In the society we live in today, sports could be the one thing in which, aggression is not only tolerated but is encouraged and considered to be acceptable behaviour. The society identifies combat sports to be violent and aggressive by its nature than its counterpart. Current study’s main objective was to determine the difference in the levels of aggression between national level combat sports athletes and national level non-combat sports athletes in Sri Lanka. Further as the specific objectives, the differences in verbal aggression, physical aggression, anger, and hostility levels between national level combat sports athletes and national level non-combat sports athletes were also determined. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using 133 athletes. Data were collected using an online questionnaire that included Buss-Perry Aggression scale. Data were analysed using SPSS version 25. Majority (72.9%) of the participants were males whereas 27.1% of the participants were females. Of the participants, 53.4% athletes were combat sports athletes and 46.4% were non-combat sports athletes. Hostility scores between combat sports athletes and non-combat sports athletes was not significantly different. The results of the study do not support the negative stereotypes concerning the perceived brutality of martial arts and combat sports, stating the combat sports makes the practitioner more hostile; whereas it suggests that the type of sports practice has no effect on hostility. These findings can be used in debunking negative stereotypes in order to educate and attract the sporting communities to practice combat sports. 

Keywords
Combat sports , Sports psychology , Aggression , Anger , Hostility