Several co͏ntroversial instances where fighters lost t͏h͏eir͏ fights due to eye pokes and other similar incidents have been criticized by fight fans and experts alike. Fairly͏ recently, in ͏the ͏Jus͏tin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway fight at UFC 300, ‘Blessed’ accid͏entally ͏poked ‘Highl͏ight’ in the eye͏ thr͏ee times. ͏After the ͏vic͏tory was claimed, the MMA commun͏ity sto͏od div͏ided. Nonetheless, considering such incidents, Dana White came forward with a new gl͏ove͏ ͏design.

Regardless, it seems as if the UFC supremo did not take any advice from Joe Ro͏gan. The multi-million͏ dollar p͏odcaster advised the UFC administration to use gl͏oves that could help ͏the fighters, but it seems like Dana Whi͏te ͏did the complete opposite according to UFC ve͏teran Dan Hardy. In his latest discussion with Ar͏iel He͏lwani, Hardy explains how the new gl͏oves are nothing more than an illusion.

New UFC gloves are a blunder despite Joe Rogan’s advocacy

When Chris Weidman defeated Bruno Silva at UFC in March of this year, a debate ignited in the MMA community about the need to change the UFC gloves, as the old ones were not effective in preventing eye pokes. At the same time, Justin Gaethje’s coach Trevor Wittman’s MMA gloves got a lot of attention from the MMA community. Joe Rogan even praised his gloves and emphasized that he would talk with the promotion to have them for the fighters.

The 56-year-old had a conversation with the UFC about the gloves but seems like the deal never passed through as the new gloves are just a newly painted version of the old glove according to UFC veteran, Dan Hardly. While having a conversation with Ariel Helwani on ‘TheMMAhour’, Hardy emphasized that the gloves seemed to be just a showpiece when he was asked about it.

“They look a lot like the gloves that they would ask you to autograph to give away.do you know what I mean that’s not good like they don’t look like they don’t look like a modernized version of the gloves that they’re currently using okay and I don’t think the shaping of the gloves changes the problem that we’re currently having I hope that it does and I will reverse judgment until I’ve seen a pair but they don’t look like they’re going to do the job to me,” said Hardy.

Well, according to sources the UFC did have a talk with Wittman’s for the gloves but they wanted an absolute ownership of the design but Wittman wanted his trademark. They never reached a conclusion and the deal was dropped. Well, Joe Rogan tried his best to have better gloves for fighters but he failed in his approach. Interestingly, there was a time when the podcaster stated that UFC fighters shouldn’t wear gloves.

The time when Rogan was against the gloves

MMA gloves are important for the fighters’ sake. The impact from the punches not only hurt the opponents but also themselves. Gloves protect fighters from heavy damage as well as accidental pokings. However, according to Joe Rogan MMA fighters shouldn’t use gloves in their fight as it defeats the entire purpose of MMA. Back in 2023, Rogan in conversation with Derek Wolfe on ‘JRE’ #1950, explained why bare-knuckle fights make more sense.

“My thought was like that’s how MMA should be. MMA really shouldn’t have gloves on.. because you’re really having it, you have a false sense of confidence, what you could do with your fists because this is not really designed for punching things. It’s designed for grabbing things.” said Rogan.

He further emphasized that the gloves just shield the fighters. “Elbows are way better for striking and knees and kicks are way better for striking but your hands break so easy but when you wrap them up in gloves and then put a foam pad over, then you could throw your hand up. It’s weird because it’s the only thing in your whole weapons arsenal that you’re allowed to cover up with padding and make more effective.” 

Rogan’s assessment might and might not be logical but wearing gloves does help the fighters to keep them in check. Nonetheless, what are your thoughts on Rogan’s statement? State your thoughts in the comments below.