Taking the UFC strap may be the ultimate way to affirm your masculinity, shortly followed by a title-grabbing performance in between the sheets with your lucky lady. Now new research shows hitting the bags could also see you hit the spot when it comes to doing 'the wild thang'.

A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, found that erectile dysfunction is often an early indicator of poor cardio, so the harder you go at it in training, the better your 'performance' outside of training.

“For one thing, regular workouts help keep the blood flowing, and keep the arteries producing nitric oxide, a chemical that facilitates erections and other forms of arousal. In addition, endorphins are also released, making you more relaxed and increasing your chances of sexual arousal,” says Dr Madeleine Castellanos, author of the Good in Bed Guide to Male Sexual Issues.

If you're gassing out in the first round, then you definitely won't be able to go the distance with your woman, so you need to hit the mats before you 'hit the hay'.