Mixed Martial Arts: These Web Sites Will Knock You Out
Bruce Lee played around with the idea of mixed martial arts (MMA) and fused elements of kung fu, street fighting, and American boxing to create his own style, called Jeet Kune Do. MMA has skyrocketed in popularity since then, and the more recent success of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has spurred the formation of a number of different MMA leagues. As a result, the Internet is sprawling with MMA Web sites for news, commentary, blogs, forums, and equipment. This guide helps you make sense of it all and highlights the sport’s best online resources.
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Technically, all you need for MMA is your body. But if you want the learning curve to be a little less painful, you should buy some equipment. Whether you’re looking for boxing gloves, pads, dummies, or kimonos, we’ve found the Web sites that have what you need. Or if you have no desire to be in a chokehold and would rather show off your passion for the sport while you watch the professionals beat each other up, there are plenty of sites to find MMA apparel and memorabilia.
- If you want apparel specific to a certain league, like the UFC or IFL, the best place to buy it is usually at that league’s Web site, listed in the “Where can I find information on MMA leagues?” section of this guide.
- The online versions of brick-and-mortar stores often stock a significantly larger variety of goods than their physical counterparts. Because many offer options for free shipping, shopping for sports equipment on the Web can be both time- and cost-efficient.
- The first group of sites listed in this section sell similar equipment and apparel, and the differences among them are negligible. We’ve provided a few options so you have a thorough selection.
- For information on larger sports retailers that sell equipment and apparel for multiple sports, and for guidelines on buying sports memorabilia online, look to our findingDulcinea Sports Web Guide.
For equipment and apparel …
SSFgear.com
, also known as Scientific Street Fighting, carries gear for MMA and other related martial arts. Look for products like gi/kimonos, gloves, and supplements. The site advertises that its gear has been worn by athletes from the UFC, Pride, and Shooto leagues, and Spike TV’s
The Ultimate Fighter.
CheapBoxing.com
specializes in boxing and MMA equipment like punching bags, boxing gloves and gear, karate gear, headgear, even gear for women. Check the “
Specials” page for great discounts. The Web site is easy enough to navigate, and the selection is extensive.
Combat Sports International
has a wide selection of MMA supplies. Buy small items such as boxing gloves and bigger items such as dummies: an impressive variety is available, including Legged Grappling Dummies, Thai-Clinch Training Dummies, and Throwing Dummies. If you’re loyal to a particular brand, try using the “Shop Brands” link on the left; rest your cursor on the link to expand the list of available brands.
MMAMuscle.com
is one of the few sites that specialize only in MMA equipment. You’ll find products similar to the ones offered on the previous sites but this site does offer a few things that are new and different; for example, it has a number of
Cryogels for relieving pain and inflammation.
For memorabilia …
MMA Posters
specializes in posters but offers other collectibles as well. Though each item is described in great detail, this site is decidedly amateur: to order, you must send an e-mail to the site creator and ask if the requested items are available. If they are, you can pay using Paypal or a money order but credit cards are not accepted. What MMA Posters lacks in sophistication, though, it gains in sheer enthusiasm for the sport: the site also features a
blog and a
museum dedicated to MMA memorabilia.
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