Issue 077
July 2011
Picking the perfect MMA gloves can be tricky, here’s all you need to know to hit the mark.
1. They originated from Japan
Small, open-fingered gloves were first mandatory in Japan’s Shooto promotion and were later adopted by the UFC as it developed into a regulated sport; another big ‘thanks’ we owe our oriental counterparts for the progression and development of MMA in the West.
2. Bruce Lee had a paid
The most famous mixed martial artist of all time famously sported a pair in his Hollywood blockbuster Enter The Dragon. Well... sort of. Although these were technically kempo gloves rather than the MMA gloves we know of today, they shared many traits of the modern Unified Rules standard glove, including free-moving fingers to allow flexibility when grappling.
3. Gloves make a more entertaining fight
Back in the formative days of MMA, bare-knuckle vale tudo was sweeping South America. Problem was, many fights failed to make it past the five-minute mark as fighters were either breaking their knuckles or getting badly cut. Just ask Wanderlei Silva and he’ll happily tell you his recent facial reconstruction surgery was down to the old days of bare-knuckle brawls. Now MMA gloves protect the fighter from breaking their hand meaning they’ll go at their opponent harder, plus the fight is less likely to be stopped in the first round because of a cut.
4. Size matters
When buying a pair of gloves, you don’t want to get a set that’s so tight the blood in your fingers stops flowing. Remember, as you get pumped up and ready to roll in the cage, blood will flow around your body, expanding your hand slightly. Also, you want to keep your finger flexibility for grappling.
5. Durability varies
If you’re thinking about rooting out the garage for your dad’s old MMA gloves, chances are a) they’ll smell like a rotting skunk, and b) they’ll fall apart quicker than James Toney did against Randy Couture. Nowadays, rather than opting for faux leather, it’s worth buying real leather gloves that are likely to last you a lifetime.
6. Fighters! Buy a size bigger
If you’re serious about stepping into the cage at some point then there’ll be strict rules concerning hand wraps. Remember you’ll have to wrap your hands before a fight so make sure there’s reasonable room for Stitch Duran to get his groove on. Also be mindful that sizes vary from supplier to supplier. And fan-boys, just because Brock wears a 4XL doesn’t mean you have to.
7. Follow the rules
When getting MMA fight gloves be sure to check the weights and get the gloves that are approved by your fight organization as certain weights are not legal for MMA competition. Four-ounce gloves are usually the standard.
8. Spar wisely
Depending on how much you dislike your sparring partner, it’s usually best not to go toe-to-toe with them while wearing four-ounce gloves as you can seriously mess them up and, God forbid, hurt yourself as well. Use sparring gloves as they are specifically designed and used for protection during practice bouts.
9. Go for double-stitch durability
Gloves with double stitch are more durable and last longer. Simple.
10. Keeping 'em clean costs less
As it’s a bad idea to throw a good pair of leather gloves in the washing machine (unless you want to turn a XXL to a XXS) you need other ways to reduce the smell of warrior sweat. Wipe down the inside and outside of your gloves after each workout and put glove dogs deodorizing mitt liners inside to absorb moisture. Hang them outside in the fresh air too for that Febreze effect(ish).
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