In a surprising turn, UFC 309 will see the return of the promotion’s previous version of gloves, following a decision to revert from the newly implemented design introduced earlier this year.
Ahead of the event this Saturday, UFC officials notified fighters that they will use the older style of gloves, rather than the updated version that debuted on June 1. The change was confirmed to MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin on Tuesday, with Ariel Helwani being the first to report the news.
The new gloves were introduced with the aim of reducing eye pokes and hand injuries. They featured more flexibility, with modifications to the seams, padding, wristbands, and finger holes. The revised design made its first appearance at UFC 302 in New Jersey, but since then, they have sparked mixed reactions from fighters and fans alike.
Some fighters have voiced their concerns over the new gloves, with complaints about their comfort and fit. Additionally, there has been speculation among fans that the new gloves may have contributed to a decline in knockout rates, though this theory remains unproven and could be attributed to a variety of other factors, such as sample size.
UFC 309, which is set to take place at Madison Square Garden in New York City, will be headlined by a highly anticipated heavyweight title bout between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic.
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