in a supplement for MMA for peak mental and physical conditioning. In this article, we examine the best pre-workout supplements for MMA, giving you the specifics on what product will benefit you the most in MMA competition or as the best pre-workout supplement for BJJ training if your sport is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) are hugely popular sports to watch, and more enthusiasts are getting into these rigorous sports themselves. Combat training is exhausting, and we know one thing for sure: your body needs help to maintain energy levels. The good news is that you can achieve a boost of energy (and other benefits) from the best pre-workout supplement for MMA.

What is the Best Pre-Workout Supplement for Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts?

Trainees in MMA or BJJ often need a different dietary supplement for MMA than an experienced fighter, meaning the best supplement for your MMA needs, not those of another athlete. Here’s what we factored in when choosing the best pre-workout supplements for BJJ and MMA athletes:

• Fat-burning supplements are seen by many in the sport as a popular supplement for MMA.

• Muscle-building supplements for MMA are vital in the best pre-workout for jiu-jitsu and MMA enthusiasts wanting muscle growth.

• Energy-boosting supplements for MMA are advisable to tackle your exhaustion (including muscle fatigue) and maintain your stamina.

• Protein supplements for MMA do it all—build muscle strength, eliminate fat, and boost power.

So, what ingredients work in an effective supplement for MMA? Whether you’re an experienced fighter in this sparring sport or new to training, squinting on an ingredient deck and trying to figure out the best pre-workout for BJJ or MMA can be a pain in the can. Plus, there are always “new” and “innovative” products every day, all claiming to be the best pre-workout supplement for BJJ or MMA. 

The following is a breakdown of valuable, healthy, and recommended ingredients in a supplement for MMA that gives MMA and BJJ athletes the most benefit for three essential categories: fat-burning, energy-boosting, and protein loading.

Best Fat Burning Ingredients in a Supplement for MMA

• L Carnitine is an amino acid that works to convert body fat into energy.

• Taurine is another amino acid used for fat burning and weight loss that increases the body’s use of fat storage for fuel. 

• Vitamin B6 is shown in scientific research working with Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAA) to metabolize fats and build muscle.

• Vitamin B12 plays an essential role in metabolic processes, including weight loss.

• Often a combination of B-complex vitamins works to break down fats in a supplement for MMA. 

Best Muscle Building Ingredients in a Supplement for MMA

• Beta-Alanine is considered a non-essential amino acid added to a supplement for MMA to build lean—not bulky—muscle mass. This amino acid also minimizes the lactic acid build-up that causes muscle stiffness following intense MMA training.

• BCAA, as mentioned, are Branched Chain Amino Acids. Clinical research points to the significant part these combinations of amino acids play in muscle building. More products include BCAAs in this era, with more proof that BCAAs are vital to the best pre-workout supplements for BJJ and MMA.

Best Energy Building Ingredients in a Supplement for MMA

• Caffeine is a widely and naturally found stimulant in many of the best pre-workout jiu-jitsu and MMA supplements, so if you’re a diehard java drinker, remember you may get a double shot in your supplement for MMA training.

• Creatine Nitrate in MMA supplements works to increase stamina, boost performance during strength training, and aid in recovery after a butt-kicking gym session.

Best Protein Supplement for MMA

Protein powders sound like an obvious choice, but they’re not all the same. We will let you know which ones are the best pre-workout supplements for BJJ and MMA.

• L Arginine is necessary for the body to make protein, and it also stimulates growth hormones and expands blood vessels (boosting blood flow) for more stamina and less recovery needed.

Now you know what to keep an eye out for in any product claiming to be the best pre-workout supplement for jiu jitsu or any other martial art. The following are our recommendations on what products we like.

We reviewed products based on their ingredient list, determining the best pre-workout supplements for BJJ and MMA with ingredients listed above that include the necessary, quality ingredients to maximize your physical and mental benefits.

Best Fat Burning Supplement for MMA: Burn-XT Thermogenic Fat Burner

There’s always been plenty of “diet pills” in the fitness marketplace, but no mere diet pill is ever a match for a quality fat-burning supplement for MMA. This includes any fat-burning supplements for MMA athletes. It’s crucial to find a fat burner that works, but not in an unhealthy way. Always listen to your body when you begin a fat-burning program. Don’t overdo it and make your health—not just your fat loss—your top priority.

Burn-XT Thermogenic Fat Burner is a loaded product name any way you put it. Still, it contains the most ingredients that work powerfully to suppress appetite while increasing energy and boost metabolism while building lean muscle. 

Taken in the morning, this supplement for MMA is one of the best pre-workouts for jiu-jitsu and mixed martial artists. When consumed according to safety and dosage instructions, this supplement is highly effective at fat burning. For those on a keto diet, this supplement for MMA is keto-friendly.

Burn XT contains absolutely no fillers. It has a beneficial dosage of L Carnitine and a reasonable amount of naturally-sourced caffeine (versus the concentrated caffeine in coffee). To get optimal results from Burn XT, consume the recommended dosage with food. Increase the amount of water you drink to flush out toxins and release fat from the body.

As with any supplement for MMA proclaiming to be the best pre-workout for jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts, Burn XT isn’t a magic pill. You take Burn XT in combination with the proper diet, rest, and recovery, before kicking the butt in MMA. Results become noticeable after about a month. Be patient, work hard, play harder, and remember to take care of your body.

Best Muscle Building Supplement for MMA: Truth Nutrition Fermented Vegan BCAA Powder

Get ready for a hit of acronyms—because our top choice for the best pre-workout supplement for BJJ and MMA is all about the BCAAs. 

Remember when I mentioned Branched Chain Amino Acids? Well, BCAAs in a supplement for MMA offer proven scientific benefits for building muscle. BCAAs are the darling ingredient in many MMA and BJJ supplements. We dug through the pile of products and made our top choice:

Truth Nutrition Fermented Vegan BCAA Powder: All you need to know about this product is true, and they must call it that for a reason. The BCAA powder is straight-up, with natural flavors and an infusion of hydration electrolytes—all good stuff goes into your body before a tough workout.

Truth Nutrition’s BCAA powder has zero synthetics. Plant-based amino acids target every muscle fiber and fortify every strand, so this BCAA powder works to achieve that MMA form—lean muscle mass. 

Truth Nutrition BCAA powder contains 5 grams of BCAA, a quality dosage in a product considered a top pick for the best pre-workout supplement for BJJ and MMA. It works for us, and we’re not alone. Pro athletes, trainers, performers, mixed martial artists, and regular folks on the lookout for quality supplements all say how much they like this BCAA powder too.

One thing to say is to adjust your taste buds when mixing this BCAA supplement and drinking it down. Truth Nutrition is full-on honest about there being no artificial flavors or artificial sweeteners in this product to make it taste better. We’re talking about natural ingredients, so don’t expect a sugary fruit-flavored drink. 

We enjoy the pink lemonade flavor, and while it’s mild flavor-wise, it also won’t disrupt your blood sugar levels (or hype you up like a cup of coffee).

Best Energy Building Supplement for MMA: Naked Creatine

There are a few to pick from when you’re looking for an energy-building product in this category, especially when they all claim to be the best pre-workout supplement for BJJ and MMA. Still, we weeded through the crap and selected our top pick in this category. So, first things first. Are you ready to get naked?

Naked Creatine is a creative name, and we’ll give ‘em that. And it got the name because there’s one only ingredient in this product: 100% Pure Micronized Creatine Monohydrate. That means no additives either—no sweeteners, colors, or flavors.

We can’t deny this product is quality. The category is crowded for the best pre-workout for jiu-jitsu and mixed martial artists, and because this product offers the highest creatine grade on the market, it goes to the top of any list.  

This powder doesn’t glob up in a glass of water. It dissolves fast in juice or water, and it absorbs quickly into the body to enhance your strength and gains, increasing your martial arts training capacity. Naked Creatine contains zero grams of carbs and zero calories.

Maybe you’re keen to train an empty stomach, thinking that nutritional supplements are all you need to boost energy and be a warrior. Conor McGregor swears that training on an empty stomach will take him into survival mode. But trust us, this product is powerful, and it produces results—including upsetting your empty gut. So eat like a bird if you have to—just eat something when you’re using this product.

Best Protein Supplement for MMA: Habrok Whey Protein Café Latte

Now we get to be the best in the show—or the best pre-workout supplement for BJJ and MMA. Habrok is one of the most trusted supplement companies and their product is front and center for strengthening, stamina, victory, and post-fight recovery. 

Let’s put it this way. There are too many choices for a protein supplement for MMA. Not all protein is created equal, either. Fortunately, you have plenty of options from supplement companies like Habrok that know their stuff. 

Whey powder is an excellent source of protein supplement for MMA. There’s a whack of quality whey powder supplements from a variety of sources, so you’ll be able to find a whey powder that suits your diet or dietary tolerances. Far as we’re concerned, the best pre-workout supplement for BJJ and MMA is Habrok Whey Protein Café Latte.

Habrok Whey Protein has 21g of protein per serving, and it also supplies essential BCAAs. This product is soy-free and gluten-free (that’s important for anyone intolerant), and it’s a designated meal replacement supplement for MMA made in an FDA-approved facility. 

But the best thing about this whey powder is, it’s damn delicious! It goes by the name Café Latte, but there’s also a vanilla hint. Trust us. A great-tasting product is scarce when you’re talking about the best supplement for MMA or BJJ. And Habrok Café Latte is nutritious, with naturally-added calcium, a healthy dose of sodium, and potassium in this whey powder formula. 

A minor pet peeve with Habrok Café Latte is not widely available online. But Habrok is a great company and a strong ambassador for MMA and BJJ, and their online presence is good. They ship globally, and there are discounts on products and shipping on their website. 

Final Thoughts

Remember, taking the best pre-workout supplement for MMA is only part of the equation. You need strength in your mind and body before putting anything in your mouth. In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, I’ve heard it said, “More Powerful than the Will to Win is the Strength to Begin.” 

While picking a protein blend that supports muscle cells and gives a performance boost is smart, so is learning more about your craft. Check out our articles and resources for our views and opinions, and product reviews and inspiration on all things Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts!