The brand new UFC gloves at the moment are the previous UFC gloves.
In April, the promotion introduced that it might premiere a brand new and improved glove that may “really feel lighter, match fighters’ arms higher, forestall accidents, and supply most flexibility in the course of the fights.” Coined the 3Eight and the 5Eight, the brand new gloves made their Octagon debut in June, marking the primary time the UFC had up to date its design since implementing using gloves in 1997.
5 months later, the brand new gloves are formally scrapped. Forward of the promotion’s return to Madison Sq. Backyard on November 16, it was revealed that the UFC could be going again to its unique — or traditional — gloves.
“The brand new gloves at the moment are the previous gloves,” CEO Dana White mentioned in a shock announcement forward of UFC 309 final weekend. “ what, there have been good intentions with the brand new gloves. We spent numerous time, power, and cash on them. … It didn’t work out and it’s what it’s” (h/t ESPN).
A slew of UFC fighters weren’t impressed with the UFC’s re-designed glove
White supplied little element on what led the UFC to scrap the brand new handwear totally, abysmal evaluations from members of the UFC roster seemingly performed an enormous position within the determination.
“The form, the curve in your arms, they’re very uncomfortable for me,” Jon Jones mentioned in New York forward of his heavyweight headliner with Stipe Miocic. “I used to be truly actually pressured considering, ‘How am I going to enter battle week sporting these gloves that I don’t even actually wish to prepare in?’”
As soon as the information hit social media, battle followers instantly began pointing the finger at Jones, suggesting that he single-handedly killed the brand new gloves.
In actuality, a number of UFC fighters expressed frustration over the brand new gloves, together with No. 3 ranked flyweight contender Erin Blanchfield.
“I wasn’t against the brand new gloves after they introduced they had been coming, however once I noticed them, I didn’t like how they seemed,” Blanchfield mentioned. “I didn’t just like the design, and the colours seemed cheesy and low cost. They seemed like one thing you should purchase from a sporting items retailer.”
Sean Strickland offered a way more Strickland-esque evaluation of the gloves not lengthy after they had been unveiled.
“Yeah, they suck dude,” the ex-middleweight champion mentioned. “I don’t know who, like can we discuss to the one that designed these gloves; have you ever ever been in a battle in your f*cking life? It’s such as you get these f*cking dorks that do not know [and] they’re like ‘Oh this appears like a good suggestion, and so they make it.’”
Additionally probably taking part in into the choice was an 8.5% drop in knockouts between June 1 and November 9 in keeping with Nate Latshaw, an information scientist with a deal with quantitative evaluation in MMA.
“I proceed to warning in opposition to drawing any notably sturdy conclusions from the information,” Latshaw advised ESPN. “I’m all knockdowns and all knockouts, which is basically not a great way to review the affect of the gloves as a result of I’m together with knockouts and knockdowns that come from head kicks, elbows, knees, issues like that the place the gloves aren’t impactful.”
