Looking for the best MMA gloves? Well you’ve come to the right place. With so many different types of MMA gloves to choose from it can be hard to find the right pair for you. Some fighters even use different pairs of gloves depending on what type of training or sparring they will be doing. Many trainers believe one set of gloves isn’t enough, and this can be true depending on your skill level and if you plan on stepping in the octagon anytime soon. Remember, your gloves and a good mouthguard are the only two things protecting you in the octagon so make sure you invest wisely in your health and safety.
Gloves are an important piece of protection that you must wear when practicing MMA. Many believe MMA gloves are there to protect your partner the same way boxing gloves do, however this isn’t true at all. MMA gloves are only for your own hand and wrist protection. Most MMA gloves are 4 ounces, so you can see how this isn’t much protection at all. It’s always recommended you wear a set of hand wraps under your MMA gloves.
The truth is, MMA gloves can be very expensive. It’s important to find a pair of quality gloves that are more durable and longer lasting than a cheap pair that will only be good for a few months. There is a wide range of gloves at your disposal as a mixed martial artist. This guide will take you in-depth and explain all of the pros and cons of some of the best MMA gloves for training that are available today.
The Difference Between MMA and Boxing Gloves
It’s important to educate fighters on the different between MMA and Boxing gloves. The reason why this is important is because many fighters (including myself) try to cut corners and costs on almost everything. MMA gloves are one of the things you just can’t replicate with a pair of boxing gloves. The reason why you can’t use boxing gloves in MMA training is because you won’t be able to grapple with boxing gloves. Grappling with your opponent through clinching or on the ground is obviously an important part of MMA training.
Weight and Size
Another obvious difference between MMA and Boxing gloves are the weight and size difference of the two. Boxing gloves traditionally range from 8oz to 16oz, while MMA gloves typically range from 4oz to 6oz. This is a huge difference in size, not only when it comes to the protection of your hand and wrist, but also when it comes to the protection of your training or sparring partner. MMA is obviously one of the most dangerous sports out there, however you’re actually more prone to getting a concussion through boxing because of the amount of blows you can take through bigger and more padded gloves.
In order to choose the correct MMA gloves size you have to measure the palm circumference of your hand as shown in the picture below.
The following table shows the MMA gloves size that you should choose according to your hand. Sizes may vary depending on the brand.
MMA glove weights vary by the type and function of the glove. Bag gloves traditionally weigh more than competition gloves because they have more padding to protect your hands. Sparring gloves are usually heavier to protect your sparring partner from injury. There are even some “hybrid” style gloves that are somewhere in the middle between competition gloves and bag gloves.
Here are the types and weights for the various types of gloves:
- Competition Gloves: 4-6 ounces
- Training/Grappling/Hybrid Gloves: 7-10 ounces
- MMA Sparring Gloves: 7-10 ounces
What to Think about Before Buying MMA Gloves
Glove Type
This is important because there are many different styles of MMA gloves available. Today we’re going to talk about three different styles of gloves so that you can figure out what style is more suited for your type of training.
- Competition Gloves – MMA competition gloves have minimal padding and typically weight 4 ounces or less depending on the competition rules. The fingers are separated allowing movement and the ability to grapple and hold onto your opponent. It’s important to wear hand wraps or inner gloves under your MMA gloves because of the small amount of padding provided.
- Training/Grappling/Hybrid Gloves – This style of MMA glove can go by several names, usually I just call them my MMA training gloves. They have segmented fingers with padding covering up to the second knuckle. This type of finger design allows your hands and fingers to have enough movement to grapple while giving you some level of protection for punching. Should you wear MMA Gloves for heavy bag training?
- Sparring Gloves – When sparring in MMA and doing heavy bag workouts the main focus is on striking and punching techniques. MMA sparring gloves weight around 6oz to 7oz on average and have more padding around the top and front of your hand to protect them from unnecessary punishment. Similar to boxing gloves, MMA sparring gloves have a grip bar that helps form a tight first for punching, this also makes them less suitable for grappling style workouts. Remember, for non-MMA sparring (no grappling) it’s better to use boxing gloves.
Material and Quality
- Leather vs Synthetic Leather – Leather is the higher quality of material and the best choice for MMA gloves. The downside to leather is that it’s much more expensive when compared to synthetic materials, however it’s much more durable and natural. Synthetic leather can also be a good option, but many fighters can feel the different between leather and synthetic leather MMA gloves.
- Foam Padding – The most common type of padding used in MMA gloves is foam. Many brands use a layered foam when constructing their MMA gloves, while others use regular foam. It all comes down to quality, the cheaper gloves will usually be less durable and less likely to hold up over months of use. It’s important to look for gloves with quality foam padding, read the reviews other users who have personally owned the gloves left.
- Wrist Strap – It’s always important to look for a solid velcro wrist strap when purchasing MMA gloves. The wrist strap basically holds the entire glove together and keeps your hand and wrist secure and tight.
- Country of Origin – Another important aspect to think about when shopping for MMA gloves is the country in which the gloves are manufactured in. The best MMA gloves are often made in Thailand (similar to shin guards), where the combat sporting gear industry has a huge presence. Cheap MMA gloves are often from countries like China and Pakistan and are made with cheap materials to cut cost.
Should you Spar with MMA Gloves
Sparring with MMA gloves can be risky because the gloves are so lightweight that damage is easily inflicted through punches. If you plan to spar in MMA it’s always best to buy heavier MMA gloves (such as 7 ounces). Sparring in MMA is much different than sparring in Muay Thai where you have heavier and much softer boxing gloves that are more forgiving. This is why you need the absolutely best MMA gloves for sparring.
Remember, MMA sparring is much more useful for developing your transitions from stand up to the ground game. If you want to work on your pure striking skills then you should be “stand up only” sparring in Muay Thai or pure Boxing. It’s much safer to spar with heavier gloves as they are much more forgiving, however, it’s more likely to get concussions through repeated head trauma that comes from boxing with heavier gloves. I highly recommend visiting our ultimate sparring guide if you plan on sparring with MMA gloves.
MMA sparring is great when it comes to grappling and learning how to fight standing up and transitioning to the ground game for some ground and pound. While you should only go as hard as your sparring partner in training, I would avoid sparring anyone who is going to lose their temper and start sparring hard with MMA gloves on. MMA sparring gloves are still light in padding and don’t offer nearly as much protection as needed when sparring hard.
The 10 Best MMA Gloves for Training
Hayabusa T3 MMA Gloves
Guru’s Choice! – Guru Score: 9/10
Pros:
– 6 different colors to choose from
– Amazing anti-microbial technology
– Multi-directional Dual-X closure
Cons:
– Takes some time for the gloves to break in
Guru Score: 9/10
I also have the Hayabusa T3 MMA 4 oz glove. I have a size L and my open hand circumference is about 9”. I keep thinking that I might want to get an XL at some point as they are snug. May I ask what glove size you have?
Hey Joseph,
I use both Medium and Large sized Hayabusa T3 MMA gloves, although your hands may be slightly larger than mine. Are they snug while wearing hand wraps or without them?