The 11 Best cups and groin protectors for MMA fighters
Despite MMA fighters being some of the most mentally and physically tough people on the planet, there is one weakness. Well, this is actually a weakness for male fighters and doesn’t apply to females. Specifically, we’re talking about the groin area – and specifically the testicles.
It doesn’t matter if you’re the toughest guy to ever walk the earth. If you get hit hard enough in this area, it will drop you. Some men even go as far as to say as getting hit in the testicles is the worst pain imaginable. In short, nothing compares and it can almost temporarily paralyze you as it’s that bad. In this sense, it almost acts like a mini-liver shot. Sometimes, MMA fighters haven’t worn cups and have been winning fights, only to get dropped from a groin shot and never go on to recover.
When it comes to MMA fighting, this problem has thankfully been solved and MMA fighters can go about their business in peace. This is because cups are fully legal and will protect your private parts from taking any substantial damage. It doesn’t matter whether you fight in a backwater, local MMA promotion, or the UFC – as a male you are allowed to wear protective cups. This will ensure that you don’t suffer any unfortunate mishaps whilst fighting. In this article, we have reviewed a list of the best cups for MMA fighters.
Table of Contents
Things to look for when buying MMA cups
Cost
One of the first things that people look for when buying anything is the cost. This is a dilemma that everyone has to make. For instance, you’ll want the cheapest cup possible but you won’t want to sacrifice its quality either. Thankfully, there is a happy middle ground to be had. Thankfully, cups aren’t too expensive, to begin with.
Comfort
Comfort is arguably the second most important aspect of wearing a cup. It kind of defeats its purpose if the cup digs into your legs and feels clunky whilst you’re training. In other words, the ideal cup shouldn’t be able to be felt during sparring. Like wearing a good mouthguard, it should be something that’s not even thought about.
Durability
The most important point of owning a cup is its durability. By durability, we mean two things. The first is that it can survive strikes from sparring partners. There’s no point having a cup if it doesn’t protect your groin from hits. Most cups are made from steel or polypropylene which can both take a literal beating. The second part of durability is the ability to last several years. This means the ability to survive washing and various hits over time.
Meister Carbon Flex Groin Cup
Made with Polypropylene, this groin cup offers protection and mobility. This is because it’s durable enough whilst also weighing a mere 0.2kgs. In other words, if you train whilst wearing this then you won’t even notice that you’re wearing it most of the time.
It also has three ventilation holes which is important for hygiene whilst also having rubber edges for comfort. Overall, this groin guard ticks all the boxes, and what’s even nicer is that it’s competitively priced as well.
Hayabusa Steel Armoured Cup
One of the best names associated with martial arts is the Hayabusa brand. In other words, you know the quality will be decent when it comes to their products. This is certainly the case with their steel armored cup. As you may have figured, there’s not much better than steel to protect your groin area.
A quirk of this cup is that it uses ties to hold it in place. If you’ve used one of these styles of cups before then this may be a positive. Arguably, this system is more secure than using a regular jockstrap anyway and ultimately it serves its purpose of protecting your assets!
Fairtex GC2 Cup
Another classic martial arts brand is Fairtex. Once again, they don’t disappoint. Like the Hayabusa cup, this is inspired by old-school Muay Thai cups which are based on the tie system (tieing string around your legs to hold the guard in place).
This is also made from steel and also has padding on the outskirts. In general, you get what you pay for with this, so if you want to be assured a quality product – then the GC2 is a very good option. Unlike other cups, this uses one, large tie method, rather than multiple strings. In all honesty, it’s quite easy to use once you get the hang of it.
Venum Challenger Groin Guard And Support Cup
As Venum is the official sponsor of the UFC, this means that you know their cups are going to be good quality. This particular Venum cup also comes attached to a jockstrap. The jockstrap is also pretty thin and lightweight, so you can easily fit your underwear over and train in peace.
If you break it down, this is also a pretty good deal as it’s effectively two products in one as well. Put simply, if this product is good enough for the likes of Conor McGregor and other elite MMA fighters, it should be good enough for you too!
Shock Doctor Ultra Pro Carbon Flex Athletic Cup
The Shock Doctor Ultra Pro has a hard exterior to protect your groin, whilst it also has a gel under layer which means it’s comfortable on your skin as well as being durable. Unlike certain cups, this is also shaped more realistically which adds to the comfort levels as well, and actually fits as it should.
Over the years, Shock Doctor has earned a solid reputation when it comes to MMA cups as well, so you don’t need to worry about where quality is concerned.
Windy Ringside Traditional Steel Cup
If you’re after an old-school cup then this is the one for you. Made from steel with a padded exterior, this has three ties to keep it in place. Originally, this design was from boxing and has been used by boxers for hundreds of years. In other words, this design has lasted the test of time and is very durable. If it’s good enough for the likes of Mike Tyson and Tyson Fury, it should be good enough for you! Even though this style may be from a throwback era, it’s still 0.45 pounds which means you don’t have to worry about its practicality.
Champion Sports Athletic Cup (budget option)
Coming in at under $5, this is a very inexpensive groin guard for those who are in the market for a budget option. Although you may be put off by the price, don’t worry – it really is a bargain and the quality is solid.
As seen, this also has breathable holes which are useful when training to allow fresh air to get to your groin. This will stop the possibility of jock itch developing and keep things less dirty and unhygienic. It also has a cushioned edge which means it stays comfortable during those hard training sessions.
Diamond MMA Groin Protector (best pick)
Arguably the best cup you can get for MMA is the Diamond groin protector. It’s fair to say that Diamond specializes in cups so if you want the very best, then Diamond offers it. The diamond cup is incredibly comfy whilst also being very sturdy as well. In short, it’s everything that you could ask for when it comes to groin protection.
The one downside of the Diamond cup is that it’s priced higher than others on this list. Regardless, if you have the budget to afford it, then the Diamond cup should be your top priority. Built to last, this will last for years and is a no-nonsense product.
MC David Flexcup
MC David is a brand best associated with knee braces and other quality products that make sport activities easier to do. In terms of MMA, they also offer decent groin guards too. Made from Polypropylene, this cup is built to withstand a lot of hits. It’s also fitted with five breathable air holes.
Generally, most cups don’t have this amount which means if you sweat a lot, then this could be a solution to your problems. Not only this but it’s also one of the cheapest groin guards on our list which means it’s a worthy consideration.
CoolOMG Protective Shorts With Protective Cup
If you’re after something a little different, then the CoolOMG cup may be what you’re after. This is because it comes in-built into a pair of sliding shorts. In other words, you won’t need to buy a separate jock strap or underwear to hold your cup in place.
On the face of it, the underwear just looks like a regular pair of briefs. However, they’re fitted with a slot to put your cup into. This means that you don’t have to waste time fitting it before training. The underwear is actually really comfortable as well which is a big plus. Priced reasonably, this should be a serious consideration.
Shock Doctor Air Core Hard Cup
Made from Polyester, this groin protector not only defends your body but is also lightweight and doesn’t feel particularly invasive either. Priced competitively, it’s a good choice for those who don’t feel as comfortable wearing a steel cup as well.
In other words, this is something a bit different from the norm. For some reason, it also has a camo design which doesn’t really seem that relevant because no one is going to see it whilst it’s in use! On a final note, as this is made by Shock Doctor, you can rest assured that the quality will be spot on.
Cups are worn in other martial arts
It’s not just MMA where cups are worn to protect the groin area. As previously mentioned, cups have also been worn for many years in both Muay Thai and boxing. This makes sense, especially where clinching is common as knees can accidentally hit the area. It’s also very common to wear cups in martial arts where kicks to the lower body are commonplace, for obvious reasons.
Because of this, cups are actually used in practically every striking martial art, such as Taekwondo, Karate, Combat Sambo, and more. Remember, it’s not compulsory to wear a cup but you may as well wear one for the sake of safety.
How to wear an MMA cup
This may sound odd to experienced fighters but if you’re new to wearing cups then they can be a little complicated (depending on the design). Basically, there are two ways to wear a cup. The first is to use a jock strap which is a separate item. Here, you should place the cup over your private parts, then immediately put the jock strap over the cup. The design of the jock strap is that it’s naturally tight, so it will keep the cup in place. As seen with the CoolOMG cup, this comes with built-in underwear which effectively acts as a jockstrap, to begin with.
Alternatively, you can use older-style cups that don’t need a jockstrap. These come with strings that can be tied around the back of your legs. Imagine tying up a boxing glove with the strings to make it fit onto your hands correctly. These cups work in a similar way. If you’re still confused, there are plenty of videos on the subject.
How to clean an MMA cup
Any MMA cup worth its money will be able to survive a standard machine wash. Just remember, not to put the wash on too high in terms of temperature as this could damage the cup if it’s too hot. Alternatively, you could wash them by hand if you desired as well.
After this, you should then dry your cup as you would for normal items of clothing. What’s worth noting is that you should always clean your cup after training. As you can imagine, training will get very sweaty and your groin is often one of the sweatiest parts of the human body. Because of this, your cup will get dirty and full of germs pretty quickly. Like washing your other MMA gear, your cup should also be washed regularly to avoid a build-up of bacteria.
