Should the UFC Switch Their Gloves?

The sport of MMA is dangerous. Frankly, there's nothing to keep you safe either outside of the minimal padding in the four-ounce gloves they wear. The UFC has seen far too many eyes poked inside the octagon. To think the fighters have to worry about their opponent trying to destroy them, they also have a chance of getting hit with an accidental eye poke because the UFC gloves let your fingers move free. So what can they do? Well, there are alternative gloves out there that are designed almost like boxing gloves and mold the fighter's hand almost into a full fist. MMA coach, Trevor Wittman, has designed his own pair called ONX X-Factor gloves. Conor McGregor has his own pair of FAST Fighting training gloves that he came out with a year ago. However, Conor never advocated for the UFC to make the change.

Trevor Wittman has and the UFC denied him. Why? Why wouldn't the UFC want to create the safest environment possible for their fighters? Not only are Wittman's gloves designed to avoid eye pokes, but they're also designed to keep the bones in the fighter's hands intact. It doesn't make sense why the UFC wouldn't embrace these new gloves. The only logical answer is that the UFC is too concerned with its own brand because they sell training gloves as well. They don't want anyone else making money where they could be. That said, with the number of sponsors they have in the octagon I don't see why they wouldn't give Wittman a little spotlight and partner with ONX and just add the UFC logo to the glove. The UFC should want their fighters to sustain less damage and injuries. These gloves might not solve every injury the UFC has, but eye pokes would be null and void while you would also see a lot fewer broken hands due to the tight fist mold of the glove.