Modern MMA shorts have become an indispensable part of the combat sports world. They are of course suitable for Mixed Martial Arts, but many people also use them for fitness, kickboxing, or simply as casual wear.
Since the rise of modern MMA in the 1990s, the shorts have undergone significant development due to regulation of the sport, the preferences of fighters, and, of course, fashion trends.
Virtually all major MMA organizations, including the UFC, follow the regulations established in the years after 2000 and agreed upon with the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) on July 30, 2009: “The Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)”.
Regarding the clothing regulations (including MMA shorts), these state the following: All participants must fight in approved shorts, without shoes or other foot protection. Shirts (except in the women’s divisions), judo uniforms, or long trousers (including judo trousers) are not permitted.
What may UFC fighters wear?
Approved shorts (in the UFC) are defined as follows: Participants must wear commission-approved MMA fight shorts, including boardshorts, bike shorts (ed.), Vale Tudo shorts (compression shorts, ed.), kickboxing shorts, or other approved shorts. Speedo-style shorts are not permitted.
Reference point for clothing brands in the combat sports world
The above set of rules provides clear guidelines for the shorts used today during professional and amateur MMA fights. It forms a clear reference point for clothing manufacturers such as Venum, King Pro, and Hayabusa when designing and developing training and competition shorts for mixed martial arts and related sports.
MMA shorts have now evolved from regular boardshorts or bike shorts. They are much more modern and specialized, offering various features that improve comfort, freedom of movement, and flexibility. In addition, today’s shorts also have other features that benefit a fighter’s performance during training and competition.
The most common style of MMA shorts is essentially a boardshort (surf short), with an additional drawstring for a more secure fit and a four-way stretch panel on the inside of the thighs for maximum flexibility. They are usually also made from moisture-wicking material.
Another type of MMA short, which is less common, is the spats short (Vale Tudo shorts or compression trousers), made from a blend of spandex and polyester and designed to fit tightly around the body. They are the equivalent of a rash guard, but in short form. Many companies produce this type of specialized short.
Long spats used to be permitted in MMA competitions, but are now prohibited because of the additional grip and friction they create.
Development of MMA shorts in the modern era
UFC 1 (1993): no rules
The fighters who appeared at the first UFC events were not subject to any form of clothing regulations. This gave the highly controversial “cage fighting” of the time some of its charm: Royce Gracie appeared in a traditional Gi, Art Jimmerson in a boxing trunk with boxing shoes, while Teila Tuli (Sumo) competed in a traditional Polynesian skirt. Many viewers probably could have done without seeing Ken Shamrock in his bright red Speedo.
After the UFC’s first event, more quickly followed, and the fighters wore the most diverse outfits: from tight Speedos to wrestling singlets with matching shoes and various types and colors of judo uniforms (with and without sponsor prints).
As the sport continued to evolve, the fighters’ clothing choices became increasingly practical and less “bulky”. It was realized that clothing should not be an obstacle at all (in this era of pure fighting, with virtually no rules). Fighters had even been strangled with their own Gi clothing. Increasingly, fighters appeared in what began to resemble today’s MMA (board) shorts.
April 2001: the beginning of the Unified Rules of MMA
On April 3, 2001, the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board established the rules that would later be adopted as the Unified Rules of MMA. These also included rules governing the outfit a fighter could wear during events.
This limited a fighter’s clothing options to shorts only, plus a shirt for women. One measure introduced, among other reasons, to ensure the safety and equal opportunities of all fighters.
This new set of rules was adopted almost immediately by all major (American) combat sports organizations, including the UFC, marking a major step in the development and worldwide popularization of MMA shorts. The top fighters appeared in the most iconic and recognizable fight shorts, usually with a new design for every fight.
Some fighters also managed to secure highly lucrative clothing deals with leading brands such as TapOut, Venum, and even Nike (Jon Jones in 2012).
Reebok x UFC (2015):
In 2015, the UFC signed an exclusive deal with the major sports brand Reebok. This certainly did not work to the advantage of many fighters. While many top fighters such as Lidell, Silva, Rua, Ortiz, and Belfort had lucrative deals with combat sports brands such as Venum and TapOut, fighters were now only allowed to compete in Reebok clothing. Vitor Belfort (a top fighter and fan favorite for a long period in both the UFC and Pride FC) claims that he missed out on millions in income as a result.
Since the agreement with Reebok was signed (and the comparable, recently renewed partnership with Venum since March 2021), fighters have been limited to a standard three-color design on approved shorts, with only the logos of the UFC’s official sponsors at that time.
Venum x UFC (2021):
In 2020, the UFC announced a (new) partnership with Venum. Venum thereby took over the role of exclusive clothing sponsor from Reebok in April 2021.
Venum seized this opportunity to introduce new "Fight Week" and "Fight Night" apparel. This also gave them many opportunities to offer UFC merchandise to the many millions of fans worldwide.
Fighters also received better compensation for wearing the clothing, a debatable point given the many reports of poor pay for the majority of UFC fighters. The partnership with Venum was considered successful and has since been extended through 2029.
Fighters under the UFC organization, particularly established names, may be missing out on millions of dollars in individual sponsorship income due to the ban on other brands. Restoring this financial stream to fighters would be an important step toward resolving several issues surrounding fighter salaries at the highest level of the sport.
2026: Standard UFC fighter clothing regulations
As of May 2026, the UFC’s clothing rules remain subject to a strict, centralized clothing policy, with Venum as the only official supplier of apparel.
Fighters are also not permitted to wear private sponsorships on their clothing or equipment during activities surrounding the fight, including interviews and appearances in the Octagon.
Key rules for UFC fight clothing in 2026:
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Required equipment: Fighters must wear UFC-provided Venum clothing, including shorts, shirts, and hoodies for their walkout.
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Personalization: Although the policy is strict, the UFC allows popular fighters to use shorts with their own designs, such as those worn by Alex Pereira and Conor McGregor.
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Special event kits: For major events, such as the "UFC White House" event in June 2026, fighters must wear special, unique uniforms designed for the occasion.
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Color restrictions: Recent reports point to stricter, region-specific color restrictions, such as a ban on American fighters wearing red shorts, which are now associated with other regions.
- Prohibited items: Personal sponsor logos are not permitted on fight clothing. In the cage, fighters must wear commission-approved shorts (boardshorts, Vale Tudo, etc.) and mouthguards.
Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed_martial_arts_rules
- https://www.dca.ca.gov/csac/forms_pubs/publications/unified_rules_judging_criteria.pdf
- https://www.ufc.com/news/ufc-outfitting-frequently-asked-questions
View in webshop:
You can of course find MMA shorts at Fight2Win.nl in the collection Clothing >> Trousers >> MMA Trousers
