The UFC has always been about evolution, from its no-holds-barred beginnings to today’s polished product. Back in June, at UFC 302, they rolled out fancy new gloves – golden gloves for champions and black ones for regular fighters. But sometimes, even the fanciest new toys don’t work out as planned.
Just days before UFC 309’s massive heavyweight showdown between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic, the promotion dropped a bombshell. They’re ditching the new gloves and going back to the old ones. The news came from veteran reporter Ariel Helwani, who probably had to double-check his sources to make sure someone wasn’t pulling his leg.
“UFC has informed the fighters competing on Saturday’s 309 card in NYC that they will be using the old gloves not the new ones introduced back in June, per multiple sources. Specific reason unclear at the moment.”
The timing couldn’t be more interesting for such a big change. UFC 309 isn’t just any card – it’s happening at Madison Square Garden. Jones and Miocic now have to adjust their training at the last minute. And nobody seems to know exactly why the UFC made this call.
These new gloves were supposed to be the next big thing in fighting gear. UFC CEO Dana White had talked them up like they were the greatest invention since sliced bread. The gloves were meant to prevent hand injuries and drastically reduce eye pokes. But going back to the old gloves raised questions, given Jon Jones’ history with eye pokes.
Fight Fans React To Change In Gloves For UFC 309 Main Event
The UFC has a knack for dropping surprises right before big events. When Ariel Helwani broke the news about the promotion switching back to old gloves for UFC 309, the MMA community went wild. The tweet spread faster than gossip at a family reunion, racking up nearly a million views in just a few hours.
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Fight fans took to the comment section to showcase their reactions to this event. Some fight fans believed that this was a pre-planned move by the UFC, giving Jon Jones an edge as he likes to keep his fingers open. They believed that eye poking would be a big thing in this event. Others believed that this change was due to the underwhelming performance of the golden gloves. Here are some of the reactions from fight fans:
Through all the chaos and commentary, one thing became clear: fight fans care deeply about every aspect of the sport, right down to the gloves fighters wear. Whether this change will impact the fights at UFC 309 remains to be seen. But the MMA community will surely be watching every punch thrown with extra attention.
Also Read: Jon Jones Unwilling To “Gamble” His Legendary Career Despite Fierce Criticism
