In April, the UFC announced that it would debut a new glove for fighters that would offer more mobility and flexibility while reducing eye pokes and hand injuries. The new gloves, coined “3Eight/5Eight” (the 3Eight glove is for three-round fights, and the 5Eight gold glove for championship fights), premiered at UFC 301 in June. It marked the first time since fingerless gloves became mandatory for all fighters back in 1997 that the fight glove had evolved.
“This redesign will truly be a game changer for the entire sport of MMA,” UFC CEO and president Dana White said in the April statement. “These gloves will feel lighter, fit fighters’ hands better, prevent injuries and provide maximum flexibility during the fights.”
But after five months — 21 UFC events (pay-per-views and Fight Nights) and 10 “Dana White’s Contender Series” cards — the UFC…
