Jon Jones, veteran fighters push UFC back to old gloves

Zane Simon

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Publish Date: 11/15/2024

The UFC made a surprise decision this week ahead of their UFC 309 PPV event headlined by Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic.

The heavyweight title fight will go down on Saturday, November 16th at Madison Square Garden. There, reigning heavyweight champion Jon Jones will defend his title against former champ Stipe Miocic. The bout will be Jones' first since winning the belt over Ciryl Gane back in early 2023. For Stipe Miocic, however, it will be his first fight since losing his title to Francis Ngannou via KO in 2021.

That matchup, between two longtime veterans coming off significant layoffs, played a big role in a recent UFC decision.

UFC going back to classic gloves

On Tuesday, veteran MMA reporter Ariel Helwani announced the UFC would be going back to their old gloves.

"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," Helwani wrote in a post to social media. "Specific reason unclear at the moment."

The promotion rolled out a new design and brand affiliation back in April after more than 20 years of using their classic, black MMA glove design.

Jon Jones, other vets behind UFC glove change

Jon Jones played a part in the recent UFC glove change.

Initially there was speculation that the New York State Athletic Commission was behind the change. The NYAC has a history of bureaucratic meddling in MMA. Others speculated data showing the new gloves have dramatically reduced KOs in the UFC may have been behind the change. In truth, however, it seems the explanation was much more simple. Jon Jones didn't like the gloves.

"Jon Jones said he practiced with the new UFC gloves and he really didn't like them," MMA Fighting's Damon Martin reported. "Too tight, didn't like the movement, etc.

"He said Hunter Campbell called him and said with so many veterans on the card, they were going back to the old gloves for UFC 309."

Jon Jones reacts to glove switch

In a press conference, Jon Jones spoke to reporters about the switch back to the old gloves. The 37-year-old Jackson-Wink fighter was quick to praise the UFC's decision.

"I'm really excited about the old gloves," Jones told assembled media members. "I got sent a pair of the new gloves several weeks ago. I tried them on and I thought they were tight; I used to fit an XL and in the new glove I had to put on a 3XL. The shape, curving your hands like that [gestures]? They were very uncomfortable for me.

"And I was actually really stressed. I thought, 'How am I going to go into fight week wearing these gloves that I don't even want to train in?' So, when I got a phone call recently, Hunter said, 'Everyone on this card are veterans, why put a bunch of vets in the new glove? Lets give you guys all what you're used to.' It was a major relief to my coach, Brandon, who wraps my hands. It was a major relief to me as well.'

Jon Jones is thrilled the UFC is switching back to the old gloves for #UFC309

The UFC may not limit their decision to this week's PPV either. There are rumors that the UFC is considering using the old gloves for several future events as well.

"Some fighters were even told that [the UFC] will be using the old gloves for the next two PPVs, that's UFC 309 & 310," Helwani reported in a recent podcast.

The UFC set a welterweight title fight between Belal Muhammad and Shavkat Rakhmonov for their next PPV headliner. However, Muhammad has since withdrawn due to injury. Currently a flyweight title fight between Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Asakura sits as the card's feature bout.