Gloves

Mixed martial arts gloves separate the fingers like regular gloves and leave the final knuckles and fingertips exposed. This difference comes from the fact that MMA fighters need to be able to use their hands unencumbered during the grappling action of a match.

Since your hands are essential to your success as an MMA fighter, it is important that you have gloves that allow you the needed flexibility. On the other hand, gloves that are a bit too loose will tend to start sliding off at the most inopportune of moments, usually right in the middle of a fight.

 

MMA gloves or grappling gloves are small, open-fingered gloves used in mixed martial arts fighting. They usually have around 4-6 oz. of padding and are designed to provide some protection to the wearer while leaving the fingers available for grappling maneuvers. AWMA offers a wide variety of MMA gloves from top brands like ProForce.

History of MMA Gloves

You may notice today’s UFC fighters wearing protective gloves, but they haven’t always been part of the popular sport. MMA gloves weren’t mandated by the sport until the early 1990s when regulations began to change. As the overall skill of the competitors began to rise, the competition guidelines started to change, as well. The UFC was one of the first organizations to require their fighters to wear protective MMA gloves.

How MMA Gloves Are Used

There are many styles of MMA gloves used for training and competition. Certain guidelines determine the style, size, weight, and padding thickness of the gloves used in the sport. As a trainer, trainee, or competitor, you may be interested in a few types of gloves we feature on our website, including:

  • Competition Style Gloves: These gloves meet the strict requirements for competition. Due to their lightweight and decreased padding thickness, they shouldn’t be used for sparring.
  • Sparring Style Gloves: These gloves are specifically designed for protection during training and practice bouts. MMA fighters use these gloves during practice because there is little to no chance of injuring their hands, which is crucial before a fight.
  • Hybrid Style Gloves: These gloves can be used for both categories listed above. If you are serious about the sport of mixed martial arts, it’s wise to purchase a pair of each.

Our selection of MMA gloves is available in materials like vinyl, leather, and neoprene. You can choose from an array of colors including black, white, red, blue, and more.