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Rethinking Brain Recovery in the UFC
When UFC fighter Brandon Royval was broadcasted using Neuronic’s transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) helmet before his June 28th fight, it sparked both curiosity and skepticism among viewers.
That’s understandable. With any emerging health technology, especially one as visually unfamiliar as a brain-stimulating near-infrared light helmet, healthy skepticism is not just expected, it's essential in maintaining scientific rigor. But that skepticism should be grounded in evidence, not assumption.
The reality is tPBM is a thoroughly studied, non-invasive technique supported by a growing body of clinical and preclinical research. Used in everything from stroke rehabilitation to cognitive optimization, light therapy is gaining traction among athletes, clinicians, and neuroscientists alike.
So, what exactly is tPBM—and can it really support peak mental performance and brain recovery in high-impact sports like MMA?
Let’s dive into the science and applications for UFC fighters and other athletes alike.
A Review of PBM in Professional Sports
In recent years, the long-term effects of repeated head trauma have gained serious attention - especially in high impact sports, such as football and martial arts. As research continues to link concussions and subconcussive impacts to lasting neurological damage, combat sports organizations are taking more proactive steps to protect their athletes. The UFC recently donated $1 million to the Cleveland Clinic to fund brain health research, specifically around the effects of long term repetitive head trauma, and the development of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The UFC has also evolved to implementing a five stage concussion protocol for fighters returning to action, similar to the one outlined by the NFL. These are all great steps in the right direction to promoting brain health and safety among players in one of the most injury-prone sports.
The use of PBM in professional sports is not unheard of. In fact, companies that produce light therapy beds and panels are already in the locker rooms of various NFL, NHL, and MLB teams. So it is no wonder that these high impact sports are looking to the same technology to be applied to bolster brain health - not only for injury recovery, but for peak performance as well.
PBM: An Overview
With its widespread applications and effects, you might wonder “how can tPBM help with so many things at once?” After all, this PBM database covers over 8000 studies on the different applications of PBM. At the end of the day, it really comes down to three primary mechanisms: ATP production, increased cerebral blood flow, and decreased inflammation.
- ATP Production - red (620 to 750 nm) and near infrared light (750 to 2500 nm) is seen to act on the chromophore cytochrome c oxidase, which leads to an increase in ATP production, optimizing mitochondrial function and overall cellular health (Pruitt et al., 2022).
- Increased Blood Flow - with PBM helping decouple nitric oxide from cytochrome c oxidase under cellular stress, this allows oxygen to bind instead and promote further ATP production. In turn, the release of nitric oxide, a vasodilator, allows for an increase in blood flow (Hamblin, 2019).
- Decreased Inflammation - PBM induces a brief release in reactive oxygen species, which in turn signals immune cells to regulate inflammation (Hamblin, 2019).
Peak Performance: Sharpening the Mind Before the Fight
For a UFC athlete, the difference between victory and defeat can come down to milliseconds. Reflexes, focus, mental clarity, and physical endurance all need to be firing at the highest level. Research shows PBM can help cognitive functioning that may apply to fighters by:
- Improving visual working memory (Zhao et al., 2022) - the brain’s ability to hold and manipulate visual information is crucial for fighting, when it comes to tracking your opponents movements, for example.
- Improving reaction time (Yang et al., 2025) - reaction time is key for UFC athletes, either to help dodge a hit or decide when to throw one.
- Reducing feelings of anxiety (Eshaghi et al., 2019) - remaining calm and reducing anxiety is key to increasing accuracy and performance during a fight.
A case study using the NeuroCatchⓇ device to measure the effects of Neuronic’s Neuradiant 1070 device on cognition showed an improvement in the latency and amplitude of the P300 marker that measures Basic Attention, and the N400 that measures Cognitive Processing.
Recovery: Repairing the Brain and Body After the Fight
Even with proper protection and technique, the brutal nature of MMA means that concussions, inflammation, and microtrauma are common. PBM offers a neuroprotective and regenerative solution that can aid in recovery through:
- Increasing the birth of new neurons (neurogenesis) to help the injured area recover (Xuan et al., 2014).
- Promoting cerebral blood flow, which is impaired after a head injury (Hamblin, 2019).
- Reducing neuroinflammation induced by one or many blows to the head (Hamblin, 2019).
- Overall reducing the onset and severity of head injury related symptoms: brain fog, insomnia, headache, pain, and anxiety (Lee et al., 2025; Morries et al., 2015).
Fun fact: Proactive use of tPBM also reduces the lesion size of a head injury! (Oron et al., 2007)
Real Life Examples of Recovery in the UFC
In a case study with ex-UFC fighter Gray Maynard, the Neuradiant 1070 showed changes in subjective outcomes, as well as improvements marked on his qEEG. He reported improved focus at work and said he could get more done on the computer. He also mentioned that he tracked his sleep scores on his smartwatch and they had improved along with having fewer night sweats. In addition, his post-brain scan showed a positive shift in global activity, resulting in a more normalized qEEG, suggesting the brain is moving toward a more efficient way of functioning.
Read more about Maynard’s story here.
The Next Frontier in UFC Wellness
While no amount of technology can eliminate the risks that come with full-contact sports, the reality is that fighters, driven by passion and purpose, will continue to compete. In that light, tools that support cognitive function and post-fight recovery deserve serious attention, especially when they empower athletes to take care of their most vital organ–the brain.
As fans and supporters, we should applaud athletes who seek out evidence-based ways to protect and optimize their health. Brain health is fundamental to lifelong well-being—and any effort to elevate that conversation should be welcomed, not dismissed. Photobiomodulation may be new to some, but its roots go back decades, including early use by NASA in the 1960s and more recent FDA clearances for other conditions such as age-related macular degeneration.
The excitement around Brandon’s pre-fight image isn’t just about the device—it’s about what it represents: a visible, proactive commitment to brain care. That’s something worth talking about.
While the idea of using light to improve brain health may feel unfamiliar, the science is strong, and the use cases are growing. Professional athletes, including UFC fighters, are beginning to explore these benefits firsthand.
At Neuronic, our goal is to make this technology more accessible, better understood, and responsibly integrated into training, recovery, and long-term brain care.
When it comes to the brain—nothing should be left to guesswork.
References:
Eshaghi, E., Sadigh‑Eteghad, S., Mohaddes, G., & Rasta, S. H. (2019). Transcranial photobiomodulation prevents anxiety and depression via changing serotonin and nitric oxide levels in brain of depression-model mice: A study of three different doses of 810 nm laser. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 51(7), 634–642. https://doi.org/10.1002/lsm.23082
Hamblin, M. R. (2019). Photobiomodulation for Alzheimer’s disease: Has the light dawned? Photonics, 6(3), Article 77. https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics6030077
Lee, T.-L., Chan, D. Y.-C., Chan, D. T.-M., Cheung, M.-C., Shum, D. H.-K., & Chan, A. S.-Y. (2025, June 9). Transcranial photobiomodulation improves cognitive function, post-concussion, and PTSD symptoms in mild traumatic brain injury. Journal of Neurotrauma. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2025.0048
Morries, L. D., Cassano, P., & Henderson, T. A. (2015). Treatments for traumatic brain injury with emphasis on transcranial near-infrared laser phototherapy. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 11, 2159–2175. https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S65809
Oron, A., Oron, U., Streeter, J., De Taboada, L., Alexandrovich, A., Trembovler, V., & Shohami, E. (2007). Low-level laser therapy applied transcranially to mice following traumatic brain injury significantly reduces long‑term neurological deficits. Journal of Neurotrauma, 24(4), 651–656. https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2006.0198
Xuan, W., Vatansever, F., Huang, L., Chung, H. Y., Hamblin, M. R., & Borgens, R. B. (2014). Transcranial low-level laser therapy enhances learning, memory, and neurogenesis in adult rats following traumatic brain injury. Journal of Biomedical Optics, 19(10), 108003. https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.19.10.108003
Yang, Q., Qu, X., Sheng, C., Zhao, X., Chen, G., Wang, X., Li, Y., Du, W., Wang, X., Sun, Y., Li, X., Niu, H., & Han, Y. (2025). Transcranial photobiomodulation improves functional brain networks and working memory in healthy older adults: An fNIRS study. NeuroImage, 316, 121305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2025.121305
Zhao, C., Li, D., Kong, Y., Liu, H., Hu, Y., Niu, H., Jensen, O., Li, X., Liu, H., & Song, Y. (2022). Transcranial photobiomodulation enhances visual working memory capacity in humans. Science Advances, 8(48), eabq3211. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abq3211
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