Ever since the UFC signed the deal with Reebok in 2014, all fighters have unified fight wear and fight week apparel, including the UFC shorts. Now, the promotion has a new deal, only this time the second party isn’t Reebok, but Venum. So, what is there to know about UFC shorts?
UFC shorts are a unified piece of fight wear and the only piece of clothing allowed in the Octagon apart from MMA gloves. With the new Venum deal, the fighters get to choose from five different types of shorts to suit their fighting style the best.
You still might wonder if the fighters choose their shorts and their color, what they were under the shorts, and how much UFC shorts cost. If you want all the answers, keep reading and get them.
What Are The UFC Shorts Called?
UFC shorts are usually just called MMA shorts, as in any other MMA promotion. Some types of shorts have different names, though.
For instance, the new UFC Venum collection has UFC Venum Authentic Vale Tudo Shorts (long fit or short fit).
The Gladiator Shorts and the deep-cut shorts have a cut along the sides for extra mobility.
Women have an additional model called the Skort, which is something between shorts and a skirt.
However, the most common name is either MMA shorts or fight wear. They are called fight wear because they are the only clothing that UFC fighters can wear inside the Octagon apart from protective gear such as MMA gloves, mouthguards, and groin guards.
Why Do UFC Fighters Wear Tight Shorts?
Not all fighters wear super tight shorts. For instance, Jon Jones likes his shorts a bit looser, with a deep cut along the sides. The type of shorts a fighter will wear depends on his style. However, nobody wants too baggy shorts inside the Octagon, so most fighters opt for the tight fit. Several reasons play a part in that decision.
First of all, if you ever did any martial arts, you’ll know that anything you can feel while fighting distracts you from the main goal, and that’s to beat your opponent. If your shorts are too baggy and you constantly feel them swirling around, it can make you uncomfortable, and only a split-second in the UFC is enough to get put to sleep.
That’s why fighters tend to choose a tight fit, as it seamlessly bonds with you and feels as if you’re wearing nothing, leaving you to focus only on your opponent.
Second, if your shorts are loose, it can give the opponent an undue advantage. For instance, they can grab you in a clinch for a second to break loose. Also, they can get in the way on the ground when grappling, so the safest bet is just to avoid them and opt for tight shorts instead.
Finally, tight compression shorts keep the muscles warmer and the circulation better, making injuries less frequent.
Why Do UFC Fighters Wear the Same Shorts?
I’m sure many fighters aren’t pleased that they all have to wear the same apparel, as it closes the door to many sponsorship deals that fighters had in the past. However, if they want to compete in the UFC, they have to deal with the rules.
In 2014, the UFC signed an exclusive deal with Reebok, which gave the fighters an incentive pay bonus for every event they competed in, but in return, they had to wear the same unified apparel. A similar deal is in place right now, only with Venum.
The fighters have to wear the apparel that Venum provides, and in return, they get incentive pay.
Do UFC Fighters Choose Their Shorts?
The answer to this question lies in your perspective. If you’re asking if UFC fighters can wear any shorts they like, the answer is no. That ship sailed in 2014 with the Reebok deal because since then, the fighters cannot wear their shorts but rather the ones that the promotion provides.
If you’re asking if they can choose a type of shorts or the color they like, then the answer is yes. Venum made five different sets of shorts that the fighters could choose from, going from short-fit compression shorts to medium shorts and deep-cut gladiator shorts.
The fighters also choose several colorways, including green, red, blue, yellow, grey, etc. They cannot get additional sponsorship deals on their shorts, but they can personalize them to suit them the best regarding their fighting style, comfort, or personal preferences.
The only fighters that don’t get to choose the color of their shorts are the champions.
Do UFC Champions Wear Black?
UFC champions always wear black shorts with their last name written with golden letters on them. The shorts have to be at least dark grey, and the letters always have to be gold. The colorway is set in that way to distinguish the champions from the challengers. There is an exception, though.
If the match squares up a champion against another champion – like what we’ve seen at UFC 205 when Conor McGregor attacked Eddie Alvarez in the lightweight division, or at UFC 241 when Daniel Cormier challenged Stipe Miocic at heavyweight – then things change.
In these cases, the defending champion (Alvarez and Miocic) still needs to wear black/gold shorts. However, the challenger can choose white (McGregor) or light-grey shorts (Cormier) that will have their names written in golden letters as well, to show that they are a champion, too.
McGregor was the featherweight champ at the time, while Cormier held the light heavyweight belt.
What Do UFC Fighters Wear Under Their Shorts?
Every UFC fighter has to wear a groin guard under their shorts. It has to be approved by the athletic commission sanctioning the fight, and the fighter must feel comfortable in it. Some materials are prohibited, and no extra padding is allowed.
The groin guard is mandatory, but the fighters also choose to wear them for their safety. On the other hand, groin guards aren’t mandatory for women fighters, but some wear groin pads to prevent injuries and ease the pain of an unintentional groin strike.
Also, some fighters wear other compression shorts underneath their fight wear, especially the guys that wear a bit looser shorts like Jon Jones. Fighters that already wear tight-fit compression shorts as their fight wear usually only have a groin guard underneath.
The compression shorts aren’t mandatory, though, so some guys prefer not wearing them even if they wear looser-fit shorts.
How Much Do UFC Shorts Cost?
The UFC Venum Authentic Fight Night Shorts for men range from $76.99 to $119.99 on Venum’s official webshop, depending on the type of shorts you want. You can find cheaper replicas elsewhere, but then they aren’t really UFC shorts anymore, right?
If you want personalized shorts with your name on the side, you can get them at the UFC Store online, but you’ll have to cash out around $175 for those.
Women’s shorts and skorts have a smaller price range and go from $94.99 to $99.99. All the shorts are available in multiple colorways and sizes, so you’re almost guaranteed to find something you like
