Whether you are looking for an MMA rash guard, MMA shorts tee shirts, hoodies, beanies or a host of other clothing developed for the mixed martial arts industry, you are part of an exploding sports fashion industry. Mixed martial arts are a full contact combat oriented sport that allows for the use of striking and grappling techniques. These techniques take place while standing or on the ground and they employ boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, karate, kickboxing and virtually any kind of martial arts methods of fighting.

Not really a new sport

Modern mixed martial arts can be traced to the ancient Olympics where forms of unarmed combat were used in the sport of Pankration.  For this reason, the sport is really not all that new although some of the rules have changed over the centuries. The thing that is relatively new about the current MMA industry is the money and the tremendous media exposure that the sport has enjoyed in recent years.

While others struggle MMA succeeds

We live in an era when high school and college athletics departments are cutting back. The PGA Tour is losing top sponsors and advertisers. NASCAR seems to be losing fans and professional soccer, which is arguably the most popular global sport, has reached financial un-sustainability. Despite the dismal state of sports in general, the popularity of mixed martial arts continues to grow and mystify the skeptics.

The current popularity began in 1993

The real beginning of the current MMA phenomena in America was the promotion of the Ultimate Fighting Championship which took place in November of 1993. The originators of this event had a goal of spreading awareness of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to the U.S. public. Royce Gracie, a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and UFC Hall of Famer is widely considered to be the single most influential figure in the history of modern MMA.

One man popularized the sport

Gracie gained fame for his domination in the first Ultimate Fighting Championship and several others that followed. He became famous for beating opponents that were much larger than he was. He was the tournament winner for three different years and had a draw for a fourth championship. Some people feel that Gracie was largely responsible for popularizing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and revolutionizing mixed martial arts in America. Something about the introduction of this sport really caught the imagination of America and eventually the world.

Promoters saw the opportunity

With that charismatic beginning, it didn’t take promoters long to see an opportunity. Some estimates put average gate receipts for pay-per-view UFC events at close to $3.25 million, and that was in the early days of the sport! As a result of the explosive growth and popularity of the sport, MMA clothing has also ignited consumer interest globally.

The popularity of the more successful MMA fighters has motivated a growing number of enthusiastic fans to copy what the fighters are wearing. This has created a whole new sports fashion industry. If you are sporting a “rashie” or anyone of a number of MMA clothing items, you are part of a dynamic sports industry and your life has been touched by an incredible athlete by the name of Royce Gracie.

FightersMarket.com is an industrial leader in wide variety of Jiu Jitsu and MMA gear for the BJJ and MMA training athlete as well as MMA apparel for fans. Jeremy Thorne has been involved with the company for many years now and thrives in everything MMA.