Want to get started in MMA but worried about the cost? To help, I’ve done the research of top MMA gyms in the USA to tell you what to expect.
Single MMA classes typically cost $20-30 or come with a free trial and unlimited monthly memberships at a top tier MMA gym usually cost $199 (USA).
Keep reading to see the details and actual costs with some of the USA’s most reputable mixed martial arts gyms.
Note: The pricing details provided for each gym were accurate at the time of update. They could change and you should contact each gym directly to get the latest info.
Table of Contents
Single MMA class prices
Most single MMA clsses cost between $20-30 as a non-member or offer a free trial class.
Some MMA gyms might offer a week pass as a completely free trial and others for around $75—though data is limited for these.
| Gym | Day Pass Cost | Week Pass Cost |
|---|---|---|
| American Kickboxing Academy | $25 | $75 |
| Kings MMA | Free Trial (1st) | N/A |
| Roufusport | Free Trial (1st) then $35 | N/A |
| Team Quest Portland | N/A | Free Trial (1st wk) |
| Team Sityodtong | $30 | N/A |
| Anonymous Gym in Houston* | $20 | N/A |
Some gyms are open to the public and allow drop-ins while others might require you to sign up for a full membership.
But this can be rare except for the most elite and reputable gyms.
American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) is one of the rare elite level gyms that has public access with daily, weekly and monthly training options.
Monthly MMA gym membership prices
Most monthly memberships to an MMA gym cost around $199 per month.
Several gyms will offer differently priced packages for grappling or striking only program access.
But in the data I’ve collected, I’m focusing entirely on unlimited access memberships.
| Gym | Monthly Membership Cost |
|---|---|
| AMC MMA | $199.95 |
| American Kickboxing Academy | $249* |
| American Top Team (Coral Springs) | $250** |
| Cesar Gracie Academy | $150 |
| Chicago MMA | $199 |
| Kings MMA | $305* |
| Roufusport | $189** |
| Team Quest Portland | $189 |
| Team Sityodtong | $199 |
| Xtreme Couture | $195 |
An average of these monthly membership rates is around $265 considering lower and higher rates.
You can expect to pay closer to the median of $199 for an unlimited monthly membership with a top MMA gym.
Prices could change dramatically between major cities and states so keep that in mind.
Choosing a single martial art to train in
My research here has focused on unlimited access to all classes inside an MMA gym, which usually means having access to different martial arts like:
- Boxing
- Muay Thai or Kickboxing
- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- Wrestling
If you’re considering MMA for self-defense, it’s important to understand whether MMA is a viable option and fits your needs.
Some martial arts gyms that offer the whole package can also offer membership packages for a single martial arts program/schedule or separating striking and grappling.
For example, Roufusport (in Milwaukee, WI) offers:
- Striking or grappling for $139 per month (6 month commitment required)—striking includes boxing & kickboxing, grappling includes Gi & No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) offers:
- Gym use for $59 per month
- Kickboxing only for $169 per month
- Jiu-Jitsu only for $199 per month
- All programs for $249 per month
Another one is Team Quest Portland that offer:
- Single discipline (striking or grappling) for $169 per month
- All disciplines for $189 per month
You might consider one martial art or discipline to start off with and hone your abilities while making training a bit more manageable.
I’d recommend starting with a striking martial art for MMA that you enjoy the most and specializing before adding in grappling.
Associated costs of MMA
Your membership fee to your chosen MMA gym is only one cost to consider.
If you’re going to be training regularly, then it makes sense to buy your own gear. What and how much you need can depend on your level of training.
When just training in a single martial art, you might need just a few bits of kit.
But when getting involved in mixed martial arts and especially sparring, you’ll need much more:
- Boxing—boxing gloves, hand wraps, headgear, groin protector and a mouthguard
- Muay Thai—boxing gloves, hand wraps, shin guards, groin cup and a mouthguard
- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu—Gi or rashguards (for No-Gi) and a mouthguard
- MMA—boxing gloves, MMA gloves, MMA headgear, hand wraps, shin guards, elbow guards, groin cup and a mouthguard
Mixed martial arts can be a heavy investment early-on if you are dedicated for the full training experience.
And it could take a long while before that money returns, if you want to make a career out of it.
Average salaries compared to top MMA fighters shows that the elite fighters can earn a crazy amount, but the low-level MMA athletes don’t earn much at all.
Comparing to a regular gym
A regular fitness gym in the USA costs around $50 for a monthly membership.
With the cost of MMA classes being over a $100+ difference, it’s easy to think of them as overpriced.
But the differences are quite large when comparing the skill level of instruction and, sometimes, the facilities available too.
A regular fitness gym may have:
- Free weights
- Machines
- Floor space
- Showers
- Sauna/plunge/etc
- Classes
The fitness classes on offer in your average gym are arguably of a low quality since the instructors may have a short certification period to become a trainer and not actually have deep experience in their field.
In comparison to a reputable mixed martial arts gym, the coaches are mostly active or ex fighters that have had significant experience preparing for their own fights and helping teammates with their own.
The classes on offer are often varied and provided by an expert in their field (boxing, wrestling, BJJ, or other) and a “martial arts” class in a fitness gym is likely to be very poor.
A professional MMA coach would typically have several years of their own career inside the cage and move into coaching at a later age once their physical ability drops with age.
Although the fee for an MMA gym can be much higher than a regular fitness gym, the deep experience in coaching can make membership very valuable.
And plenty of mixed martial arts gyms are expanding their facilities and can offer all the same facilities you expect from a regular gym, so you can get in your weights, cardio and restoration inside your membership.
A decent MMA gym is often the best way for a beginner to get started in MMA as they’ll get the proper coaching to overcome the many mistakes that newcomers make in combat sports.
My MMA gym research
I contacted several of the top MMA gyms in America to ask them about their pricing.
A fair few of them have their pricing information already on their website but occasionally I had to reach out directly to get it.
Gyms often have multiple pricing tiers depending on their offering, but unless otherwise noted these prices are all:
- Adult prices (gyms often have kids programs but aren’t included here)
- For non-members (public, not requiring to join up)
- Outside of a contract (some of these gyms pricing gets cheaper if you sign up for 3, 6, or 12 months)
- Unlimited access to all class types (or as close as possible)
Some mixed martial arts gyms didn’t wish to provide public details about their pricing and you need to speak with them directly.
Tell them what you’re looking for and then they may want to ‘qualify’ you as someone genuinely interested in joining up.
They likely don’t want to be undercut by the competition but also to retain the premium status—most of the gyms I contacted are training some of the world’s best MMA fighters.