We make both. Our Muay Thai shorts and our MMA shorts are cut, sewn, and tested in the same Thai workshops, and they are completely different garments. If you've ever wondered why one has wide slits and the other doesn't, whether you can train in either, or why your usual size fits one and not the other, this is the straight answer on the difference between Muay Thai shorts and MMA shorts.
What's the difference at a glance?
| Muay Thai shorts | MMA shorts | |
|---|---|---|
| Cut | Short, high on the thigh, wide side slits | Longer, fitted, no side slits |
| Fabric | 100% MicroSatin (microfiber–satin blend) | Semi-stretch PolySpandex |
| Waistband | Wide elastic | Anti-slip with internal drawstring |
| Sizing | Asian sizing (runs small, size up one) | Standard Western sizing |
| Built for | Striking: kicks, knees, teeps | Striking plus grappling and ground work |
| Pockets | None | None, pocketless to meet tournament standards |
How is the cut different?
Muay Thai shorts are deliberately short and loose. The traditional Thai cut sits high on the thigh with extra-wide side slits, so nothing binds at the hem when you throw a head kick, and nothing restricts a knee at full extension. It's the same cut Thai fighters have worn in the stadiums for generations. Shorts like these are what the legends fought in, because the cut disappears when you strike.
MMA shorts run longer and closer to the leg, with no side slits. That's not fashion; it's function. In a sport with wrestling and ground exchanges, loose fabric and open slits give your opponent something to grab and give referees something to complain about. Our MMA shorts use a stretch crotch panel instead of slits to keep kicking mobility without the loose material.
What are they made of?
Our Muay Thai shorts are 100% MicroSatin, our own blend of microfiber and satin. It keeps the sheen and drape of the traditional satin shorts Thailand is known for, with the durability and quick-dry of modern microfiber, built for twice-a-day sessions in real Thai humidity.
Our MMA shorts are semi-stretch PolySpandex with an Aeroflex stretch panel and an anti-slip waistband with an internal drawstring. The fabric holds its position through grappling exchanges, where a satin short would slide and twist. Both are handmade in Thailand and machine washable. For satin care specifics, see our guide on how to clean Muay Thai shorts.
Do Muay Thai shorts and MMA shorts use the same sizing?
No, and this is the mistake we see most. Our Muay Thai shorts follow Asian sizing, which runs smaller than Western labels; if you're between sizes, size up one. Our MMA shorts and apparel use standard Western sizing, so order those in your usual size. The same fighter will often wear a Large in Thai shorts and a Medium in MMA shorts. Check the Muay Thai shorts size chart and the MMA shorts size chart before ordering; both list height and weight ranges.
Can you grapple in Muay Thai shorts?
You can, but they're not made for it. Satin-feel fabric slides against mats, wide slits expose the leg during shots and scrambles, and an elastic-only waistband can shift under a wrestler's grip. That's exactly why MMA shorts exist: gripped waistband, stretch panel, fitted leg, nothing loose to grab. If your training includes takedowns, ground work, or BJJ rounds, wear MMA shorts; ours are IBJJF approved and pocketless to meet tournament standards. If your session is pads, bags, clinch, and sparring on your feet, Thai shorts are the better tool.
Do competitions require a specific short?
Usually, yes, and it's worth checking before fight night. Muay Thai bouts in Thailand's stadiums are fought in the traditional Thai cut, and most international Muay Thai promotions expect the same; showing up in board shorts marks you as an outsider before the first bell. MMA rulesets go the other way: promotions require fitted, pocketless shorts with no zippers or loose material an opponent could catch. Grappling tournaments are stricter still about approved gear; our MMA shorts are IBJJF approved and pocketless to meet those standards. The safe rule: fight in the garment your ruleset was built around, and confirm gear requirements with your promotion or federation when you sign the bout agreement.
Which holds up better in daily training?
Both are handmade in Thailand and machine washable, so this comes down to what your training throws at them. MicroSatin was chosen for twice-a-day Muay Thai schedules in Thai humidity: it dries fast between sessions and the microfiber side of the blend takes constant washing far better than the pure satin of old-school shorts. PolySpandex earns its keep under friction from mats, wrestling exchanges, and ground work, where a satin short would abrade and twist. Neither is delicate, but they fail differently: Thai shorts die by fading and seam stress from years of kicks, MMA shorts by losing stretch. Wash both gently, inside out with mild soap, and air-dry indoors away from direct sun; either will outlast most of your training partners. Full care steps are in our washing guide.
Which should you wear for kickboxing?
Either works: kickboxing has no grappling, so the choice is cut preference. Plenty of fighters compete in Thai-cut shorts under kickboxing and K-1 rules; the wide slits and light MicroSatin give unrestricted range for low kicks and switch kicks. If you prefer a longer, fitted feel, MMA shorts do the job too. For the differences between the sports themselves, see Muay Thai vs kickboxing.
Can you wear MMA shorts for Muay Thai?
For training, yes. Nobody at a Thai gym will stop you from hitting pads in MMA shorts. For competition, expect the traditional cut: Muay Thai bouts in Thailand and most traditional promotions are fought in Thai-cut shorts, and many gyms treat them as part of the sport's identity, alongside the mongkol and prajiad. If Muay Thai is your main sport, train in the shorts you'll fight in; the cut changes how kicks and knees feel at full range.
The bottom line
Pick by what your training actually looks like. Mostly striking (pads, bags, clinch, Thai rounds): Muay Thai shorts, sized one up. Mixed sessions with wrestling or ground work: MMA shorts, in your normal size. Training both seriously? You'll end up with both in your bag; most of our fighters do. And if you're weighing the two sports rather than the two shorts, start with Muay Thai vs MMA.
