Collection: MMA Gloves

MMA gloves are open-palm and open-fingered, with the padding sitting over the knuckles only. That's what lets you grip, clinch, and grapple while still being able to strike. Boxing gloves close the hand completely and wrap it in far more foam, which protects both hands but makes grappling impossible.

The practical consequence is that MMA gloves offer much less protection. Padding is usually 4oz for competition and 6–7oz for training, compared to 12–16oz on a boxing glove. You can't hit a heavy bag with the same force in MMA gloves without risking your hands and wrists, and you can't spar hard in them without genuinely hurting your partner.

Competition gloves are 4oz, minimal padding, and built to meet the rules of a specific promotion. They're for fights, not for daily training.

Training gloves are usually 6–7oz with more foam over the knuckles and often a longer, more supportive wrist wrap. They're what most people should be buying for general MMA classes and light bag work.

Sparring gloves are the heaviest of the three, sometimes 7oz or more, with thicker padding across a broader striking surface and a more closed thumb. Some are hybrid designs that let you strike safely while still allowing basic grips. If your gym does hard MMA sparring, these are the ones your coach will want to see.

Don't try to use one pair for everything. Competition gloves in a sparring round is the most common way people get hurt.

Snug, with your fingers reaching close to the end of the finger holes and the padding sitting flat across your knuckles rather than sliding around. There's no room for hand wraps in most MMA gloves the way there is in boxing gloves, so the glove itself has to do the work.

Sizing is usually S through XL, based on hand circumference measured around the knuckles with your hand open. Check the individual brand's chart, since fits vary a lot. If the glove rotates on your hand when you make a fist, it's too big. If your fingers are cramped or the padding is bunching, it's too small.

Wrist support matters more here than the size does. Look for a wide velcro strap that wraps around the wrist rather than a short tab, because the small padding surface means more force goes through the wrist joint.

Check with the promotion or sanctioning body for your event, since requirements differ.

Most professional MMA rules require 4oz to 6oz gloves that are approved by the athletic commission overseeing the bout, and in most professional promotions the gloves are supplied on the night rather than brought by the fighter. Amateur MMA often requires slightly heavier gloves, commonly 6oz, and some amateur rulesets mandate additional thumb protection or a more enclosed design.

If you're competing amateur, confirm the required weight and any brand approvals with the organiser before buying, because a pair that's legal at one event may not pass inspection at another.