UFC unveils new fight gloves, expects to 'significantly reduce' eye pokes and broken hands

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LAS VEGAS – New UFC gloves are coming to the octagon this year.

After many complaints from fighters about the stiffness of the longtime UFC glove design, the promotion on Friday revealed a new design and specialized colors.

After nearly five-year process led to testing the gloves last season on Dana White’s Contender Series. After the UFC received feedback, final tweaks were made, and the UFC now feels confident to make the change.

The first time the new gloves will be used in fights is at UFC 302 on June 1 in Newark, N.J.

“The UFC’s had evolutions in many aspects of its operation,” UFC executive Duncan French said on Friday. “The one thing that’s been static for 11, 12 years is one critical component, and that’s the gloves. To go down this road of new gloves is essential.”

French said the UFC is confident the new gloves will “significantly reduce” both eye pokes and broken hands caused during fights. He said the fighter feedback has been “overwhelmingly positive,” and there’s a belief this will revolutionize athlete comfort.

A black color will be used for traditional UFC fights; gold with an octagon trim for championship fights; a different shade of black for “The Ultimate Fighter”; blue gloves for Dana White’s Contender Series; and red gloves for Road to the UFC tournaments.

Addition details about new UFC gloves

CONSTRUCTION FEATURES

• New wristband locking system, better fits to the wrist, removing any space that permits opponent from grabbing the glove
• Lack of seams minimizes abrasions and cuts; all seams are now on the palm side of the band just below the fingers
• Removal of finger binding reduces bulk and minimizes seams that may cause abrasions and cuts
• Padding added to the sides of the glove at the index and pinky fingers to protect vulnerable bone structure

FIT AND SIZING

• Glove sizing has been rescaled to better fit the athletes hands; slimmer profile removes excess space at the outside of the hand
• Eliminated male/female sizing, streamlining the number of gloves to 10 unisex sizes, from XXXS – XXXXL, that properly scale with Increase in hand size

WEIGHT

• Minimized weight and weight differential based on sizes
• Glove weighs between 3-4.9 oz (1.9 oz differential)
• Weight reduced 1-1.5 oz from previous UFC glove

SHAPE

• Ergonomic curved wristband for better fit around the wrist
• Scooped/angled finger holes eliminate bunching on the inside of the fisted hand

MATERIAL DEVELOPMENT

• Lining, custom printed 2-way stretch, moves with the hand
• VICIS RFLX stacked foam padding, engineered for maximum flexibility and protection
• Updated law profile hook and loop, minimizes snagging and reduces weight

AUTHENTICATION DATA CHIP

• Allows UFC to identify a pair of gloves to a fighter and a specific fight, authenticating the gloves as fight worn in a designated fight

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC unveils new fight gloves, expects to ‘significantly reduce’ eye pokes and broken hands