A Guide to MMA Clothing

The rules of many mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions dictate that all fighters who engage in combat of this nature are equipped with the correct MMA clothing. This has created a range of dedicated MMA clothing manufacturers who now cater to the needs of dedicated MMA fighters, as well as casual wearers.
It is important to first make the distinction between MMA fight wear and training wear. The difference between the two is that fightwear is clothing which has been specially designed for performance, and to meet the required standards of competitions.
Training wear on the other hand refers mainly to training products such as MMA T Shirts,Hoodies and Hats. Whilst these are not permitted, or necessary in combat situations, training wear is nevertheless essential for those involved.
This article looks at some of the rules and conventions governing clothing and some of the most popular choices in MMA fight wear and training wear.
Typically, MMA Shorts and MMA Gloves are the only two items of fighwear clothing which are permitted in most combat situations
MMA Shorts - Mixed martial arts typically requires male fighters to wear shorts when engaging in combat. MMA shorts should be flexible enough to allow freedom of movement, whilst at the same time being durable enough to stand up to the strain placed on them in battle.
There are several different types of MMA shorts, including board shorts, which offer protection to around half way down the thigh, and gladiator shorts, which feature slits in the sides of the legs for increased comfort and movement.
First introduced to protect fists in punches and to reduce the amount of cuts suffered by fighters, MMA gloves encourage fighters to use their hands for striking opponents, which makes for more entertaining matches.
MMA gloves were first made compulsory by Japan's Shooto competition, a trend which was later adopted in America by the UFC competition. In the states, gloves are compulsory for all fighters as the authorities view the sport in the same way as other combat sports such as boxing.
In Japan and Europe, there is no such regulation, so in many competitions there is no direct requirement for MMA Gloves. Many fighters may choose to wear MMA Gloves however, for their own comfort and performance.
Training wear is very much a by-product of MMA fight wear, and arguably more important, as much more time will be spent training than competing. Many fight wear brands have grown to offer a range of training and fashion wear including MMA T Shirts, Caps, Hoodies and other accessories. Fighters may wear this clothing during long sparring sessions, whilst working out in the gym, whilst fans may choose it for comfort, to make a fashion statement, or to show their affiliation with the sport.
If you're a fighter, you may already know what MMA Fightwear you need. If you're a fan, there's a whole range of MMA Gear to discover.