UFC Returns to Old Gloves for UFC 309
The UFC’s new fight gloves debuted across its events in June 2024, but the rollout did not last. Ahead of UFC 309 in November, fighters were told the card would use the previous glove model. Dana White said he chose the switch after hearing complaints about the new design, including concerns from heavyweight champion Jon Jones. The event-specific return became permanent a few months later.
Why the UFC changed its gloves
The redesigned 3EIGHT and 5EIGHT gloves were intended to improve fit and protection. The changes included a new wrist closure, revised padding and less binding around the fingers. The UFC said the design was built with athlete and coach feedback and aimed to reduce hand injuries, cuts and accidental eye pokes. The gloves first appeared in competition at UFC 302 on June 1, 2024.
A temporary return at UFC 309
In the lead-up to UFC 309, Jones described his relief at using the familiar gloves for his heavyweight title fight with Stipe Miocic. White later said he had heard enough criticism of the redesigned model to bring back the previous version for that card. This was a practical response to fighter feedback; it did not establish that one glove reduced eye pokes or improved safety across the sport.
The old model became the standard again
The UFC initially treated UFC 309 as a one-event return. After additional events using the redesigned gloves, the promotion abandoned that model and restored the previous gloves full-time beginning at UFC Vegas 102 on February 15, 2025. The change made the familiar design the current standard, while leaving the UFC’s experiment as a short-lived equipment update.
The episode is a useful reminder that equipment changes need to work for the athletes who wear them. The UFC set out to improve protection and function, but fighter concerns ultimately outweighed the redesign’s intended benefits. The older glove returned first for one major card, then for every event going forward.
