JERSEY CITY, N.J. — UFC is set to unveil a new glove designed in large part to stunt eye pokes that often render fighters unable to continue, the first major change of the protective equipment in more than a decade.
The global MMA leader made the impact-absorbing gloves mandatory, starting with Saturday’s UFC 302 card in New Jersey. UFC said the gloves should provide fighters with enhanced protection, improved fit, greater comfort and maximum flexibility.
The early verdict among fighters on the pay-per-view card who used the gloves during training camp seem to be a split decision.
“I think they’re more comfortable,” lightweight title challenger Dustin Poirier said. “It’s easier to make a fist. I do think there might be more cuts because the padding isn’t as dense. I feel like the knuckles are going to pierce through that padding that they have and cause more cuts. But I like them better. They’re more comfortable to make a fist. The other gloves are really stiff and straight. Whatever foam they’re using in these, it’s really easy to make a fist.”
The gloves, designed and engineered by sports equipment manufacture Vicis RDI, are available in black for the 3Eight series and gold for the 5Eight championship fight series.
Some notable changes include: all seams are now on the palm side of the hand just below the fingers, designed to minimize abrasions and cuts; new padding expected to make it easier for fighters to keep their fingers in a natural position and minimize eye pokes; and removal of finger binding intended to reduce bulk and minimize seams that may cause abrasions and cuts.
Male and female sizing was eliminated in favor of 10 unisex sizes. The gloves weigh between 3 and 4.9 ounces (a reduction of 1 to 1.5 ounces).
Duncan French, Senior Vice President, UFC Performance Institute, said the company’s research showed significant eye pokes happen once every 14 fights and delays last an average of about 50 seconds.
“Eye pokes clearly disrupt the bout,” French said. “We want to maintain the tempo, the cadence but obviously have the bout finish by rules and regulations rather than a stoppage through an improper eye poke.”
Some notable fights of late have been marred by eye pokes, highlighted by Chris Weidman’s win in March over Bruno Silva. The fight was stopped twice because of Weidman’s persistent pokes. Weidman actually double-poked Silva in the closing minutes of the third round and won by decision.
“We believe the new gloves…
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