What Size MMA Gloves Do I Need? And How to Choose

MMA gloves are one of the integral parts of every mixed martial artist’s kit. There are so many options available both in terms of design and the training you are undergoing. From vintage iconic Randy Couture gloves to the regular boxing gloves being sold online, several options are available. The first step in choosing the right glove for you is figuring out your glove size.  

The fit of your MMA boxing gloves is the most telltale feature about the glove’s functionality. The glove needs to fit securely in the fighter’s fist; otherwise, their motion will be restricted. The wrist also needs to be secured snugly so that the glove does not slip or change positions. 

In Mixed Martial Arts, there are numerous layers to a fighter’s technique and functionality. The fighters’ gloves are one of the most critical parts of their attire as the gloves can significantly impact the form and training of the fighter. Finding the right fit of gloves can not only be daunting but confusing as well, and we are here to make your dilemma easier.

How to Choose MMA Gloves Size? 

There is no doubt that Mixed Martial Arts has become one of the most popular sports today. MMA fans are significantly higher today than they were in the past decade. People of all ages are now interested in Muay Thai, boxing and MMA. From young people to older fans, watching MMA icons like Conor McGregor and Anderson “The spider” Silva is nothing short of an experience. 

Because of the increase in the popularity of MMA fights, many people have shown interest in learning MMA techniques. The primary and foremost concern that new fighters learning MMA have is choosing the right sized fighting gloves. 

This confusion stems from a vast number of options and opinions available all around the new fighters. Contrasting opinions are circulating regarding which size of MMA gloves you should opt for. It is not that difficult to find the right glove size for yourself. Mostly, fighters tend to buy their gloves online and cannot try them before purchasing. For this reason, a size chart helps. Sizes of MMA gloves have the unit oz. and are generally sold in the sizes 8oz., 10oz., 12oz., and 14oz. 

Your glove size should ideally be dependent on the circumference of your hand, as well as your body weight. The general size chart used by MMA trainers and players is as follows: 

Fighter’s Weight	Hand Circumference	Size of the glove.
88-120 pounds (40-54 kgs)	5.5” – 6.5”	8oz.
120-151 pounds (55-68 kgs)	6.5” – 7.5”	10oz.
151-186 pounds (69-84 kgs)	7.5” – 8.5”	12oz.
Above 186 pounds (84 kgs)	8.5” – 9.5”	18oz.

Measuring your hand’s circumference can be difficult and confusing to you, especially if you are an amateur in the world of MMA. However, the process of doing that is quite simple. Take a measuring tape and wrap it around the fullest part of your hand. Ensure that you are using your dominant hand to wrap the tape around, as this will minimize error entirely. Furthermore, ensure that your thumb is outside the measuring tape. 

Measure your hand circumference in the method described above. Tally it with your body weight and figure out which MMA glove size will suit you best. The chart is more or less universal, but exceptions may occur depending upon the muscle mass of your hand. For this purpose, it is essential to correctly measure your hand’s circumference and body weight.

It also helps if you compare your hands with other friends that do MMA to figure out whether you have more muscle mass than usual people and could be an exception from the size chart – although that is highly improbable. 

How Should MMA Gloves Fit?

Fighters tend to become severely attached to their fighting kit and gear. However, one part of an MMA fighter’s attire that becomes their style uniquely is a fighter’s gloves. 

However, MMA gloves have a lot of purposes other than looking good. They are an eloquent tool that protects both the fighter and the opponent from severe harm and allows a fight to go through smoothly. The padding of an MMA glove increases the surface area of the blow and distributes the force – allowing any possibilities of serious harm to be minimized. 

These purposes of an MMA fighting glove cannot be achieved if the glove does not fit perfectly in the fighter’s hands. A fighting glove is easily the Mixed Martial Artists’ best friend when they are in the ring. 

For a good and fair fight and proper and ideal training, you need a glove that has a perfect fit. An ideal MMA glove fits snugly into the hands of the fighter. Snug, by no means, is synonymous with tight. Tight gloves tend to restrict the motion of the fighter. This can cause problems with the comfort of the fighter during the fight. It will also decrease the force with which the fighter will be throwing the punches. Ensure that it is comfortable and easy to clench and unclench your hand into a fist when you are wearing your gloves.

Moreover, the fitting of your fighting glove should be secure so that there is no possibility of your glove shifting positions or slipping off during training. For this purpose, make sure that the straps of your glove are fastening securely around your wrist. Although the lace straps are better when it comes to the fitting, the Velcro strapped gloves are easily more functional and easy to fasten.  

What Are the Different Types of MMA Gloves? 

Apart from fitting your glove, there are also different types of fighting gloves used for different purposes. The purposes differ based on the making of the glove. There are different types of gloves being used for different types of fights in MMA. These gloves differ with respect to the padding and sewing and the fit to some extent. Usually, there are three types of MMA fighting gloves being sold in the market. They include:  

Training gloves

These gloves are better known in the MMA world as grappling gloves or hybrid gloves. These gloves have the least amount of padding in them and are mostly used for training purposes in the grappling or grabbing and holding techniques. 

These gloves have minimal padding, and the fingers also move independently of the other fingers. This allows for a more excellent range of movement, which is the prime need when practicing grappling motions in MMA fighting. 

Sparring gloves

Sparring is a form of free fighting where the fighting session is extended. These sessions are usually used to train the fighter in terms of accuracy and stamina. Therefore, these gloves are more padded than the actual competition gloves and are not used for proper combat training. 

However, the sparring gloves can minimize the force being thrown at the opponent during the sparring. This allows both the fighters to spar for an extended period as no seriously painful blow is being cast. However, it is still recommended to wear protective gear for your head and teeth during MMA sparring to avoid all sorts of damage. 

Competition gloves

These are the MMA fighting gloves with a padding range between those of training gloves and sparring gloves. They weigh between 4oz. To 6oz. and are used in actual MMA fights and competitions. 

The padding is generally thicker for beginners, and they use gloves that weigh 6oz. as thicker gloves offer more protection to the fighter and beginners require better padding. 

Competing in MMA isn’t just about choosing gloves with adequate padding for protection; it’s also about understanding what gloves fit your fighting style the best. Over the years, I’ve found that certain gloves enhance my performance in different fights. For example, if you prefer clinching, gloves that offer a good grip during transitions are crucial. To make an informed choice, check out the MMA gloves that match your needs perfectly, from beginning your training to stepping into competition.

Our Recommendation for MMA Gloves 

MMA gloves are available all over the World Wide Web. You can pick many choices, and therefore the whole process of selecting a perfect MMA fighting glove becomes quite daunting and confusing. We are here to help you with your selection by giving you our top pick for MMA fighting gloves. 

Our Best Overall MMA Gloves Pick

We take MMA very seriously and make sure that you get only the best information regarding recommendations. Our top pick from the massive range of MMA gloves being sold online is RDX MMA Gloves. They are a fantastic pair of fighting gloves that can be used both for sparring as well as combat. These gloves are multipurpose and can be worn for MMA, Muay Thai, and Kickboxing etc. 

Read our complete review of RDX MMA Gloves.

You can buy these gloves easily on Amazon, and rest assured, the best product will reach your doorstep.

Our Budget MMA Gloves Pick

We have already recommended the RDX MMA as our best pick for MMA gloves. However, if you are on a tight budget and are looking for a good pair of MMA gloves without it being too heavy on your pockets. We have your problem solved as well. We recommend the Cheerwing MMA and Boxing gloves. Although they are not the best MMA gloves for the price that they are available in – these gloves are the best bargain you will ever make. 

They are sure to serve their purpose and give you more than their price’s worth when it comes to durability and functionality.