UFC president Dana White might have to retract his claims that soccer is “the least talented sport on Earth,” as a study published in the well-respected PloS ONE science journal has stated elite soccer players have some of the best executive functions of any athletes.

Predrag Petrovic of the Karolinska Institute, Sweden, claims soccer players have amongst the most adept cognitive skills when compared to many athletes, and are able to adjust and adapt to situations quicker – vital to keeping you top dog in the cage. Perhaps indulging in ‘the beautiful game’ might pay dividends on fight night.

According to Petrovic, his research focused on vital areas such as “visual anticipation, pattern recognition, knowledge of situational probabilities, and strategic decision-making.”

UFC featherweight champion, José Aldo, who was a semi-professional soccer player back home in Brazil, was able to show many of those qualities in his last bout against Chad Mendes at UFC 142 in January. He used his quick thinking to get Mendes off his back and plant a brutal knee to the challengers face for the KO victory.

If MMA fighters with soccer skills keep using their quick thinking for moments like that, White's tune may change fast.