The Ultimate MMA Gloves Guide
Questions answered. MMA gloves size & fittings, use on heavy-bags, sparring, competition & boxing glove differences.
Revgear have been in the MMA game since the early days of the sport. You could say that both MMA and Revgear have evolved together over the decades. In that time, Revgear has stayed with the times and maintained the best gear in the business. After years of questions from customers and fans, Revgear has decided to make this MMA Glove Q+A sheet. If you have a question about Mixed Martial Arts gloves, it is probably answered here.
What MMA Glove size should I choose?
There are two main sizes of MMA gloves and they both have different applications. The 4 oz professional fighting gloves that are used in pro fights, and the 5 oz “puffies” that are used for sparring and amateur fights.
The majority of MMA fighters will use both of these gloves for different situations and boxing gloves for heavy striking practice. For pure MMA practice, including sparring, drilling and mitt work, puffies, like the Revgear MS1 MMA training and sparring glove, are the best option.
They are more padded and have a single piece hand cage with a curve, so you are less likely to injure your fingers or eye-poke your partner.
If you are looking for a pair of gloves that have a closer feel to pro fighting gloves, then a hybrid glove that has individual finger padding is a good choice. The Revgear Deluxe Pro Leather MMA gel sparring gloves are a perfect example.
A pro glove without thumb padding, like the Revgear Challenger 2, is the glove you will want for a pro fight or a high level amateur bout.
How should MMA gloves fit?
Getting the right fit for your MMA gloves is super important for a good mix of comfort and safety during your training and fights. You want them snug but not suffocating – your fingers should reach the end of the glove comfortably, without feeling like they’re squished in there.
MMA Glove Thumb Fit
Make sure that thumb compartment fits just right, not too loose, not too tight. That strap around your wrist? It’s your best buddy. It should give you the support you need and be adjustable to your liking.
Try on a few designs and sizes – it’s like finding the perfect pair of jeans. You’ll know when they feel just right.
They should feel like an extension of your hand, allowing you to move freely while keeping you protected. Get that down, and you’re ready to roll!
MMA Gloves vs. Boxing Gloves – Which hurt more?
When compared to boxing gloves, MMA gloves are much smaller with less padding, so there is the potential for them to hurt your opponent more. However, because of the smaller amount of padding, it isn’t possible to put as much power into a punch without risking hand injury. So, compared to a boxing glove, particularly a 10 oz pro fight glove, the difference is negligible.
Are they good for punching?
Mixed Martial Arts gloves are great for punching in the right scenario. In a pro fight, where a fighter is wearing a pro glove like the Revgear Challenger 2, then the punching advantage comes from having a smaller glove that is able to fit through a tighter space and connect with the intended target. Because your opponent is unable to make a strong shield as they would be able to in boxing gloves, a puncher is able to make his shots count more.
Some gloves, like the Revgear MS1, are good for punching in sparring, with a similar reason as with the fight glove, but with some extra padding.
Using MMA gloves on the Heavy Bag
When hitting the pads or bag, then most MMA fighters opt to use boxing gloves, as they don’t want to risk injury while throwing powerful punches.
Using MMA gloves on the heavy bag comes with a bunch of risks. The fighter can graze their knuckles which are exposed. This is common on leather bags. They also don’t offer as much support around the wrist meaning that a misplaced 1-2 could land you with a boxer’s fracture.
Should I get boxing or MMA gloves?
The question of whether to get boxing gloves or MMA gloves comes down to what you are intending to use them for. A boxing glove is a superior glove to use for hand and wrist protection, making it the best choice for bag and pad work, as well as heavy striking sparring.
Mixed martial arts gloves are better for MMA sparring including grappling, as well as MMA drills. On the whole, someone training MMA will need at least one pair of MMA puffies, like the Revgear MS1, and a pair of boxing gloves, such as the Revgear S5 All Rounders.
What is the best brand?
There are a lot of options out there, with a few brands that make decent gloves. Revgear has been in the game longer than most and has put a particular emphasis on correctly fitting MMA gloves as compared to others in the field who have more of a boxing and kickboxing core.
Revgear has been making appropriately sized & fitted MMA gloves for pros and amateurs alike since 1996, and has a range of gloves from the pro Revgear Challenger 2, to the Revgear MS1 puffies, to the Pinnacle P4. Revgear has been the one stop shop for all MMA gear for almost 30 years.
What kind of Gloves do Mixed Martial Arts fighters use?
MMA fighters use a variety of gloves for different scenarios, normally carrying boxing gloves, puffies and pro gloves in the gear bag to the gym every day.
Punching the bag
Fighters tend to use boxing gloves for heavy striking sessions, be it blasting the pads, working the bag, or stand up sparring.
Padwork
Puffies are used for lighter work such as technical padwork and mittwork, drilling strikes and takedowns, and MMA sparring.
Fights
Pro gloves are used in the lead up to fights to get the fighter ready for a pro fight, but never in a heavy contact situation, as they offer the least protection.
How do you choose the right pair?
How you choose fitted MMA gloves depends on what you want to do with them and what level of quality you are looking for.
For MMA sparring and technical drills, puffies are the best bet. They come in a variety of materials, with more expensive but durable leather at the top end. Revgear MS1s fit into this category and are a great choice for someone who wants gloves that last a long time.
A cheaper, but sturdy option, the Revgear Pinnacle P4 uses a high tech synthetic outer that cuts the price, but doesn’t compromise on construction. The Premier range offers an even more affordable option.
What is the difference between MMA gloves and boxing gloves?
MMA gloves and boxing gloves are very different, each with a specific role.
Boxing gloves cover the whole hand and have a thumb connector, tying the padded them to the rest of the fingers. The fingers are entirely covered and are kept in a single hand cage. The wrist has a wide and strong support cuff.
MMA gloves only cover the striking section of the hand – i.e. the knuckles and back of the hand. The fingers are free for grappling. Pro gloves have no thumb cover, whereas amateur and puffy gloves have light thumb padding. The wrist section is not as wide or supportive as on a boxing glove.
Does the size of the MMA glove affect the power?
MMA gloves do not allow a puncher to hit harder, but it might feel like you are hitting harder as there is less padding.
The thinner padding on an MMA glove has two main effects. Firstly, you have to take out some of the force that you would normally be able to throw with boxing gloves, as MMA gloves are not only less padded, but also less supportive. This means that there is a higher chance of injury if a punch is thrown with too much power or inaccurately.
The second effect is that, due to the thinner padding, the impact feels greater. The knuckles dig in more, making the fist felt more than with a boxing glove. This may not have the same knock out power as a boxing punch, but it has more of a superficial damaging effect.
Should I get competition or sparring MMA gloves?
There are several types of MMA glove, from the four-finger competition gloves to the more protective puffies. What you are going to use them for is the main factor in your choice.
If you are going to have a pro fight, or looking to get as close as possible to that feeling, then pro gloves like the Revgear Challenger 2s are the glove for you.
If you are looking for an sparring MMA glove that you can use day in day out with a variety of applications from sparring to padwork, then a puffy glove like the Revgear MS1 is the clear choice. Most gyms will not allow you to use pro gloves in most training scenarios, so puffies are your only choice for training.
Is it OK to use MMA gloves on a heavy bag?
It is ok to use MMA gloves on a heavy bag, so long as you are not trying to throw heavy punches. Due to the lighter padding and milder support that an MMA glove offers, they can only really be used for technical drills on the bag.
Bag gloves are thin, allowing for good hand conditioning, but as they offer full hand coverage, they are a better option. Boxing gloves too offer a better punching bag option, as they are more protective, allowing you to hit harder.
What are the best punching bag gloves for MMA?
If you are going to use MMA gloves on a heavy bag, then puffies are a better option than pro gloves. Puffies, such as the Revgear MS1s, have padding over the knuckles that allow you to hit harder than with pro gloves. You will still have to be careful not to turn your wrists and to make good technical strikes, rather than power shots, but if use with good technique, puffies are the best heavy bag option of the MMA gloves.
Is it better to use boxing gloves or MMA gloves for heavy bag?
On the whole, boxing gloves are a better option for heavy bag work than MMA gloves since they offer more protection for the hand and wrist. They slip less on the hand and allow you to throw shots with more confidence and power.
Can I use MMA gloves for sparring?
MMA gloves are used for MMA sparring. Puffies, like the Revgear MS1s, are designed for MMA sparring as they have more padding than pro gloves, but allow for grappling as the fingers are free.
If you are just looking to do stand up sparring, most gyms will insist on boxing gloves, as there is less chance of injuring your training partners. Boxing gloves, since they are closed and have more padding are safer for striking sparring.
What size gloves for sparring?
For MMA sparring, 5oz puffies are the standard glove. They have more padding, but still enable grappling. They offer more protection than pro MMA gloves and, since they have a curve, limit the chance of eye pokes or finger bends.
What type of gloves should I use for sparring?
MMA sparring usually requires 5oz puffies. They are curved with thicker padding, allowing for a safer training session free from finger and eye injuries. They allow for good grappling and more realistic striking, as the fingers are free, but the knuckles have more padding.
If you are doing stand up sparring, most fighters will opt for 16oz boxing gloves, as they have more protection than MMA gloves.
Find out which MMA gloves are right for you here or view our collection.
