I still remember my first pair of MMA gloves. Cheap.
Stiff. Smelled like plastic regret.
I thought, gloves are gloves, right?
Wrong. So wrong.
Knuckles aching. Wrist screaming. My coach looking at
me like, “Yeah… you bought those online, didn’t you?”
Lesson learned the hard way.
Anyway, here’s the kicker: MMA gloves are not just
accessories. They’re survival gear. Whether you’re a beginner who just learned
what a sprawl is (me, once—painfully) or a professional who’s already planning
their next fight, your gloves matter more than you think.
Rain. Sweat. Canvas. Velcro ripping open mid-round.
That’s MMA.
Why MMA Gloves Are a Bigger Deal Than People Admit
I used to think gloves were just about punching things
safely. Turns out, that’s only half the story. MMA gloves need to punch, grab,
clinch, defend, and sometimes save you from yourself.
Boxing gloves? Too bulky.
Bare hands? Congrats, now your knuckles
hate you.
MMA gloves sit in that weird middle ground. They
protect your hands just enough while still letting you grab wrists, dig for
underhooks, and attempt submissions that mostly fail at first. (Don’t worry.
Everyone’s first armbar looks like interpretive dance.)
My old training partner Mike swore his cheap gloves
were “fine.” Three weeks later, he’s icing his wrist and borrowing mine.
Coincidence? Nah.
What Actually Matters When Choosing MMA Gloves
Let me break this down the way I wish someone had
explained it to me—before I wasted money.
Padding (aka “How much do you like your knuckles?”)
Beginners need padding. Period.
Not ego padding—actual foam.
I once trained with ultra-light gloves too early
because I thought they made me look serious. They didn’t. They made me look
injured.
Pros often go lighter because they’ve built
conditioning and control. Beginners? Give your hands a fighting chance.
Weight (This One Confused Me at First)
Most MMA gloves come in:
●
4oz–6oz
→ competition stuff
●
7oz–8oz
→ training, sparring, not dying
If you’re new, start heavier. Trust me. Teh internet
will tell you otherwise sometimes. Ignore it.
Material (Leather vs “Leather-ish”)
Real leather lasts longer and feels better over time.
Synthetic leather is cheaper and… fine. Not amazing. Fine.
My first synthetic pair cracked faster than my 2020
sourdough starter—RIP, Gary.
Wrist Support (Please Don’t Skip This)
Bad wrist support equals bad mornings.
Velcro closures are easiest. Lace-ups
look cool but are annoying unless you’ve got a full-time glove-tying assistant.
(I do not.)
The Best MMA Gloves for Beginners (From Someone Who Messed Up First)
Hayabusa T3 MMA Gloves
These are the gloves I should have bought first.
The wrist support is unreal. Like, “why didn’t all
gloves do this?” unreal. Dual straps keep everything locked in place, which
saved me more than once when my technique got sloppy—wait, when my technique
got sloppy? It still does sometimes.
Pros:
●
Excellent protection
●
Rock-solid wrist support
●
Comfortable even in long sessions
Cons:
●
Not cheap (but cheaper than physio)
Venum Challenger MMA Gloves
These are everywhere. For a reason.
They’re affordable, flexible, and forgiving. Great for
beginners who are still figuring out whether MMA is a phase or a lifestyle.
My gym smelled like sweat and Venum gloves for an
entire summer. June 7th, 2019. That smell still haunts me.
Pros:
●
Budget-friendly
●
Good balance of padding and movement
Cons:
●
Won’t last forever under heavy use
RDX Ego MMA Gloves
If you’re just starting out and don’t want to drop
serious cash yet, these are solid.
They’re not fancy. They work. Sometimes that’s enough.
Pros:
●
Cheap but usable
●
Comfortable interior
Cons:
●
Durability is… okay-ish
Gloves for Professionals (or People Who Train Like One)
Fast forward past three failed weight cuts and
countless rounds of sparring—this is where glove choice gets picky.
Fairtex MMA Grappling Gloves
Fairtex doesn’t mess around. These gloves feel precise.
Light. Responsive.
I borrowed a pair once and immediately understood why
pros love them. Also immediately understood why they cost more.
Pros:
●
High-quality build
●
Excellent grappling feel
Cons:
●
Pricey (but worth it)
UFC Pro Style MMA Gloves
These are about as close as you get to the real-deal
competition feel.
Minimal padding. Maximum feedback. You feel
everything—which is great if you know what you’re doing and terrible if you
don’t.
Pros:
●
Competition-ready
●
Lightweight and accurate
Cons:
●
Not beginner-friendly at all
Twins Special MMA Gloves
Built like tanks. Seriously.
They’re a bit bulkier, but if you train hard and often,
these gloves can take abuse. Mine survived six months of bad hooks and worse
takedown defense.
Pros:
●
Durable as hell
●
Strong wrist support
Cons:
●
Slightly bulky
Beginner vs Professional: How I’d Choose Again
If I could go back?
Beginners:
●
Thicker padding
●
7oz–8oz
●
Comfort over cool factor
Professionals:
●
Lighter gloves
●
Better materials
●
Performance first
Simple. Not easy. But simple.
Taking Care of Your Gloves (Learn From My Mistakes)
Do not—do not—leave your gloves in your gym bag. I did
that once. Once.
Air them out. Clean them. Use wraps.
The cracked glove deodorizer from Pete’s
Hardware on 5th Ave saved my bag and my dignity.
Replace gloves when padding dies. Your hands will thank
you.
Random MMA Glove History Break (Because Why Not)
Fun fact: Early MMA gloves were barely padded at all.
Fighters taped their hands and hoped for the best.
As noted on page 42 of the out-of-print
“Combat Gear Disasters & Miracles” (1998), broken hands were basically a
rite of passage.
Progress is nice.
Conclusion
I learned the hard way that the right gloves can mean
better training, fewer injuries, and actually enjoying the grind instead of
dreading it.
Whether you’re just starting out or already deep into
the sport, pick gloves that match where you are, not where your ego thinks you
should be.