To say that gloves are unarguably the most piece of equipment a fighter should wear is an understatement. If any, it’s a two-piece of holy grail that can either make or break a fighter’s performance. Here we discuss MMA Gloves Vs Boxing Gloves
In the practice of MMA and Boxing, the gloves used by each respective fighter are actually different. Perhaps you might find this surprising, but I’m here to confirm such news for you.
But really, it shouldn’t come as a surprise because MMA Gloves Vs Boxing Gloves are two different sports so their hand equipment should differ as well – as it’s supposed to. Thus, let me tell you how they differ in terms of types, finger wraps, padding, and hand wraps.
| Feature | MMA Gloves | Boxing Gloves |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Open-fingered gloves with individual finger slots | Closed-fingered gloves with a thumb attachment |
| Padding | Less padding to allow for grappling and submission holds | More padding to protect hands from repeated punches |
| Weight | Generally lighter, around 4-6 ounces | Generally heavier, around 10-16 ounces |
| Purpose | Designed for mixed martial arts, which includes striking and grappling | Designed specifically for boxing and punching |
| Hand Movement | Allows for more flexibility and range of motion in the hand | Limits movement in the hand for a better punching technique |
| Closures | May have Velcro closures or laces | Usually have lace-up closures |
| Durability | Often less durable due to the lighter weight and less padding | More durable due to heavier weight and thicker padding |
| Training | Useful for MMA training and sparring | Used for boxing training and sparring |
| Competition | Required for MMA competitions | Required for boxing competitions |
| Cost | Generally less expensive than boxing gloves | Generally more expensive than MMA gloves |
It’s important to note that while there are differences between MMA gloves and boxing gloves, both serve their respective purposes well and are designed to protect the hands of the fighters.
MMA Gloves Vs Boxing Gloves
The Types of MMA Gloves
1. Competition gloves
As the name suggests, these gloves are used for competitions, especially the official ones. Regardless of your mastery level, be it professional or amateur, these gloves should be used when fighting inside the cage.
For professionals, a standard size of four ounces in padding is advised. While for the amateurs, a standard size of 6 oz is recommended.
2. Sparring gloves
Another one is these sparring gloves which are mainly used for sparring exercises. In terms of weight, these gloves are heavier than the abovementioned competition gloves.
In fact, they have a standard size of seven ounces so the fighters will be well-protected during any sparring activity.
These gloves are another hand equipment used in mixed martial arts bouts. They are mainly used during training sessions where grappling is commonly practiced, hence the name.
Out of all gloves, they have the slightest amount of padding with fewer constraints on the fighters’ fingers. Therefore, they allow the fighters to move their hands more freely when needed.
The Types of Boxing Gloves
1. Bag gloves
The first one on the list is the big gloves which are fitter for doing strenuous exercises such as punching heavy bags. In fact, these gloves are specifically designed for this purpose.
However, using these types of gloves for boxing or sparring is not recommended. As for its standard size, it ranges from eight to sixteen ounces. Pretty heavy, right?
2. Sparring gloves
Onto the next one are these sparring gloves which are the same ones as that of MMA. They are designed primarily for protection during athletic and sparring activities.
There are many available sizes for this one but the most common ones range from four to twenty ounces. You can also opt to have it custom-made so the gloves will fit your hands more comfortably.
3. Competition gloves
These are more or less like sparring glove, but it is specifically designed for official competitions. Particularly, they are used in line with international boxing’s standards of the fight.
All in all, they have lesser padding compared to the other gloves. Hence, a standard size of eight to twelve ounces is typically seen.
4. Lace-up gloves
Finally, we have the lace-up gloves. To be frank, you are only advised to use these gloves if you’ve already reached the level of a professional in boxing.
What’s good about these gloves is their flexibility which means they can be either used for training or official competition. Generally, it fits a standard size of eight to sixteen ounces. If you’d ask me, it is a pretty good deal.
They Differ in Terms Of:
The Fingers Wrap
Depending on which glove is used, it has this certain padded compartment that wraps your fingers like mittens. This also adds to the factor of comfortability for the fighters’ sake.
As for MMA fighters, the finger wraps tend to separate the fingers just like any other gloves and leave the final knuckles and fingertips exposed. This is a particular design for the purpose of grappling actions during the match.
The Amount of Padding
The other factor to be considered when nitpicking the difference is to look at the estimated amount of padding. For one, boxing gloves are typically made with a high amount of padding with a pound of soft material.
On the other hand, MMA gloves are sleeker, thinner, and less padded.
Hand Wraps
The last one perhaps is the use of hand wraps. For boxers, it is quite a necessity to keep their wrists protected since they do a lot of punching. Hence, the size of their hand wraps is extra-loaded to accommodate that much of stress.
While in MMA, hand wraps aren’t much of a priority. But they do have one which is characterized by a more compact material with little space between hands.
Final Words
In conclusion, MMA gloves vs boxing gloves serve different purposes in their respective sports. MMA gloves provide more dexterity and allow for grappling and submission techniques, while boxing gloves offer more protection and support for punching. It’s important to note that using the wrong type of gloves in either sport can lead to injury or even disqualification.
Whether you’re a professional fighter or just training for fitness, understanding the differences between MMA gloves and boxing gloves is crucial for your safety and performance.