The Best 4 Gloves for MMA
Taking up the exciting sport of MMA? Whether you’re training for fun or looking to compete, hand protection is paramount. A solid pair of MMA gloves will provide ample cushion for those punching workouts and sufficient mobility for long grappling sessions. Not only that, you don’t want to be that guy or gal hurting your sparring partners with a pair of inadequate gloves. Not sure how to tell the difference? We’ve got you covered with our top picks.
Solid MMA gloves for grappling and striking
RDX MMA Gloves
The RDX MMA Gloves are the top training gloves we reviewed. The protection level they afforded was so good we felt we could hit the heavy bag all day, something that isn’t so easily said about MMA gloves. The gloves were comfortable, offered great wrist support, but still left us with ample mobility for groundwork. They are training gloves, so they are less suited than lighter gloves one would use in the cage for a real match, but most of your time takes place at the gym, not the arena, and that is where these gloves shine.
Pros:
Versatile
Ample cushion
Suitable for heavy bag work
Good wrist support
Cons:
Less suited for competition than some lighter gloves
The perfect MMA glove for beginners
Everlast Advanced 7-Oz Grappling-Training Gloves
If you’re a beginner just getting involved in combat sports, these are the gloves for you. At 7-oz they have extra padding which means extra protection. In addition, they are comfortable yet firm, to help protect beginners from some common beginner mistakes when striking. The closed thumb design is also a great segue for those moving from boxing to MMA. For grappling; however, the extra bulk of the 7-oz glove and closed thumb design making establishing grappling grips a little bit more difficult.
Pros:
Extra padding
Good wrist support
Excellent for striking training
Sweat protection
Cons:
Less suitable for grappling exchanges
A slight chemical smell due to the sweat protection
Grappling focused? These gloves are a must
UFC 5-oz MMA Gloves
Is ground fighting your jam? If so, you’re probably worried about how MMA gloves are going to impact your grappling. With the UFC 5oz MMA gloves worry no more. These gloves were some of the lightest and most mobile we’ve ever tested. You’ll have no problems taking your opponent down and working your magic on the mat without having to worry about your gloves getting in the way. However, given their lighter build, the padding on these gloves is less protective than some of the other pairs we reviewed.
Pros:
Light weight
Great for grappling
Mobile
Cons:
No transition padding between knuckles and wrist
Less suited for extensive heavy bag work
MMA gloves with the best cushion for strikes
Venum Undisputed Gloves
Great for any MMA workout or training that is heavily stand-up focused, the Venum Undisputed 2.0 MMA gloves were some of the best we tested when training strikes. The high wrist support and strap system helped maintain good hand position and offered protection from occasional slip ups. However, the added padding throughout the glove made grappling exchanges a little bit more difficult for us.
Pros:
Great for the heavy bag
Lots of cushion
High wrist support
Cons:
Slightly bulky for groundwork
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why can’t I use boxing gloves for MMA?
MMA stands for mixed martial arts, a combination of kick boxing, wrestling, and submissions. Boxing gloves offer the best protection for punching, but other elements of MMA such as wrestling require the ability to grip with all five fingers, something that isn’t possible with boxing gloves.
Q: How much do typical MMA gloves weigh?
MMA gloves typically weigh between 4 and 7oz. Top caliber fighters usually fight with 4-oz gloves, while amateur competitors may use heavier gloves with more padding. For training purposes, even heavier gloves may make sense to add extra protection. The downside is increased bulk which makes grappling a little bit more difficult.
Q: Do gloves also protect my sparring partner?
Yes! While the predominant focus of MMA gloves is to protect the wearer, padding also softens blows your opponent receives, and padding around the knuckles in particular reduces the risk of breaking the skin of your opponent with a strike.
Q: What other equipment might I need to train MMA?
In addition to quality MMA gloves, you may want to consider buying shin guards, a cup, a rash guard, and MMA shorts.