The UFC has decided to abandon the new gloves introduced in April 2024 and return to the older gloves due to negative feedback and complaints from fighters, with the change taking effect starting at UFC Vegas 102.
The UFC’s new gloves, first revealed in April 2024, have been ditched. They’re going back to the old ones starting at UFC Vegas 102 this Saturday.
John Gooden, the UFC play-by-play guy, broke the news right as the broadcast kicked off.
“Just a heads up,” Gooden announced. “From tonight onward, all fighters will be using the old gloves again, not the recently introduced ones.”
The switch back to the old gloves? It’s been brewing for a while. But manufacturing had to catch up first. During this time, they used old gloves for pay-per-views and new ones on Fight Night cards.
Now that production is on track, the new gloves are history. The old gloves are back in full swing.
When they first rolled out the new gloves, the aim was fewer hand injuries and eye pokes. Keep hand flexibility intact too. But feedback? Not so hot. Fewer knockouts happened with these gloves, though it’s unclear if they’re really to blame due to limited data.
“There were loads of complaints,” Dana White mentioned last November about the new gloves. “We wanted to stop eye pokes; intentions were good. But they flopped. People just didn’t like them.”
White decided enough was enough. He called Lawrence Epstein, the COO, and said, “I’m switching back to the old gloves.”
Jon Jones, UFC heavyweight champ, was among those who spoke out against the new design. Tried them before his fight with Stipe Miocic—didn’t like them one bit. His feedback led to a quick switch back for that event.
“I found them tight,” Jones said about trying on the new gloves before his bout. “Used to wear XLs but needed a 3XL in these. The shape—they forced my hands into an awkward curve.”
Ultimately, UFC opted for what worked before—the old gloves are here to stay for all events moving forward. No word yet if they’ll consider another redesign down the line.