Rash Guards

A rash guard is a tight, stretchy top for grappling, wrestling and no-gi rounds. MMA trainees wear one for the grappling side of training, and UK retailer Budo Online lists it among the kit for grappling and no-gi training.

Fit comes first. Many rash guards are cut as compression fits, and sizing varies between makers: Venum, for example, recommends choosing one to two sizes up for its Contender. Check the fabric blend, usually polyester with spandex or elastane for stretch. Also check how the top stays tucked in: some makers add a silicone or rubber waistband, or a loop that anchors to your shorts.

If you compete, check your event's rules. Under IMMAF's January 2021 amateur rules, a rash guard is mandatory in competition and is part of the kit issued at IMMAF tournaments (section 15). Those rules require a tight-fitting rash guard with short sleeves, in red or blue. They do not permit long sleeves, apart from a cultural and religious dispensation for female athletes. UWW's amateur MMA rules require short sleeves above the elbow and at least 70% of your corner colour (Article 1.2). So a long-sleeve rash guard is training kit for MMA.

If you also compete in no-gi jiu-jitsu, IBJJF's uniform rules require a skin-tight top. It must be black, white, or black and white with at least 10% of your belt colour, or entirely in your belt colour. Belt colours are a jiu-jitsu rule: MMA has no belt ranks.