The UFC has introduced two new lines of gloves that will debut on UFC 302. The golden-colored 5EIGHT, to be used exclusively in title bouts and other five-round bouts, and the 3EIGHT gloves, to be used in all non-title three-round bouts, were unveiled by the promotion earlier this year. The new range of gloves, according to the Las Vegas-based promotion, features certain improvements over the previous gloves, most notably a design to keep fingers curled to prevent eye-pokes.

In addition, the gloves are supposed to be better padded, provide a better fit, and give more protection against cuts because of added padding. However, not everyone is happy with the gloves. Ahead of UFC 302, let us take a look at Dana White‘s revelations about the gloves being used since last year and some notable fighters’ thoughts on it.

Dana White reveals how they settled on a new glove design

Dana White spoke about the process of optimizing the new gloves in a post-event press conference after Power Slap 7. The UFC CEO revealed that while the gloves were going to be used for the first time at the Prudential Center card on June 1, they had already been tried out before. According to White, the new variant has been used since last year at Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS).

In addition, it has been tested out by fighters at the UFC’s Performance Institute (UFC PI) in Las Vegas. He claimed that the feedback and critique from the fighters were taken into account and the design was revised in accordance with it before the final version was settled upon. “So when you start to put the gloves together, they have to be tested and the only real way to test the glove that’s going to be fought in, is to do it in a fight. So they worked it out, they were able to let some of the guys use them, they got feedback from them, they made some changes,” White told reporters at the press conference.

“They had fighters training with them down at the PI [UFC Performance Institute] sparring with them, and they took all the input from all the athletes and now we have the final product. Now they will really be tested in legit combat,” the UFC CEO added.

There is, however, no substitute for the real fight and White pointed out that the gloves will finally be used by fighters in actual fights. However, the reviews from the fighters are coming in as they have been practicing with it for UFC 302, and the feedback is not good.

Sean Strickland and Islam Makhachev criticize new gloves

Islam Makhachev, speaking about the new UFC gloves at the UFC 302 press conference, was not very happy with a few of the modifications. He felt that the new variant had a tendency to undergo noticeable wear and tear after only a couple of weeks, unlike the old gloves. In addition, the Dagestani felt that the design made it more difficult to straighten one’s fingers. “Honestly, I don’t like them too much. They become very old after I use them for two weeks. When you try to open your fingers, it’s a little difficult. The new ones, they keep your fingers closer,” Makhachev said.

Sean Strickland, gearing up to face Paulo Costa at UFC 302, shared Makhachev’s sentiments and in signature Sean Strickland fashion, blasted the new gloves, their design, and their designers. “They suck. Can we talk to the person who designed these gloves? Have you ever been in a fight in your f**king life? It’s like you get these f**king dorks that have no idea,” claimed Strickland.

What are your thoughts on the UFC’s new gloves? Let us know in the comments below.