UFCBlack and redLong knitOne size
The essentials: black long beanie with the UFC lettering printed very large: white letters shot through with red splashes, repeated on both faces of the beanie. Long cut with no cuff, one size. €29, free delivery.
Three letters that changed the vocabulary
Before the Ultimate Fighting Championship, a practitioner introduced himself by his discipline: judoka, wrestler, boxer, karateka. The organisation imposed one word that covers them all - the fighter - and with it the idea that a single athlete works standing and on the ground in the same session.
You can see the result in gyms today: the heavy bag, the skipping rope and boxing gloves have become common tools for people who never step into a ring. That is what a UFC beanie worn to training says: not a discipline, a way of training.
What is on the beanie
Plain black ground. The UFC lettering takes the full width of the side, in thick square-cornered white capitals, spattered with red - irregular marks that fill the inside of the letters without running over the edges. The design is repeated identically on the other face, head to tail.
At three metres the three letters read at once; the detail of the spatter comes out at one metre.
Technical specifications
The tip: the lettering taking the full width, folding a cuff hides its base. To keep the three letters whole, wear the beanie loose towards the back; folded, only the top of the letters stays visible.
You may also like
- WBC belt - the green and gold belt in close-up - if you want boxing.
- Brazilian jiu-jitsu - the Brazilian flag cut into the lettering - if you want the ground game.
- Conor McGregor - crowned gold portrait, vertical name - if you want a fighter rather than an organisation.
Going further
Frequently asked questions
What does UFC stand for?
Ultimate Fighting Championship, the American mixed martial arts organisation. The lettering is printed in white capitals on both faces of the beanie.
What size is a long beanie?
One size: the knit stretches both ways and absorbs the difference in head size. The guide is visual - the beanie should cover the top of the ears without squeezing the temples. Flat it measures 28 cm / 11 in tall by 26.8 cm / 10.6 in wide.
What is the difference between a long beanie and a turn-up beanie?
The long beanie, or slouchy, falls on the nape with no cuff and is worn loose: that is the cut of this model. The turn-up knit folds over and lays a double thickness of knit on the ears, for a height of 21.5 cm / 8.5 in once folded.
Does it work for training?
The soft knit stays out of the way when you drop your head and takes the sweat off the forehead during bag work, where a peak gets awkward in a low guard. It then folds into a bag pocket.
Is the design on both sides?
Yes, identically, printed head to tail. The beanie therefore reads whichever way round you pull it on.
How do you wash a beanie without stretching it?
Hand wash cold, no spin, then dry flat. A beanie hung up or put through a tumble dryer stretches out and loses the hold that keeps it over the ears. Do not iron the print.
