UFC glove model. Photo: UFC News / Twitter
The outcome of the main fight at UFC 321, held last Saturday (25), in Abu Dhabi, brought to light an old discussion in the MMA community: the design of the Ultimate's gloves. The duel between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane ended in the first round, without a result, after the Frenchman accidentally poked the champion in the eye, which generated criticism about how the current design of the equipment facilitates this type of infraction.
While it's widely agreed that the shape of the gloves contributes to the problem, the UFC has already attempted to address the issue. In 2024, the organization introduced a new model, dubbed '3Eight' and '5Eight,' which promised to reduce such incidents. In addition to minimizing fingerprints, the new gloves aimed to reduce hand fractures and featured a lighter, thinner, and more ergonomic design, eliminating seams that could cause cuts.
UFC initiative did not please fighters
The new model debuted at UFC 302 on June 1st, but the experiment was short-lived. Just five months later, at UFC 309 on November 17th, the model was abandoned after complaints from several athletes. One of the main critics was Sean Strickland , who slammed the equipment during the event's media day.
“They’re shit. Can we talk to the people who made these gloves? Have you ever been in a fight in your f***ing life? It seemed like a good idea, but it’s shit. You dropped the ball on this one,” the former middleweight champion said.
Strickland wasn't the only one. Other athletes, like Islam Makhachev , also complained about the stiffness of the new gloves, claiming they increased the risk of cuts during fights. The American, however, disagreed with this assessment:
"If you get cuts from being hit in the f***ing head, don't get hit in the f***ing head. You get finger wounds because you open your f***ing hand. So don't open your hands and it won't happen. People create problems that don't exist," he countered.
Discussion about gloves is nothing new in the UFC
The topic, however, is not new. In 2010, UFC president Dana White had already admitted that the organization was working on a new model that would naturally curve athletes' fingers, preventing them from pointing directly forward.
"We've already started developing a glove that actually curves your hand. This way, you can open your hand, but your fingers won't be straight and pointing at your opponent's face," Dana explained in an interview with ESPN Los Angeles.
Despite the initiatives, White also argues that educating fighters is essential to avoid the problem:
"Guys need to keep their hands closed. You can't get close to your face with your hands open. It's that simple," concluded the UFC president.
Commentator Joe Rogan has a different proposal. In February 2024, after a fight between Henry Cejudo and Song Yadong at UFC Seattle was also interrupted by a finger poke, the commentator suggested a practical solution: covering the fingertips of the gloves.
"There's no reason not to cover your fingers. A layer of leather over the tips would be enough; it doesn't hinder grappling or striking. This way, if the eye is struck, the contact will be blunt, not something that penetrates the eyeball," Rogan said.
The commentator added, reinforcing the importance of additional protection:
"Cover all your fingers and add a layer of soft foam. Even if there's an accidental touch, you won't have a nail sticking into your opponent's eye," he concluded.
Watch the moment Ciryl Gane poked Tom Aspinall in the eye
Did I want to see Aspinall tough it out, fuk yes. Problem is, you can't fight if you can't see. You can't convince me it wasn't intentional. Look at this BS. Gane is a sucker for this. pic.twitter.com/dATu7RqJxw
— ⒷⒾⒼ ⒷⒺⓇⓉⒽⒶ (@RyanBlazik55) October 25, 2025
Due to an accidental foul this fight has been declared a no contest. #UFC321 pic.twitter.com/geB3tGevL8
— UFC (@ufc) October 25, 2025
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