Can You Get a Black Belt in MMA? If Not, Then Why?

Can you get a black belt in MMA? If you’re looking for answers, you’ve come to the right place. All will be explained in detail in this article.

Achieving a black belt in any martial art is very respectable, and all boxers achieve a black belt in their lifetime; it is a great honor for them.

Anyone in the martial arts world has heard of the Judo black belt, Jiu-Jitsu black belt, black karate belt and knows the importance of the rank/belt system in these martial arts.

But with mixed martial arts becoming one of the popular martial arts worldwide, will there be a belt system for MMA fighters? And can you get a black belt in MMA? This is also a ubiquitous question of many people who want to approach this sport. So if you are looking for belts and ranks in MMA, look no further than this article!

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Can You Get a Black Belt in MMA?

The short answer to the question is no. MMA doesn’t have a standard belt system because it’s not inherently a style. It is a sport that fighters practice in many different styles, as MMA is a sport that has its roots in the skills and techniques used in many other martial arts.

Therefore, it does not have a belt or a rating system. However, you may find some martial arts clubs offer their own belt system for MMA, but as it is not a standard, it will not be recognized by any other martial arts organization.

MMA fighters will be granted championship belts when winning competitions in different weight classes. Such as a light or heavyweight championship belt. MMA championship belts are not like the classification belts in martial arts classes.

Instead, it’s like a championship trophy that you will need to eliminate all the opponents in the competition to win.

Why Are There No Belts For MMA?

As mentioned above, MMA is a combat sport in which two fighters in the ring will have to try to beat each other using attacking techniques, finishing holds, and control. Both fighters can use martial arts techniques, including kicks, punches, throws, chokes, takedowns, and joint-locks to win.

MMA does not rank fighters according to belt color because it is a combination of many different martial arts; the match can have one person being a black belt in karate and the other being a purple belt in BJJ.

On the other hand, in the MMA arena, there is also the presence of a professional wrestler, a boxer without a belt or with a black belt or a black belt in Judo, etc.

Therefore, there is no way to standardize all of that and create a rating system that matches fighters’ skills competing in an MMA competition.

So, if you’ve been looking to get a black belt in your MMA training and competition, we’re sorry to disappoint you, as MMA currently doesn’t have a belt system. Maybe shortly, someone will set standards for this martial art to divide ranks by belt color, but it will probably be a long time.

You can watch the video below to understand why MMA doesn’t have a belt system:

A Belt Ranking System for MMA is the worst idea ever!

How Are Ranks In MMA Divided?

MMA fighters are divided into 2 main groups: Amateur and Professional. Athletes were also ranked in different weight classes, from flyweight (up to 125 pounds) to heavyweight (206-265 pounds). There is also a strawweight category for female athletes.

Most of the show’s organizers will match opponents based on achievements and experience to make the matches more balanced and fair. Therefore, there will never be a case where a boxer with a 10-0 record plays against someone with a 2-3 record.

Therefore, although there is no ranking according to the belt system, MMA competitions are still very fair, and each fighter can estimate his own experience.

Do You Need To Be a Black Belt To Compete In MMA?

Of course not! You won’t need to have a black belt in any martial art to compete in MMA. Whether a white belt in judo or a green belt in taekwondo can participate in MMA competitions.

Honestly, you won’t need a belt in the martial arts system to compete in MMA. In fact, there are many fighters who have won MMA without any belt.

Moreover, having a black belt is not considered necessary in MMA because it combines many different martial arts. Therefore, a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu can still be defeated by a fighter without a black belt.

Mixed martial arts has only been in development for over 30 years, so it still needs to be improved by year, and the MMA classification system could be a way to enhance this martial art in the future.

The Bottom Line

By now, you probably know “can you get a black belt in MMA” or not and why MMA doesn’t rank by belt color. So, in short, a fighter with a black belt can participate in MMA, but a fighter who still promotes MMA does not necessarily have to have a black belt.

Many boxers never wear their belts in their competitive career because the belt is not really necessary to compete, and many people have a negative view because of the color of the belt.

You should know that a black belt is just a designation at the end of the day. Not all martial arts apply to level by belt color. Whether you can achieve the rank you want or not depends on your efforts.

We hope that the information we provide in this article will be helpful to you and do not forget to visit our website for even more helpful information.