Custom MMA Shorts Manufacturing: Design, Fabric, and Production Guide

MMA fight shorts are one of those products where function and aesthetics are equally important, and they are genuinely technically demanding to get right. I have seen fight shorts come back from production with leg slits that are too short (restricting kicks), waistbands that slip during rolling, and sublimation prints that cracked after the first wash because the wrong fabric was used.

We have manufactured fight shorts for professional fighters, major MMA promotions, and retail fight gear brands. The requirements are specific, and getting them right from the start saves significant time and money in the sampling process. Here is everything you need to know.

What Makes a Great MMA Fight Short

Before getting into manufacturing specifics, it is worth being clear about what a performance MMA short needs to accomplish:

Full range of motion for kicks. High kicks are the defining motion requirement. A short that restricts the leg at the hip during a head kick is a failed product. The main design solutions are side slits (cuts up the outer leg seam), an elasticized or stretch panel at the hip, or a combination of both.

Security during grappling. The waistband needs to stay put during wrestling and ground fighting. A combination of elastic waistband and velcro closure is the standard solution. Hook-and-loop velcro tabs at the waistband secure the short even when an opponent is grabbing at it.

Durability under stress. Fight shorts take a beating — knee strikes through the fabric, dragging on the mat, repeated washing. Seam reinforcement and quality stitching are non-negotiable.

Visual impact. MMA is a visual sport. Fight shorts are highly visible during a bout and a primary canvas for fighter branding, sponsor logos, and team identity. The visual design is extremely important.

Fabric Options for MMA Fight Shorts

The vast majority of MMA fight shorts are made from woven polyester fabric, often with spandex added for additional stretch. This is different from the knit fabrics used for compression shorts and rash guards.

Woven polyester (100% polyester or polyester-spandex woven): The standard for fight shorts. Woven fabric has a crisper hand feel and more structure than knit. It drapes cleanly and creates the characteristic silhouette of MMA shorts. The woven construction is also inherently more resistant to tearing than knit.

Common constructions:

GSM for fight shorts typically falls between 160 and 200 GSM. This is lighter than gym leggings — you want the shorts to feel light and move freely, not weigh you down.

Stretch inserts: The side slit or hip panel area is often made from a different fabric — typically a 4-way stretch knit or spandex mesh — that allows unrestricted leg lift. The contrast between the stiffer outer fabric and the flexible insert panel is what gives quality fight shorts their distinctive performance combination.

The Side Slit Debate: Slit vs. Insert Panel vs. Both

The leg slit configuration is one of the most important design decisions for fight shorts. There are three main approaches:

Side slits only: A vertical cut up the outer leg seam, typically 10 to 20 cm. Simple, effective, and the most common approach. The slit opens during kicks to allow full range of motion. The downside is that very tall slits can look excessive when walking, and the slit edges can fray if not properly finished.

Stretch insert panels: A panel of stretch fabric sewn into the side of the shorts — usually at the outer hip or the full side panel. This allows full range of motion even without a slit, and looks cleaner. More complex to manufacture and more expensive, but a very clean solution. Popular in premium fight shorts.

Both slits and inserts: Some fight shorts use both — a stretch panel up to a certain height, then a slit continuing above that. This is the most functional option for high kickers but also the most complex to produce.

For a first production run, I typically recommend the side slit approach — it is clean, proven, and straightforward to manufacture. Define the slit length precisely in your tech pack and specify the finishing method for the slit edges (typically a clean hem or a binding tape).

Waistband and Closure System

The waistband is the most complained-about element in fight shorts when it is done poorly, and entirely invisible when done right.

Standard construction: a wide waistband (typically 6 to 9 cm) with elastic throughout, plus a velcro closure system at the center front. The velcro tabs are typically 5 to 8 cm wide and allow the waistband to be cinched tightly regardless of the fighter's exact waist measurement.

Some designs add a drawstring through a channel at the top of the waistband for additional security. This is a functional addition that practitioners appreciate.

Specify velcro hook side facing inward (touching skin) versus outward carefully. Hook-side inward is more secure but can scratch skin during ground fighting. Hook-side outward is more comfortable but the hooks can snag on other gear. Most professional shorts use a covered hook panel — the hook velcro is encased so only a smooth face contacts skin.

Sublimation Printing for MMA Shorts

Like rash guards, fight shorts are a prime application for sublimation printing. Because the main body fabric is polyester, sublimation achieves vibrant, full-coverage prints that become permanent in the fabric.

For fight shorts with complex branding, sponsor logos, and tribal or graphic designs, sublimation is far superior to any other printing method. The print does not crack under stress, does not fade during washing, and can cover the entire garment including around seams.

Design considerations specific to fight shorts:

Sizing and Fit for MMA Fight Shorts

Fight shorts are typically sized in small/medium/large/XL with waist measurements specified for each. The key fit measurements are:

At Mughal Apparel, we manufacture custom MMA fight shorts with full sublimation printing from a minimum of 50 pieces. Sampling takes 10 to 14 days, and bulk production completes in 20 to 25 days. Explore our MMA wear collection to see examples, and get a free quote with your design requirements. We respond within 24 hours.