Shorts
How to Choose Fight Shorts: Cut, Fit and Sizing
Choose the cut from your sport - long and loose for boxing, short and wide for Muay Thai, close-fitting for MMA - then size by your waist measurement in centimetres rather than by the size you wear in everyday clothing. If you fall between two sizes, take the larger one and use the drawstring.
5 min read · Last updated · By KCG Boxing
Key takeaways
- The three cuts are functional, not stylistic: each one protects a different range of movement.
- Size on your waist measurement in centimetres, not your usual clothing size.
- Between two sizes, take the larger one - a drawstring fixes loose, nothing fixes tight.
- Muay Thai shorts are short and wide so the knee can travel fully.
- MMA shorts are the one pair you do not want oversized.
Which cut suits your sport
The three cuts exist for different ranges of movement. Buying the wrong one is not a style mistake; it restricts what you are training to do.
| Cut | Sits at | Leg | Designed around |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boxing shorts | Natural waist | Long, wide opening | Footwork and a high guard |
| Muay Thai shorts | Natural waist | Short, very wide opening | Knees, teeps and high kicks |
| MMA shorts | Lower on the hip | Short, close through the leg | Grappling, where loose fabric is a liability |
General guidance. If your gym or ruleset specifies a cut for competition, that requirement takes priority.
If you train more than one discipline, buy for the one where the restriction would matter most. Muay Thai shorts work acceptably for boxing; boxing shorts genuinely limit a high knee.
Fit, waistband and movement
Shorts should sit secure at the waist or hip without needing to be pulled up mid-round, and the leg should never catch at the top of a kick or a knee.
- The waistband holds without the drawstring at full tension - the drawstring is for fine adjustment, not for making a size fit.
- You can raise a knee to chest height without the hem pulling.
- Nothing bunches at the hip when you change stance.
- For MMA, no loose fabric anywhere a training partner could grip.
Fabric composition, stretch level and waistband construction have not been published for KCG shorts. If a specific property matters for your training, contact the team before ordering rather than assuming.
How to size fight shorts
Measure your waist at its narrowest point above the hip bone, keeping the tape level and snug but not tight, then match the figure to the relaxed waist column.
| Size | Waist (relaxed) | Waist (stretched) | Length | Leg opening |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 70 cm | 90 cm | 40 cm | 30 cm |
| M | 75 cm | 95 cm | 42 cm | 32 cm |
| L | 80 cm | 100 cm | 44 cm | 34 cm |
| XL | 85 cm | 105 cm | 46 cm | 36 cm |
| XXL | 90 cm | 110 cm | 48 cm | - |
Stretched is how far the waistband gives, not a size to aim for. XS is available to order but has no published measurements yet - contact the team for them.
- Measure your waist at its narrowest point, above the hip bone.
- Match the figure to the relaxed waist column.
- If you fall between two sizes, take the larger one.
- Check the cut matches your sport before ordering.
- Confirm the size before you confirm the order - custom pieces are cut after you order.
Club, team and training apparel
A shared design across a squad does more work than most people expect: it makes a group read as a team on camera, at weigh-ins and in a gym full of mixed kit.
One design can be produced across a full range of sizes, and Muay Thai shorts carry a dedicated front name patch so each athlete can have their own name on an otherwise identical pair.
KCG Boxing does not currently list training T-shirts in the product catalogue. Nothing on this page should be read as a claim that a KCG T-shirt exists - contact the team about apparel beyond shorts, rashguards and protective gear.
Read the boxing glove size guide
Frequently asked questions
Which fight shorts should I buy for my sport?
Boxing shorts for boxing, Muay Thai shorts if you kick, MMA shorts if you grapple. The cuts differ in length, leg width and where they sit, and each is built around a different range of movement.
If you cross-train, buy for the discipline where the restriction would matter most - a short, wide cut adapts to boxing far better than a long boxing cut adapts to kicking.
What size should I order if I am between two?
Take the larger size. The drawstring takes up a slightly loose waistband, while one that is too tight is simply unusable.
This is the opposite of the rule for rashguards, which are compression wear and should be sized down.
Why are Muay Thai shorts so short and wide?
So the knee can travel all the way up without the hem catching. Muay Thai runs on knees, teeps and high kicks, and a longer or narrower short physically limits the leg.
The wide leg opening does the same job on roundhouse kicks. It is a functional cut rather than a stylistic one.
Can I wear loose shorts for MMA?
No. Loose fabric is gripped by a training partner and catches on the mat, which is why MMA shorts sit lower and fit closer through the leg than any other cut.
This is the one pair where sizing up "to be comfortable" makes the garment worse at its job.
Can I order matching shorts for a whole gym?
Yes. One shared design can be produced across a full range of sizes, often with each athlete’s own name on the front patch of Muay Thai shorts.
Send the product, quantities and sizes to the team and they will confirm pricing and timing.
Explore more
- Read: Boxing Glove Size Guide
- View: Custom Muay Thai shorts
- View: Custom MMA rashguards
Related guides
- Fight Shorts and Rashguard Size Guide - Measurement tables in cm for shorts and rashguards, how to measure yourself, and which way to round between two sizes.
- How to Choose Shin Guards for Muay Thai, Kickboxing and MMA - Strap-on with an instep pad for Muay Thai and kickboxing, sleeve-style for MMA: coverage, padding, fit and the signs a guard is the wrong size.
- Custom Fight Gear for Gyms and Teams: How to Plan a Club Order - One design, many sizes: how to plan a matching club order, collect sizes that fit and prepare one logo for every product.
- How to Clean Boxing Gloves and Prevent Bad Odours - Wipe after every session, dry fully, never seal them in a bag. The routine that keeps gloves usable and stops odours forming.
Related products
- Custom MMA Shorts - Design custom MMA fight shorts in XS to XXL with eight separately coloured panels and your name or logo printed front and back.
- Custom Muay Thai Shorts - Design custom Muay Thai shorts in XS to XXL, cut short and wide for the knee. Seven coloured zones plus a dedicated front name patch.
- Custom Boxing Shorts - Design custom boxing shorts in XS to XXL, cut long and loose for footwork. Three separately coloured zones: body, side accent and waistband.
View custom fight shorts Pick the cut, then colour every panel and add your name or your club’s in the 3D customizer.
Browse the KCG Boxing Help Center for questions about ordering, artwork, shipping and returns, or see all equipment guides.