The global MMA Equipment, Merchandise, and Nutrition Market Size was valued at USD 4122.7 million in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 6545.3 million in 2031 at a CAGR of 5.4% from 2023 to 2031.
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a fascinating sport, which involves striking and grappling techniques from various combat sports and martial arts. In 1990, different mixed-style competitions were held in Europe, Japan, and some countries in the Asia-Pacific regions. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American MMA promotion company worldwide that drastically changed the rules due to different fighting styles, threatening health injuries, and aggressive rivalries between competitors.
In December 2014, UFC signed a six-year partnership contract with Reebok as an official provider of outfits for the UFC from July 2015. As per the contract, athletes are not permitted to print outside sponsor logos on apparel during UFC official events.
Mixed martial arts (MMA) has become the fastest-growing sport in the world, with the rising prominence of American promotion company Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). For instance, ESPN estimated that 3.2 million U.S. children registered for MMA classes in 2017. The UFC has been instrumental in standardizing the sport globally. In 2009, regulatory bodies around the world and the U.S. had adopted Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. Today, the restrictive nature of the game has been eliminated, and it has been sanctioned in many countries and across all 50 states of the U.S.
In 2017, UFC generated revenue of around USD 700 million, capturing about 90% of mixed martial arts revenue. Most of the revenue, around 50–60%, is raked from monthly pay per view events. The remaining share of revenue comes from ticket sales to live fights, licensing fees from its shows like ‘The ultimate fighter’ and UFC Fight Night, and merchandise sale of DVDs, T-shirts, and downloads of past bouts.
With the rapidly growing adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT), the demand for connected devices measuring and tracking performance results is witnessing strong growth. The introductions of 3D technology in the mouth guard and smart gloves that can track the performance of punches are some of the prime innovations in equipment. Most of the supplement manufacturing companies are working towards special nutritional elements catering to the needs of MMA fighters. The evolving developments in the equipment and nutrition supplements are expected to witness growth in the market due to the positive results garnering among MMA athletes and other martial art enthusiasts,
For the last decade, the growth of MMA has unprecedented. UFC, the largest division of MMA, is garnering the highest pay per view than other sports. However, some concerns are emerging due to the violent nature of sport and growth in head injuries inflicted on several pugilists. These concerns are calling for a ban of MMA throughout the world. As the sport continues to move forward, it is more likely to continue ensuring the safety of its participants. The evolution in rules and regulations and its confirmation by various countries to legalize the game will combat the consequences to the MMA and other ancillary industries.
| Study Period | 2019-2031 | CAGR | 5.4% |
| Historical Period | 2019-2021 | Forecast Period | 2023-2031 |
| Base Year | 2022 | Base Year Market Size | USD 4122.7 Million |
| Forecast Year | 2031 | Forecast Year Market Size | USD 6545.3 Million |
| Largest Market | North America | Fastest Growing Market | Europe |
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is gaining popularity in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, with the rising number of professional leagues and events. This is mainly attributed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), which mostly holds the biggest MMA stage fighting in the U.S. With MMA sports gaining huge popularity, its merchandise is also experiencing the same trend.
Additionally, the formation of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF), the new Democratic Organization, and UFC has boosted the development of MMA sports worldwide. MMA is the fastest-growing sport in the world and sees incredible potential in Mexico. In November 2016, UFC continued a trend of allowing Mexico to host UFC 180 and UFC 188, further increasing the number of Mexican athlete’s participation in the league. With the increased participation of fighters and efforts by UFC to bring events to the country, MMA is expected to transform the country’s growth within the sport and emerge as a fertile market for international expansion.
MMA has gained significant popularity in the U.K and Russia, owing to an increasing number of homegrown promotions, such as BAMMA and cage warriors that are being broadcasted live on TV, further encouraging active participation of professional players and gyms all over the country.
Currently, Russia is dominating the European MMA market and has also set a record of the maximum audience in an MMA event. In September 2018, the official event of MMA organized by UFC was attended by 22,603 people, the highest ever audience attendance in Russia and fifth-ever for a UFC event worldwide. Additionally, UFC has also formed a joint venture with sovereign wealth funds from Russia, China, and the UAE to promote UFC events in Russia.
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MMA athletes need to develop speed, power, and higher aerobic capacity, which has surged the demand for MMA nutrition supplements. Though it has a relatively small customer base, they are frequent users of such products. As per the data of the Office of Dietary Supplements, a national survey conducted on about 21,000 U.S. college athletes, protein, amino acids, and creatinine are the most used nutrition supplements. Recently, in 2017, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) announced a partnership with Performance Inspired — a nutrition supplements manufacturer — to supply a line of sports supplement to the UFC Performance Institute worth USD 12 million.
In several countries in the region, the pandemic brought a lockout. Initially, classrooms, hospitals, public places, and offices, including the manufacturing industry, were briefly shut down. All the competitions, such as the UFC, were postponed or canceled to maintain social distancing. Further, the temporary shutdown of production cycles has limited the utilization of MMA Equipment, Merchandise, and Nutrition.
