UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev has taken aim at the UFC’s official fight gloves after discovering they had stained his hands during training ahead of his UFC 330 showdown with Ian Machado Garry.
Makhachev was wearing the UFC’s official gloves during a training session when he noticed that the material had left dark marks across his hands. The welterweight champion was visibly unimpressed by the discovery and jokingly questioned the equipment’s quality. He said:
“Looks like I worked on coal mines, not on mats.”
Makhachev then turned his attention toward UFC president Dana White, questioning whether the gloves were genuine.
“The gloves, bro… Call Dana. What is this? China made or what? Or it’s fake?”
Check out Islam Makhachev’s comments below:
The comments quickly drew attention online, particularly because Makhachev is preparing for one of the biggest fights of his career. He will defend his welterweight title against Garry in the UFC 330 main event on August 15.
UFC’s Long-Running Glove Problem
Islam Makhachev’s complaint comes amid a long-running debate surrounding the UFC’s fight gloves.
The promotion introduced a redesigned glove at UFC 302 in June 2024, with the new model featuring additional padding and structural changes designed to improve protection while reducing eye pokes and hand injuries. The UFC specifically highlighted modifications intended to help fighters keep their fingers in a more natural position.
The redesign also introduced different color schemes, including gold gloves for championship fights and select main events. However, the new gloves lasted only around six months before the UFC decided to return to the previous design following complaints from fighters.
Islam Makhachev’s Latest Glove Complaint
Makhachev’s latest experience adds another unusual chapter to the UFC’s ongoing glove saga. While there is no indication that the gloves he used were actually counterfeit, the champion clearly was not impressed with their quality.
With UFC 330 now approaching, Makhachev will have far more important concerns once he steps inside the Octagon. Still, his latest complaint has once again put the UFC’s equipment under the microscope.
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