Choose sublimation for rash guards. The dye becomes part of the polyester fibre, so the print does not crack, peel or feel thick, and it handles full-colour all-over designs on polyester-spandex fightwear. Choose screen printing only for simple one or two-colour logos on a tight budget, and expect the ink to sit on top of the fabric and crack as it stretches.

Story (illustrative): A BJJ club ordered screen-printed rash guards with a large dragon design. After about 25 washes the print cracked at the shoulders and under the arms. The club reordered the same design as a sublimated print, and it looked the same after months of rolling.

Comparison

Sublimation charges the same price per piece for any number of colours and lasts as long as the fabric, while screen printing is cheaper for one or two colours but cracks after about 30 to 50 washes (estimate). Sublimation needs polyester and suits rash guards and fightwear, and screen printing suits simple logos on cotton. Choose sublimation for rash guards. The table below compares both.

Feature	Sublimation	Screen printing
Look	Full colour, all-over art	Solid colours, usually 1 to 4
Feel	No added layer	Ink sits on top, can feel thick
Stretch	Moves with the fabric	Can crack when stretched
Fabric	Polyester or polyester-spandex	Most fabrics
Cost pattern	Same price per piece for any number of colours	Cheap for 1 to 2 colours, rises with more colours
Lifespan (estimate)	Lasts as long as the fabric	30 to 50 washes before cracking
Best for	Rash guards, fightwear, full designs	Simple logos on cotton

Pros and cons: Sublimation is durable, soft against the skin and allows unlimited colours, but it works only on polyester and needs light base colours. Screen printing is cheap for simple logos, but it cracks with stretch, adds weight and limits the number of colours.

QST data: MMA fightwear is made from polyester-spandex with sublimated prints. MOQ is 30 to 50 pieces per design in both the MMA and apparel ranges. Sample 7 to 10 days, bulk 4 to 6 weeks for MMA and 3 to 5 weeks for apparel.

Real QST photo: QST MMA rash guard