First off, I will be basing my entire knowledge of MMA on my HIIT instructor: he puts us through the class like he actually hates us, so I can only assume it attracts tough nuts and lunatics. The Cage Shorts from Under Armour have been created specifically with MMA in mind and have tried to create a tough, light and stretchy fit to let you freely move around.

Featuring a slightly slimmer fit than your average shorts, they claim to have the same “next-to-skin without the squeeze” design we have seen many times with Under Armour gear, however it isn’t as close as the other protects. These aren’t compression shorts and don’t have a close fit like the tights would and you certainly don’t have to worry about the squeeze.

The cage shorts have a tight and durable woven fabric, ideal for intense workouts and rolling around on the floor, there are mesh side panels for strategic ventilation, and the UA four way stretch construction allows for completely free movement of the legs, no matter what direction you attempt to contort yourself into. To keep you covered when you get your sweat on (yes, we are talking about butt sweat here), the light and thin material (89% Polyester and 11% Elastane) wicks reasonable well and dries out quickly.

As I mentioned at the beginning, I don’t know a lot about MMA and the rules they enforce when it comes to competing. However, I was under the impression that, due to the close contact nature of the sport, pockets are a no-no, due to the risk of injury to fingers getting caught, and as metal (also on the shorts) is banned too, I wonder if the plastic tips on the draw string (rather than a knot or stitched over finish) would pose a risk too. I will leave that to the pros.

The two large pockets can be useful for training, whilst the encased elastic waistband with internal drawcord will help maintain a secure fit. The Cage Shorts are available in Black, Gray, Red and Navy in sizes S-XXL. We found the short a lightweight, comfortable garment, with a 20cm inseam for a flattering, practical finish. As for whether they would be suitable for MMA…we remain undecided. RRP £36

3.9 out of 5

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Pros

Lightweight

Wicking

Ventilation

Comfortable

Flexible

Pockets

Cons

Not 100% sure its MMA compatible