The UFC, a prominent MMA promotion, has been a fixture in the fighting world for three decades. In its early days, it was a showcase of different fighting styles, pitting Karate practitioners against wrestlers to determine the most effective fighter. Fighters often wore their traditional martial arts attire.
Today, MMA has evolved into its own discipline, with a recognized style of fighting. The fight wear of the fighters has also evolved. You would no longer expect to see a Karate Gi in the cage. As MMA evolved, so did the rules and regulations around fighter attire in the UFC.
That said, it is safe to say that the attire worn by the fighters plays a vital role. From shorts to gloves, both have experienced various changes over the years.
The Evolution of Fighter Shorts
Over the years, the UFC has made multiple changes to the shorts worn by fighters. Initially, fighters were allowed to wear any branded shorts they wanted with their own sponsorships. However, the UFC then proceeded to bring on brands to make fighter shorts. The UFC has partnered with Reebok and Venum over the years.
The Introduction and Evolution of UFC Gloves
For fans new to the UFC, gloves might just seem like a part of the attire, like a football player’s helmet. When the UFC started, gloves were not a norm. However, more fighters started wearing gloves inside the Octagon, but they would not be mandated. Interestingly, other than the addition of the UFC logo and some minor tweaks, the gloves would remain largely unchanged for more than two decades.
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The New Glove Design by Dyaco
The new gloves, designed by Dyaco, have a slew of new features. The most obvious is the introduction of colored gloves: gold for championship bouts, sky blue for Dana White’s Contender Series, black for non-championship and The Ultimate Fighter, and red for Road to UFC fights. The new gloves have fewer seams, intended to reduce the number of cuts that occur as a result of the exposed seams on the older gloves. The overall weight of the gloves has also been reduced by roughly one to one and a half ounces in the new gloves.
Features of the New Gloves:
- Colored gloves for different events
- Fewer seams to reduce cuts
- Lighter weight
The Recall of the New Gloves
When the UFC debuted an updated glove design in April 2024, the initial reaction was mixed, with fighters questioning how the gear might affect performance and whether it could potentially reduce eye pokes. Less than a year later, the design was abandoned in favor of the older model, leading to further speculation as to the reasoning.
During an interview on The Joe Rogan Experience, Khalil Rountree-who was involved in developing and testing the new gloves-revealed the real reason for the recall.
“The main thing was that because of the leather, the logos weren’t sticking,” Rountree said. “So the logos were peeling off, peeling off, peeling off. I’m telling you, we tried hundreds of different ways to get the UFC logo printed on the gloves so that they will not come off in the octagon. From me testing it on the canvas, doing live situations, sparring, rubbing it in the cage, blah blah, it just would not [stay on].”
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When the new design was first announced, it was presented as having the potential to reduce hand injuries and allow for improved hand dexterity. Fans blamed the gloves on reducing the amount of knockouts during their duration of usage, but due to the relatively small size, data is inconclusive as to whether the equipment was truly at fault.
According to Rountree, the issue had more to do with manufacturing material than manufacturing knockouts.
“Because with everything in the world, but especially in the industry of leather and suede and all that stuff, if I had a pair of leather shoes from 1970 it’s going to be different than the leather that’s made today,” Rountree said. “You get what I mean? It’s a different type of leather. It’s just not the same. It was a little softer, but it’s treated differently while it’s being processed or whatever that whole process looks like, it’s just there’s some type of chemical or something that’s just different.”
Safety Concerns and the UFC Logo
Rountree added that there were safety concerns surrounding the new gloves, but not necessarily related to bruises or broken bones. It was actually the finicky logo that was the main source of their problems.
“It has nothing to do with the knockouts,” Rountree said. “It’s that every time when the fighters come to return a pair of gloves or whatever or even in the fight, it’s peeling off or chipping off and that’s a hazard if it gets in your eye. It’s more about the safety of the fighters, not like, ‘We need more knockouts, change the gloves.’“
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“It’s more that the logo wasn’t adhering and it doesn’t look professional to have these guys fighting a championship fight and then here’s this guy raising his hand and there’s no UFC logo on the glove.
VICIS RFLX Foam Technology
The new glove was designed and engineered by VICIS RDI, the same team that develops products for VICIS, SCHUTT and TUCCI brands, and a leading sports equipment manufacturer whose mission is to minimize the impact of sports-related head injuries. The new glove contains VICIS RFLX advanced layered foam technology with impact absorbing protection.
“We have been working on these gloves over the past few years with the best designers, engineers, and athletes in the world,” said UFC CEO and President Dana White. “This redesign will truly be a game changer for the entire sport of MMA. These gloves will feel lighter, fit fighters’ hands better, prevent injuries, and provide maximum flexibility during the fights.
At the core of every UFC Official Fight Glove lies the pinnacle of MMA glove technology-the VICIS RFLX Foam Stack. This cutting-edge protection system is the result of meticulous engineering and relentless testing. This innovative structure serves a dual purpose: to shield the athlete from impact and provide unparalleled freedom of movement.
“This integration is a watershed moment in not only VeChain’s partnership with UFC but also in redesigning the blueprint for community engagement,” said Sunny Lu, CEO of VeChain. “This application showcases to a global audience the tangible, real-world benefits of our technology, further bridging two brands with their loyal and growing communities.
