Market Trends of Mixed Martial Arts Equipment Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the Mixed Martial Arts Equipment Market according to our research experts:
Rising number of people participating in combat sports
Mixed Martial Arts, or MMA, is rapidly making a transition from being a minority sport to becoming the mainstream sport as UFC fighters Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey have become household names. Even though Mixed Martial Arts only emerged in the 1990s, its growth has been phenomenal; it has become one of the fastest-growing sports in the world in the last decade. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association released a report which concludes that the number of participants in mixed martial arts (MMA) competition in the United States has increased to 1.03 million in 2021 from 0.98 million in 2018. In recent years the participation rate is increasing at a rapid pace due to the rising popularity of MMA around the world. The rise of women's MMA has also been dramatic. Having only introduced women's divisions in 2012, UFC has also massively grown the popularity of WMMA. Additionally, the participation rate in other combat sports such as boxing is also rising globally. For instance, according to Sports England Data, the number who participated in boxing increased to 7,74,500 in 2020 from 6,72,100 in 2016.
Moreover, rising health awareness and an active lifestyle are boosting the demand for combat sports in the region as a fitness program. Traditionally, in developing countries, combat sports involve striking, such as boxing, or grappling, such as wrestling. In MMA, a popular combat sport, grappling and striking both are involved. It is taking some time for these disciplines to gain acceptance as full-fledged professional sports, despite their growing popularity as fitness alternatives.
Europe is the Fastest Growing Region
Among all the markets in the world, the Mixed Martial Arts Equipment Market in Europe is experiencing the fastest growth. This is not only due to the fact that sports participation is rising in the region, but also because health awareness is rising at an increasing rate. Morover, combat sports are becoming increasingly popular, as well as consumer spending on sports goods in the region is also increasing. In recent years, the MMA market has experienced tremendous growth due to the explosion in television, social media, and internet popularity in the region. Moreover, the mixed martial art equipment market has been growing due to modern distribution methods and e-commerce expansion. As well as keeping up with the latest trends and consumer demands, manufacturers can gain insight into them through social media and blogs. Additionally, there has been an increase in the demand for fitness centers as a result of an increase in the population of fitness enthusiasts. Europeactive 2022 data shows there were 63,173 fitness clubs in 2021, up from 61,984 in 2018. During the forecast period, mixed martial art equipment demand is expected to increase due to an increase in sports infrastructure.
