Gloves
MMA gloves
Competition MMA gloves are 4oz with an open palm so you can grip. Sparring MMA gloves are 6oz to 7oz with more padding across the knuckles. Do not spar in competition gloves — they exist to let you grapple, not to protect a training partner.
Why open palm
MMA gloves leave the palm and fingers free because you need to grip a wrist, a collar and the fence. That is also why they protect the striker far less than a boxing glove — the padding is a compromise, and everyone accepts it.
Thumb and wrist
Look for a thumb that is attached to the body of the glove. A free thumb catches in a gi, a fence and an opponent's guard, and thumb injuries end more training blocks than knuckles do.
Stock landing soon
We are not listing mma gloves yet. When we do, every one will carry the same thing our gis already carry — a verdict on whether it passes, checked against the body that governs your sport and dated.