A fighter who adds grappling to MMA training does not gear up the same way as for striking. The gi, no-gi kit, ear protection and mats each answer a specific need, covered piece by piece below.
Grappling volume varies a lot between a fighter who drills takedowns and clinch control twice a week and one who trains full BJJ sessions daily, and the kit should scale with that volume rather than being bought all at once. A beginner can start with a rash guard, spats and a mouthguard, then add a gi, ear guards, a dedicated bag and home equipment as sessions become more frequent.
The gi, for traditional ground work
The gi remains the most common entry point into grappling, even for an MMA athlete who will never compete in a judogi. The first choice is fabric weight. A lightweight jacket around 380 gsm in a pearl weave suits daily training and IBJJF-rules competition, including in heated rooms. A heavier gi, above 450 gsm, holds up better against repeated grips and sleeve control but runs hotter over a long session.
Hyperfly, for instance, makes the Hyperlyte, a 380 gsm pearl weave jacket paired with 8 oz twill pants, IBJJF-legal and built for both training and competition. The full breakdown on fabric weight and sizing is in our grappling gi buying guide.
See price on AmazonSpats and rash guard, for no-gi training
Most grappling sessions tied to MMA happen without a gi, in spats and a rash guard, a kit closer to what fighters wear in the cage. The rash guard limits mat burn during ground friction and wicks sweat, while spats (full-length leggings) cover the legs for the same reason and make leg entries easier without catching bare skin.
Scramble sells the Kneeon, a compression spat made from 80% polyester and 20% spandex, with sublimated graphics that resist fading after repeated washes. The category rankings remain the most reliable way to compare available models: MMA spats ranking by brand and MMA rash guards ranking by brand.
See price on AmazonA mouthguard, non-negotiable from the first sparring round
MMA grappling regularly mixes standing work with fast transitions to the ground, carrying a real risk of a head or elbow clash in the clinch. A boil-and-bite or custom mouthguard is the minimum protection for any sparring session, even pure grappling, and should be replaced as soon as it warps or tears. The full comparison sits in our MMA mouthguard ranking by brand.
See price on AmazonEar guards, for repeated clinch contact
Ears take a large share of the friction in clinch work and on the ground, and repeated impact over time encourages cauliflower ear. RDX makes a dedicated model, the T1 MMA Grappling Ear Guard, built with a hard plastic shell, internal foam that absorbs and spreads impact, a vented design to cut down on overheating, and a hook-and-loop strap for the fit.
This kind of protection stays optional for an occasional grappler but becomes worth adding once clinch and ground volume climbs across the week.
See price on AmazonThe belt, a rank marker rather than a recurring purchase
A gi belt tracks rank inside a club affiliated with a Brazilian jiu-jitsu or judo federation, and does not change for comfort. It is usually bought directly through the club or the instructor, who signs off on the promotion, rather than from a general retailer. An MMA athlete who grapples recreationally, outside any federation, can skip it and train in spats or a gi without a ranked belt.
A plain white belt sold separately works fine for someone training without affiliation, and most gi brands bundle a matching belt with the jacket and pants at purchase, so a separate buy is rarely needed outside of a formal promotion.
A gym bag, for carrying the full kit
A complete grappling kit, a damp gi, spats, a mouthguard and ear guards, calls for a bag with a vented or sealed compartment kept apart from everything else. The gym bag ranking by brand compares volume and compartment layouts based on training frequency.
See price on AmazonMats and a grappling dummy, for training at home or in a club
To drill sequences outside class hours, a dense floor mat prevents mat burn and cushions falls, while a grappling dummy allows transitions and submissions to be repeated without a partner. Both purchases mainly concern clubs equipping a room or athletes setting up a training corner at home.
The matching comparisons: MMA mats ranking by brand and grappling dummy ranking by brand. For a full gym build-out, our home gym equipment guide for MMA training covers the rest of the shared equipment.
See price on AmazonDo you need a gi for MMA grappling?
No. Grappling applied to MMA is mostly trained no-gi, in spats and a rash guard. The gi stays useful for working grips and defense against a gi-wearing opponent, a rarer scenario in competition but a common one in mixed clubs.
Are ear guards essential for grappling?
They are not mandatory for an occasional session, but they cut the risk of cauliflower ear once clinch and ground control volume rises across several sessions a week.
What is the difference between spats and gi pants?
Spats are stretch-fabric leggings worn without a gi, for no-gi training. Gi pants are made from heavy woven cotton, built to withstand grips, and worn with the gi jacket.
