The brand new UFC gloves are actually the previous UFC gloves.
In April, the promotion introduced that it will premiere a brand new and improved glove that may “really feel lighter, match fighters’ fingers higher, forestall accidents, and supply most flexibility through 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 the usage of 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 can be going again to its unique — or basic — gloves.
“The brand new gloves are actually the previous gloves,” CEO Dana White stated in a shock announcement forward of UFC 309 final weekend. “You recognize what, there have been good intentions with the brand new gloves. We spent a variety of 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 provided little element on what led the UFC to scrap the brand new handwear fully, abysmal evaluations from members of the UFC roster seemingly performed a giant function within the determination.
“The form, the curve in your fingers, they’re very uncomfortable for me,” Jon Jones stated in New York forward of his heavyweight headliner with Stipe Miocic. “I used to be truly actually harassed considering, ‘How am I going to enter battle week carrying these gloves that I don’t even actually need to practice 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 have been coming, however after I noticed them, I didn’t like how they regarded,” Blanchfield stated. “I didn’t just like the design, and the colours regarded cheesy and low-cost. They regarded like one thing you should buy from a sporting items retailer.”
Sean Strickland supplied a way more Strickland-esque evaluation of the gloves not lengthy after they have been unveiled.
“Yeah, they suck dude,” the ex-middleweight champion stated. “I don’t know who, like can we speak 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 don’t know [and] they’re like ‘Oh this seems like a good suggestion, and so they make it.’”
Additionally probably enjoying into the choice was an 8.5% drop in knockouts between June 1 and November 9 based on Nate Latshaw, a knowledge scientist with a concentrate on quantitative evaluation in MMA.
“I proceed to warning in opposition to drawing any significantly robust conclusions from the info,” Latshaw informed ESPN. “I’m all knockdowns and all knockouts, which is actually 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.”
