UFC has informed the fighters competing on Saturday’s 309 card in NYC that they will be using the old gloves not the new ones introduced back in June, per multiple sources. Specific reason unclear at the moment.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) November 12, 2024
A familiar piece of fight gear will be making a return for UFC 309.
The Las Vegas-based promotion will be utilizing the old version of the gloves for Saturday’s card at Madison Square Garden in New York. The gloves were changed to a new style beginning at UFC 302 on June 1, with a focus on reducing eye pokes and hand injuries. Multiple outlets confirmed the news following an initial report from Ariel Helwani.
Fighters and their teams were reportedly made aware of the change in gloves on Tuesday. It’s currently unclear why the old version is being brought back for UFC 309.
UFC 309: Jones vs Miocic. Saturday at 10 ET on ESPN+. Order Now!
The new gloves are produced by fitness and combat equipment company Dyaco and included updates to the location of the seam and a different attachment on the wrist. The new design was also supposed to cut down on damage caused by the gloves themselves. Since their introduction, there has been speculation that the newer version has led to fewer knockouts in UFC competition. According to data compiled by MMAjunkie.com, the decision rate has increased by 11.5% since they were implemented.
While the new gloves have received criticism, other fighters have praised them. After UFC 301, Dustin Poirier offered a positive review, pointing out that he could make a tighter fist than he could with the older version.
UFC 309 is headlined by a heavyweight championship fight between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic. The main card airs on pay-per-view via ESPN+ beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
