“I suspect some type of sponsorship deal” – UFC 300 weigh-ins ‘NEW’ gloves announcement has fans hoping for an end to eye-poke controversies

Could this be a potential game-changer for the UFC and MMA as a whole?

“I suspect some type of sponsorship deal” – UFC 300 weigh-ins ‘NEW’ gloves announcement has fans hoping for an end to eye-poke controversies

Major announcement teased for UFC 300 weigh-ins, that may see changes to gloves (Source: Instagram/IMAGO)

UFC 300 boasts many big names and historic fights. It features knockout artists in the headliner to fan favorites competing for the BMF title. UFC’s first Chinese champ will compete in a China-vs-China fight and a college wrestling standout aiming to increase all the hype surrounding him. However, the eye-poking predicament remains and so does the call for new gloves.

The 2023-2024 season saw a ridiculous amount of eye-pokes. Aliaskhab Khizriev vs. Makhmud Muradov at UFC Fight Night 235 had Aljamain Sterling strongly reacting. Chris Weidman’s controversial win and eye-poke at UFC on ESPN 54 was another, where Justin Gaethje weighed in. Other than these two UFC 300 stars, many others have also voiced this.

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Some, like Joaquin Buckley, prescribed closing the hands while others hoped to change the gloves. Weidman’s latest stint, poking his opponent three separate times, was probably the final nail in the coffin. Stepping into official Fight Week, long-time MMA Coverage journo John Morgan posted that the UFC 300 Official Weigh-in programs would have a “new equipment announcement and presentation.”

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The news has found its way into the depths of X. Amy Kaplan of @fansidedmma reposted it. A prime reaction read – “The gloves are one of the few things UFC hasn’t yet monetized, so I suspect some type of sponsorship deal.” While others disagreed that it’d be just a UFC 300 exclusive thing, it isn’t the only such reaction.

Fight fans react to possible “new glove” speculation for UFC 300

One big takeaway for UFC 300 is that there might be changes in the fight gloves along the way. Accidental or not, there are always potential risks from it. Sean O’Malley once prescribed a new glove structure after a no-contest. During the UFC 287 Countdown Vlog, Gilbert Burns teased new gloves, advocating lesser pokes.

There are speculations that it might just be a logo for UFC 300
There are speculations that it might just be a logo for UFC 300 (Source: Instagram)

However, last year, the MMA world saw ridiculous amounts of pokes from UFC 289: Nunes vs Aldana to Mohammed Usman‘s pokes at UFC Vegas 79. Chris Weidman’s road to victory via multiple eye-poke combos might have been the last such straw. Now, here’s how fans have reacted to new rumors:

UFC has their standard take on MMA Gloves (5oz) – by Venum Sports. Dyaco also currently makes the 4-ounce gloves for UFC. Sanabul, famed for sculpting MMA gear, accordingly replied first to it. Concurrently, many fans are guessing about a new sponsorship.

People have also made a case for Gaethje’s coach Trevor Wittman‘s design of beveled gloves that allow “natural fist-lock” with enough finger separation. Rashad Evans promoted it in The JRE MMA Show #90. While he thinks UFC Octagon has more grip, even Michael ‘Venom’ Page likes it better at Bellator.

Some fans have gibed that it’d be just a promotional tool with UFC 300 Logo embossed upon it. Come the weekend, fans will find out what’s in store for them.

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