What Will Be Indonesia’s Biggest Combat Sports Trend?

Combat sports in Indonesia aren’t dying, but they are splitting into different lanes. The energy is no longer unified like in the MMA boom of 2015-2017. Today, the fight scene is more fragmented, with each community moving at its own pace and in its own direction.

In Jakarta, boxing gyms like KIDA, Ultima Boxing, Elbowbox, and Buffalo Camp are thriving, but they’re not building fighters—they’re building fitness communities. Combat sports have become part of the fitness lifestyle package, sitting alongside padel, pilates, and zycle. People train to look good, burn calories, and hang out, not to step into the ring.

The competition scene is still alive through amateur boxing events like Rookie Fight, BYON Tryouts, and college fight promotions. These events give first-timers a shot at competition without the brutal pressure of going pro. But the type of fighter has changed. In the past, especially during the 2011-2017 window, people fought for pride and self-respect—often late 20s gym rats stepping into the ring for the first time. Now, the scene is dominated by younger fighters inspired by social media, chasing fast glory.

MMA in Jakarta is even harder to grow today. The pay is low, the grind is steep, and many people now view it as a sport for "lower class" athletes. That wasn’t the case when the MMA wave hit in the mid-2010s, when gym members could still be persuaded to compete. Now, it’s a tough sell.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Indonesia is mostly centered in Jakarta, driven by gyms like Alliance under Deddy Wigraha, GRIND BJJ, and VYSE. Local BJJ tournaments and internal gym competitions are still the key entry points for new athletes. Unlike in the past, today's BJJ crowd is mostly separate from the striking scene—it’s a different community with a different mindset.

In Bali, BJJ is growing steadily. Gyms like Bali MMA, AL Leone, and the rising Pound4Pound are building legit grappling programs, while others like Synergy BJJ seem to be losing steam. The BJJ crowd in Bali benefits from the same thing that drives the whole Bali fight culture: role models, proximity to serious athletes, and a more focused, disciplined training environment.

While Jakarta is increasingly a fitness-driven scene, Bali is still building real fighters. Gyms like Soma Fight Club, Bali MMA, and The Block attract athletes who take the grind seriously. Bali’s fight scene is balanced across MMA, boxing, Muay Thai, and BJJ, with each gym and community having its own niche. What makes Bali different is the mixed training culture—locals and foreigners push each other every day, and training isn’t something you squeeze in between work meetings. It’s the priority. It’s why Bali continues to produce better fighters, while Jakarta continues to produce bigger social media pages.

Right now, there’s a big gap in Indonesia’s combat sports scene. There’s no strong developmental system to consistently turn fitness enthusiasts into real competitors. There’s no clear bridge from lifestyle gyms to national-level competition. And while there are fight-specific gyms like Nelson Nainggolan’s that try to build fighters, they’re still the exception. Most gym owners are focused on making money—not making fighters. And that’s the core issue.

People in the community actually want the fight scene to grow again. They want better coaches, better programs, and gyms that are genuinely invested in producing fighters—not just Instagram content.

The next big trend in Indonesian combat sports might not be a new discipline. It might be the return of serious development. The gyms that can build real fighters—not just social circles—will be the ones shaping the future. The cities that can reconnect training and competition will bring the next wave. And the fighters who can balance discipline with the modern lifestyle crowd will build something people can actually believe in.

If Indonesian combat sports want to matter again, it’s time to stop treating it like just another workout. It’s time to build fighters again.