Legendary MMA referee John McCarthy isn’t impressed with the new UFC gloves. The man who actually invented the term mixed martial arts believes the redesigned gloves won’t prevent eye pokes.
The latest rendition of the MMA gloves debuted at UFC 302 and was significantly lighter with additional padding. The gloves are now seamless and have a new design that prevents fighters from fully opening their hands.
Unlike boxing gloves, which enclose the entire hand, UFC gloves leave the fighter’s fingers and palm exposed so they can grapple, wrestle, and apply submissions. The padding is only placed over the knuckles to protect the fighter’s hand and limit cuts.
The lack of padding and the fact it’s easier to make a fist means we should see more knockouts. UFC fighters are already calling them a puncher’s glove.

Why Did the UFC Change the Gloves?

As the fighter’s fingers are exposed, athletes are constantly poking each other in the eye, which is illegal and can lead to serious damage. Fighters like Jon Jones took advantage of the old glove design by constantly fully opening their hands and pawing at their opponent’s faces.
This would not only distract opposing fighters but result in eye pokes. The offending fighters could claim that these infractions were simply an accident, and often, the fight would continue with no penalties imposed.
The new gloves are meant to prevent fighters from delivering eye pokes as the stiffness and updated curve make it harder to straighten your fingers. However, McCarthy remains unconvinced.
He said that when a fighter wearing the new gloves squeezes his hand, their fingers will still go straight. To get rid of eye pokes, the legendary ref said that the gloves must be designed so that fighters have to apply significant force to straighten their fingers. He wants the gloves to feature a curved design which forces the fighter’s fingers to be rounded.

Sean Strickland Isn’t a Fan of the New UFC Gloves

Former middleweight UFC champion known for being incredibly outspoken vented about the new gloves. He said they suck and proceeded to drop a bunch of F-bombs, criticizing the UFC and the people who made them, accusing them of knowing nothing about fighting. It’s hard to know how much of Strickland’s rant is part of his shtick and how much of it is his true feelings.
However, Strickland wasn’t the only fighter taking issue with the controversial gloves. The lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is against the change. He believes the new gloves will cause a lot more cuts as they’re much stiffer than the previous design.
The glove makers specifically made the gloves seamless in a bid to reduce cuts. So we’ll have to see if Makhachev’s prediction of more cuts is on the money.
Randy Brown, who is a welterweight contender, agreed with McCarthy. He doesn’t believe the new gloves will solve the eye poker issue. He does see strikers getting an advantage due to the lack of padding and how easy it is to make a fist.
Dustin Poirier, who is known for his fast hands and power punching, is one of the few fighters to like the gloves. The UFC legend said the gloves are much more comfortable than the old ones. He likes the limited padding and can generate more power.
However, he agrees with Islam when it comes to causing more cuts. The 35-year-old believes fighters’ knuckles will pierce right through the limited amount of padding and open fighters up. If that is the case, the UFC will have to go back to the drawing board and redesign them.

The Jury Is Still Out on UFC’s New Gloves

The new UFC gloves have only been used at UFC 302. We’ll have to wait at least one year until we know whether gloves are a flop or not. It seems like they’ve got some things right, like the reduction in padding and the ease of making a fist.
Unfortunately, there’s a chance that the new gloves may cause additional cuts, and fighters can still extend their fingers too easily, resulting in eye pokes. Hopefully, the next iteration will feature a curved design, and eye pokes will be eradicated from mixed martial arts for good!|
Read more: Alex Pereira vs. Jiří Procházka to Headline UFC 303 After McGregor Withdrawal

As the excitement builds for UFC 302, fight fans around the world are gearing up for a night of electrifying matchups and high-stakes showdowns. This event promises to deliver unforgettable moments, featuring a stacked fight card with some of the sport’s most dynamic athletes. To prepare, we will look at the top 3 fights on UFC 302 this Saturday June 1st. 

Islam Makhachev vs Dustin Poirier

Islam Makhachev, born in Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia, began his journey in MMA under the instruction of Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, the father of his close friend and former world champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov. Makhachev’s background in combat sambo, in which he is a world champion, heavily influences his fighting style. Known for his dominant grappling, suffocating top control, and relentless pressure, Makhachev has developed into one of the most formidable lightweights in the UFC. As of now, he holds an impressive professional record of 25-1-0, with the majority of his victories coming via submission or decision, showcasing his prowess on the ground. Makhachev continues to train at the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) in San Jose, California, alongside other elite fighters, maintaining the Dagestani legacy in mixed martial arts.

Dustin Poirier embarked on his MMA career in 2009, quickly rising through the ranks with his relentless work ethic and versatile striking. Poirier’s preferred fighting style combines crisp boxing with powerful leg kicks, complemented by his Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. This blend of skills has allowed him to finish fights both on the feet and on the ground. With a professional record of 30-8-0, Poirier has become a mainstay in the UFC’s lightweight division.

With Islam the favorite at around -600 odds, it is no doubt that everyone thinks he will be the winner. If Islam can take the fight to the ground, it could be an easy paycheck for him. However, if the fight can stay standing, Dustin’s experience in striking can prove to be the deciding factor in this fight.

Sean Strickland vs Paulo Costa

Sean Strickland began his MMA career at the age of 16, transitioning from a troubled youth to a disciplined martial artist. Strickland is known for his aggressive striking style, which is characterized by relentless forward pressure and a high volume of punches. He is a versatile fighter, capable of utilizing both his striking and grappling to secure victories. Strickland has compiled an impressive professional record, with many wins coming by way of knockout or decision.

Paulo Costa, also known as “The Eraser,” hails from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and began his MMA journey inspired by his brother and the legendary martial artist Bruce Lee. Costa is renowned for his explosive power and aggressive fighting style, often overwhelming opponents with his striking and physicality. His preferred style is to engage in stand-up battles, leveraging his knockout power to finish fights early. Interesting fact: Before fully committing to his MMA career, Costa worked as a real estate agent and even appeared on a Brazilian reality TV show, highlighting his diverse background and charismatic personality.

It is difficult to see this fight going to the ground since most of their fights have stayed standing. Sean’s willingness to walk forward even while taking large amounts of damage may prove to be his downfall. Costa’s power and efficiency can take Sean down if he gets caught. However, Costa may not want the fight so close to him and can become overwhelmed by Sean’s onslaught. 

Kevin Holland vs Michal Oleksiejczuk

Kevin Holland began his MMA career in 2015 after transitioning from Kung Fu and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Known for his eclectic and unorthodox striking style, Holland’s fighting approach is characterized by his long reach, agility, and dynamic striking techniques, which include a mix of punches, kicks, and elbows. He has a reputation for being a highly active fighter, often taking multiple fights within a short period. Holland has compiled an impressive record, with half of his wins by knockout.

Michał Oleksiejczuk, from Łęczna, Poland, began his professional MMA career in 2014. Known for his powerful and precise striking, Oleksiejczuk prefers to stand and trade blows with his opponents, often looking for the knockout with his heavy hands. His fighting style is aggressive, relying on his boxing skills and ability to control the pace of the fight. 

This fight can be expected to be a striking matchup unless Holland decides to take the fight to the ground. Kevin’s reach advantage looks to be a deciding factor as he will look to exploit it during the fight. If Michal doesn’t finish Holland early, the fight could go Kevin’s way with his level head and stoicism during fights, minus his talking. 

Read more: Jose Aldo Dominates Jonathan Martinez at UFC 301

The MMA world was in shock when former UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo announced his return to the octagon. The Brazilian had officially retired after copping a beating from Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 278.

After two years away from the ring, Aldo decided he wanted to finish the last remaining fight on his contract. The UFC fed him the number 12 ranked bantamweight contender Jonathan Martinez. This was no easy task, seeing as Martinez was riding a six-fight win streak with victories over Cub Swanson and Said Nurmagomedov.

We guess no one told Aldo about ring rust because the Brazilian looked phenomenal in his return. He dominated the match, winning a lopsided unanimous decision. Even better, Aldo got the victory in front of his home crowd in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The fans went berserk, cheering on their hero as he let punches fly in Martinez’s direction. Unfortunately, Aldo and the fans were robbed of a stoppage finish.

The Crowd Screams Uh Vai Morrer!

Aldo came out, stalking Martinez as the younger fighter attempted to keep him at bay with his jab. Martinez threw a sloppy low kick, which was immediately counted by Aldo, who responded with a three-shot combination. 

Both fighters were feeling each other out. Aldo continued to walk down Martinez but couldn’t quite find his range. Martinez went for a takedown, but it had no chance of working. As the round one progressed, Aldo started ripping Martinez to the body. 

Despite Martinez landing a nice body kick, Aldo continued to stalk him. Then Aldo landed his best punch, a strong overhand right. The Brazilian’s feints started working, and his combos began touching the American.

Martinez Tries to Up His Aggressiveness

Martinez came out in round two with a new approach. He took the center of the octagon and refused to let Aldo push him around. Unfortunately for the American, Aldo landed a nasty inside low kick and then threw a three-punch combo, which forced Martinez to back up.

Aldo continued to land hard shots to the body. Martinez started to look a bit desperate in the octagon and shot a Hail Mary takedown, which was effortlessly stuffed by the veteran Brazilian fighter.

Martinez forced a clinch and tried to catch his breath. The ref let the fighters hang out in the clinch for far too long before eventually breaking them apart. Then Aldo landed a nice right hand and followed it up with hard shots to the body.

Martinez started taking more risks and letting his hands go. Unfortunately for the American, it opened him up to be counted. Aldo relished the opportunity and continually landed brutal shots. Aldo was consistently finding angles and used his feints to walk Martinez onto shots. Martinez almost landed a spinning back fist that could’ve spelled disaster for the Brazilian, but it just missed.

The Third and Final Round

Martinez clearly lost the first two rounds and needed a finish to get the win. He came out aggressive but again walked onto big punches from Aldo. He started to build something there, but Aldo is so savvy. He knows how to manage things. 

Martinez had some success with 1-2 combinations, but Aldo continued to respond with his own shots. Martinez started trading with Aldo in the pocket. Then the Brazilian landed a huge left hand, which seriously hurt Martinez.

Aldo swarmed for the finish and took the American down. He passed Martinez’s guard and progressed to mount. But the American escaped and managed to stand up. Ultimately, the Brazilian had to settle for a decision win.

What’s Next for Jose Aldo?

Aldo wants to make another title run and reclaim his bantamweight belt. After his last fight, he’s no longer under contract with the UFC, but there’s a matching clause, so the Brazilian is a restricted free agent. He plans to stick in the UFC and will meet with Dana White to discuss his next moves. 

In an ideal world, the Brazilian wants a title shot against champ Sean O’Malley in his next fight. After his epic career, he surely deserves to jump the queue. Dana has yet to confirm Aldo’s next fight, but that match against O’Malley would be a blockbuster!