2009 MMA Gloves Top Ten Lists

The Middleweight division is usually a pit stop for MMA fighters on their way up or down in weight class. For those that do decide to remain in this weight division as a mixed martial arts fighter they tend to run into the brick wall known as Anderson Silva, the current UFC Middleweight Champion, who holds the record for most consecutive wins in the sport. Many find this division too hard to get a championship and try to up to light heavyweight or drop down to the lower ranks. Unless he receives serious injury, Anderson Silva should still hold top ranking come the end of 2010.

MIDDLEWEIGHT – 185 pounds

1. Anderson Silva

With the longest active winning streak in the UFC, Anderson Silva is the current Middleweight Champion with 10 consecutive wins. Silva has a Black Belt in BBJ, he is another Brazilian MMA Fighter to have descended from the legendary Gracie family school of Brazilian Jui-Jitsu.

Anderson Silva is currently ranked as the top middleweight fighter in the world and trains through Black House with light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida. He also has had two fights as a professional boxer.

His 2009 MMA record was 25-4-0.

2. Dan Henderson

As the owner of Clinch Gear, an MMA Apparel company, Dan Henderson has a deep interest in the world of mixed martial arts. As the only mixed martial artist to hold concurrent titles in two different weight classes, Henderson was the last welterweight middleweight champion for the Pride Fighting Championships.

Dan Henderson combines his Olympic wrestling skills with mixed martial arts to make him a formidable grappler and submission specialist in either weight class.

Dan Henderson’s 2009 MMA record is 25-7-0.

3. Jorge Santiago

Jorge Santiago is a Brazilian mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter who trains with American Top Team based in Coconut Creek, Florida. Currently, he is the Sengoku Middleweight Champion and holds notable wins over Jeremy Horn, Trevor Prangley, and Kazuo Misaki. Santiago started his mixed martial arts career at Reality Fighting 2 in 2002 with a win over Jose Rodriguez. Since then, Santago has fought for Absolute Fighting Championships, King of the Cage, and a few other small organizations.

In 2006 he signed with Ultimate Fighting Championships, where he competed three times. He won his UFC debut against Justin Levens by first round KO, but lost his following UFC bouts against Chris Leben and Alan Belcher. After the two lost fights he left the UFC.

Jorge Santiago’s 2009 MMA Record is 21-8-0.

4. Nathan Marquardt

Nathan Joel Marquardt is an American mixed martial artist who is a three-time Middleweight King of Pancrase Champion, and currently fights in the middleweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Beginning a teenager, he studied the disciplines of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, kickboxing, Wing Chun, and Kenpo under instructor Alistair McNiven. Additionally, he took lessons in wrestling, and eventually began training under Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor Ricardo Murgel at age 18.

Nathan Marquardt’s 2009 MMA record is 29-8-2.

5. Yushin Okami

Currently ranked by Sherdog as 8th in the world for middleweights, Yushin Okami is a Japanese mixed martial arts fighter who has notable wins over Mike Swick, Dean Lister, Nick Thompson, and Evan Tanner, as well as a disqualification victory over Anderson Silva. As an amateur, Okami fought in the pre-Pride 4 tournament, defeating two opponents before submitting Yuuki Tsutsui in the finals via triangle choke to win the tournament. He began his professional career in 2002, fighting in the GMC promotion and Pancrase as well as making an appearance at Pride The Best Vol.3, amassing a professional record of 6-0.

Okami currently fights at middleweight for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Yushin Okami’s 2009 MMA record is 23-5-0.

6. Gegard Mousasi

Fighting for Team Jurojin from the Netherlands, Gegard Mousasi is the current Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion and is considered the 6^th ranked light-heavyweight in the world. Gegard is from Dutch-Armenian descent with training as a kickboxer and mixed martial artist.

He began his career as a middleweight fighter but after putting on weight after winning the 2008 Dream Middleweight Grand Prix and plans to move up eventually to the heavyweight division.

His 2009 MMA record is 27-2-1.

7. Vitor Belfort

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Vitor Belfort received his BBJ training from the famous Gracie family, earning his black belt from Carlson Gracie. Belfort is a competent Brazilian mixed martial artist, who has fought both in Japan and the United States andis a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion as well as the last Cage Rage light heavyweight champion.

Vitor Belfort’s 2009 MMA record is 19-8-0.

8. Kazuo Misaki

While 2009 wasn’t the best year for Kazou Misaki after receiving a suspended sentence for felony evasion in Tokyo, Misaki is ranked 7th in the world by MMA weekly for middleweights. Kazou is a Japanese professional mixed martial arts fighter and former judoka. He is the 2006 PRIDE Welterweight Grand Prix winner, and currently fights in Strikeforce while suspended indefinitely from fighting in some of the Japanese tournaments.

Kazuo Misaki’s 2009 MMA record is 22-10-2.

9. Yoshihiro Akiyama

Yoshiro Akiyama is a Japanese mixed martial artist and judoka of Korean decent. In 2001, Akiyami won the gold in Asian Championships and in 2002, the Asian Games for South Korea and Japan respectively. As a mixed martial artist, Yoshiro became the 2006 K-1 HERO’S Light Heavyweight tournament champion and is currently ranked as 8th middleweight in the world by MMA Weekly. He is currently with the US promotion Ultimate Fighting Championship and was victorious in his first UFC bout against Alan Belcher at UFC 100.

Yoshiro Akiyama’s 2009 MMA record is 13-1-0.

10. Jake Shields

Raised in Sierra Nevada Mountains of northern California, Jake Shields began wrestling at age nine and has competed in over 650 folk, freestyle and submission wrestling matches. Currently ranked as 7th in the world by Sherdog for middleweights, Sheilds is the former Shooto World Champion, and is the current Strikeforce Middleweight Champion. He has trained extensively with Cesar Gracie, and is the captain of the “scrap pack” which includes fellow Cesar Gracie students Dave Terrell, Nick Diaz, Nate Diaz and Gilbert Melendez.

Jake Shields 2009 MMA record is 24-4-1.

2009 MMA Gloves Top Ten Heavyweights List

HEAVYWEIGHT 205+ pounds

2009 was a big year for the heavyweights and 2010 might be the year of Fedor Emelianenko if he gets a chance to compete in the UFC and if Brock Lesnar stays out of the sport due to his recent illness.  2010 will definitely see some changes for this volatile weight division and we can expect this MMA Gloves list to definitely be different come the end of 2010.

1. Brock Lesnar

Whether his future is uncertain due to recent illness, there is still no other monster in the sport of MMA like Brock Lesnar. This man is a powerhouse in professional sports with a successful career in both professional and amateur before taking on the Octagon. Entering the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2007 and losing to Frank Mir, Lesnar has since gained the Heavyweight championship and successful regained the victory over Mir.

In 2009, Lesnar contracted a bacterial illness which left a hole in his intestine and many speculate that the damage could permanently remove him from the sport of mixed martial arts. As of the end of 2009, there is still no decision on whether Lesnar’s championship will be up for grabs.

Lesnar’s MMA record is 4-1-0.

2. Frank Mir

Born into the world of martial arts, Frank Mir, the former two-time UFC Heavyweight champion, comes from a family of kenpo karate instructors. In high school, he had a successful wrestling career and felt that there was no need to develop a background in Brazilian Jui-Jitsu until losing to Tim Sylvia in 2004. Since then, he has earned his black belt in BBJ.

Considered the 3rd best heavyweight in the world by Sherdog, Mir’s MMA career in 2010 hinges on the return or lack of return of Lesnar in 2010. Mir is also a color commentator for World Extreme Cagefighting.

Frank Mir’s record for 2009 is 13-4-0.

3. Fedor Emelianenko

Considered one of the most relentless and best fighters in the MMA, Fedor Emelianenko is one of the sport’s most underrated mixed martial arts fighters. This Russian born heavyweight fighter has an impressive ruthless precision to his fights, an immense strength and dedication to MMA training.

Fedor has held five separate major championships, the “bad man” of the MMA waits for the day the UFC opens its door to him so he can prove to the world who the greatest fighter is.

His current 2009 MMA record is 31-1-0.

4. Josh Barnett

Barnett’s career in the world of mixed martial arts and professional wrestling has always been shadowed by his abuse of performance enhancing drugs like steroids. In 2002, after becoming the youngest Heavyweight champion with a win against Randy Couture, Barnett had tested positive for three anabolic substances and had his license suspended for six months.

Since then, this American wrestler has had his share of victories and success in Japanese wrestling, and was their fro the premiere event for Affliction where he scored a knockout in the second round.

In 2009, Barnett again test positive for steroids and might spend 2010 benched due to drug use.

Josh Barnett’s MMA record is 24-5-0.

5. Shane Carwin

Ranked 10th in the world as a heavyweight by Sherdog, Shane Carwin’s rank will definitely rise in 2010. With the absence of Lesnar, Carwin will probably face Mir in UFC 111 in March 2010. Carwin started out as an amateur wrestler in college and graduated with a degree in engineering. While most MMA fighters are just fighters, Carwin continues to work as an engineer while remaining undefeated in the UFC.

Carwin’s MMA record for 2009 is 11-0-0.

6. Alistair Overeem

Nicknamed the Demolition Man, Alistair Overeem is a Dutch mixed martial arts and kickboxing phenom who currently holds the Strikeforce Heavyweight Championship. In 2009, he was involved in a major brawl that left his hand badly injured and has since stopped him from successfully defending his championship.

2010 will be a tough year for Overeem as Fedor has his sights set on his championship and we could possibly see a match between these two by the summer of 2010.

Alistair Overeem’s MMA record is 31-11-0.

7. Tim Sylvia

A legend in the sport of mixed martial arts, Tim Sylvia has held the UFC champioship and has fought in several leagues including IFC and Affliction. Growing up on a diet of karate and wrestling, this Maine native stands close to seven feet tall and carries close to 300 lbs. He has been described as “a big son of a bitch” by former UFC champion and MMA trainer Pat Miletich.

Over the years, Tim’s career has been sidelined due to steroid use and injuries to his wrist and arm which have kept him from being on the top of this list. In 2010, his future as a competotor remains a mystery due to injury.

Tim Sylvia’s 2009 MMA record is 25-6-0.

8. Brett Rogers

2010 will be a rebuilding year for Brett Rogers after ending his undefeated streak in November 2009 to Fedor Emelianenko. Ranked 5th by Sherdog and 7th by MMA Weekly, Rogers is still an impressive MMA fighter and continues to grow within the world of mixed martial arts as he fights for Strikeforce.

Brett Rogers 2009 MMA record is 10-1-0.

9. Randy Couture

At the age of 46, there seems to be no slowing down of the MMA Hall-of-famer. Randy Coutre has spent more than 25 years as a mixed martial arts fighter and is one of the few MMA fighter to have held titles in two seperate weight classes. Since his return in 2008, he has been a major force in the UFC and had lost two major fights to Brock Lesnar and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira before dropping to the light heavyweight division and winning against Brandon Vera.

Randy Coutture’s 2009 MMA record is 17-10-0.

10. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira has had an impressive career as an mixed martial arts fighter. He has been the Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion, has held the  WEC Title in 1999, won the Rings 16 man tournament 2000, PRIDE Heavyweight Belt. Nogueira holds the Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo (received both in 1999).

2010 could be a big year for Nogueira depending on the fate of Brock Lesnar and the prominence of Frank Mir waiting for his new shot. We should see Antonio place much higher by next year’s MMA Gloves Top Ten.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira’s MMA record is 32-5-1.

We are going to start a tradition on this website of listing the top ten fighter for the year by several categories in the world of mixed martial arts. The first list we put together is the all important pound for pound list. The top ten MMA fighters listed below are taken from different leagues and different weight classes and are the pinnacle fighters in the sport of MMA.

2009 MMA Gloves Top Ten List

1. Lyoto Machida

Ranked on most lists in the top five best pound for pound fighters in the sport of mixed martial arts, Lyoto Machida is the current light heavyweight champ in the UFC. As of November, this Japanese-Brazilian MMA fighter is undefeated in his professional career.

Making his debut on UFC 67 against Sam Hogar, Lyoto Machida has steadily risen in the ranks of the MMA.  His unique style has elements from a diverse training background and is always prepared for every situation. Described as elusive, his precision in the art of counterstrikes makes his opponents make those critical mistakes that allows this effective fighter to capitalize and win.

His record at the end of 2009 was 16-0-0.

2. Fedor Emelianenko

Considered one of the most relentless and best fighters in the MMA, Fedor Emelianenko is one of the sport’s most underrated mixed martial arts fighters. This Russian born heavyweight fighter has an impressive ruthless precision to his fights, an immense strength and dedication to MMA training.

Fedor has held five separate major championships, the “bad man” of the MMA waits for the day the UFC opens its door to him so he can prove to the world who the greatest fighter is.

His current 2009 MMA record is 31-1-0.

3. Georges St. Pierre

As the 2009 UFC Welterweight Champion, Georges St-Pierre is a the top of most pound-for-pound charts and is considered the best welterweight champion in the sport of mixed martial arts. This Canadian born  MMA fighter earned his Brazialian Jiu-Jitsu belt from Renzo Gracie and then moved on to train with some of the top names in the MMA.

Considered by many to be the “the one to beat” in MMA, fans and interviews alike want to see how Pierre can do against champions BJ Penn and Machida to decide who is the best overall fighter in mixed martial arts.

His mixed martial arts record for 2009 was 19-2-0.

4. BJ Penn

A Hawaiian-American, BJ Penn is 209’s current light heavyweight champion in the UFC. With a background in mixed martial arts and Brazilian Jui-Jitsu, Penn is considered the most talent martial artist in the sport of MMA as he was the first non-Brazilian to win the black belt division at the World Jui-Jitsu Championship in Brazil with only three years training.

BJ Penn’s fighting style is like a well-precisioned machine as punches and takedowns seem to catch no hold on him. He has the distinction as one of the few fighters who have never been taken to the mat and he is currently the only the second fighter to have held championships in to separate weight classes.

His 2009 record was 15-5-1.

5. Anderson Silva

With the longest active winning streak in the UFC, Anderson Silva is the current Middleweight Champion with 10 consecutive wins. Silva has a Black Belt in BBJ, he is another Brazilian MMA Fighter to have descended from the legendary Gracie family school of Brazilian Jui-Jitsu.

Anderson Silva is currently ranked as the top middleweight fighter in the world and trains through Black House with light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida. He also has had two fights as a professional boxer.

His 2009 MMA record was 25-4-0.

6. Rashad Evans

As the 2009 winner as fight manager on The Ultimate Fighter and former winning fighter of The Ultimate Fighter 2, Rashad Evans has previously held the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, losing to Lyto Machida.

Having an early career as a college wrestler, the Michigan State graduate has held an amazing record of 48-34 and won the National Junior college championship in 2000.

His 2009 MMA record was 13-1-1.

7. Miguel Torres

Mexican American mixed martial artist, Miguel Torres fights in 2009 for the World Extreme Cagefighting organization and is a former WEC Bantamweight champion. Before his MMA career with the WEC, Torres held the bantamweight title for the US Shooto organization and for the Ironheart Crown.

Torres fights primarily in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with a lethal Muay Thai striking arsenal. In September 2008 Torres received his black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from Carlson Gracie, Jr.

His 2009 MMA record was 37-2-0.

8. Gegard Mousasi

Fighting for Team Jurojin from the Netherlands, Gegard Mousasi is the current Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion and is considered the 6^th ranked light-heavyweight in the world. Gegard is from Dutch-Armenian descent with training as a kickboxer and mixed martial artist.

He began his career as a middleweight fighter but after putting on weight after winning the 2008 Dream Middleweight Grand Prix and plans to move up eventually to the heavyweight division.

His 2009 MMA record is 27-2-1.

9. Quinton Jackson

As the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson has had a successful career in and out of the Octagon. His schedule fight with Rashad Evans has now been put on hold so Quinton can play B.A. Baracus in the new version of the A-Team. Jackson is supposed to return at a later date to fight against Evans who was his competition as manager on The Ultimate Fighter in 2009.

Quinton Jackson rose to success fighting in Japan’s Pride Championships where his aggressive style and powerful takedowns led him to victory against Ricardo Arona. While not currently fighting, he is still a major force in the world of mixed martial arts.

His 2009 MMA record is 30-7-0.

10. Mauricio Rua

Considered the 2^nd best light heavyweight in the world, Mauricio’s recent loss to Machida came at a mixed decision among critics and fight fans and many feel the Mauricio had done more damage to Machida. Rua has had a successful career as a mixed martial artist and holds wins over some of the best in the business including Chuck Liddell, Ricardo Arona, and Quinton Jackson.

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and his younger brother, Murilo “Ninja” Rua, also fights in the MMA. After his rematch with Machida in 2010, Rua could shoot to the top of this list.

His MMA record for 2009 is 18-4-0.

A Look At Various MMA Glove Manufacturers

Hayabusa Fightwear is considered one of Canada’s top companies for MMA gloves and apparel. In addition to having some of the best high performance guards, fight shorts and street wear, Hayabusa has also designed and produced some of the mixed martial arts world truly superior MMA gloves. Hayabusa Fightwear was the official MMA fightwear supplier of Hardcore Championship Fighting in Calgary before it folded.

The Hayabusa fight team consists of Mateus Trindade, Patrick Cote, Rob Macdonald, Fabio Holanda, Nabil Kathib, and Jason Day.

Reviews From The Internet

“I’ve had the glove for several weeks now, and I’ve used it on almost a daily basis. They are definitely the best MMA gloves I’ve ever worn, in comfort, in durability, and in results.”

“When I first put them on, they felt very comfortable. They are just a bit too big for my hands. Just a tiny bit. I have small hands, and they gave me a medium; But It isn’t much of a big deal. The padding in the inside really makes it feel comfortable, and the material they use are top quality. These are my first MMA gloves ever and I don’t know if these gloves have a lot of padding, but it seems as if other MMA gloves has less padding then these. When I first got them, and wore them, they felt a little stiff..but after wearing them for a while I did not feel any stiffness in the gloves, It is not hard to clinch your fist with these gloves.”

Price Comparison on Hayabusa MMA Gloves

Hayabusa Fightwear makes some of the best long lasting MMA gear in the business, but expect the price of this gear to cost 10 to 30 dollars more than most glove manufacturers. But if you were looking to invest in just one pair of gloves for training and fighting, then I would suggest buying a set of Haybusa’s Hybrid MMA gloves. While more expensive than regular gloves, the dual use and strong leather durability of these gloves makes up in the long run for the cost.

Hayabusa MMA Sparring Gloves

Hayabusa MMA Sparring gloves are suitable for all types of combat training. They are ergonomically-designed for maximum striking power and precision and are made of durable leather and foam construction with hand crafted Mexican style design with a dual cross-closure system for the best stability and wrist support when exchanging blows.

Hayabusa Pro MMA Fight Gloves

Hayabusa Fightwear Pro MMA gloves have an exclusive Y-shape volar design that keeps gloves tight to the palm whether you have your fists clenched or when your hands are open. These gloves are 100% leather with a dual-cross directional strap system which helps maximize striking and wrist support.

Hayabusa Hybrid MMA Gloves

For those that want a glove for practice and the ring, then the Hayabusa Hybrid MMA Gloves are all about versatility.  These gloves are created with an exclusive extra thick Pro Complex™ Padding and provide maximum knuckle protection.  With Hayabusa Hybrid MMA Gloves, they have an ergonomically perfected design with perfect fit and comfort unlike other regular Hybrid gloves.  The Dual Cross Directional™ closure system offers superior wrist support andare ideal for all MMA training.

A Look At Various MMA Glove Manufacturers

For close to fifteen years, Bad Boy has been providing the mixed martial arts community and its athletes with the most innovative equipment with the highest quality to benefit those who compete and train in the growing sport of MMA.  Many fighters have fought under the Bad Boy label and it has its roots in the legendary Gracie family, and has been the sponsor of Rickson Gracie whose sporting of a Bad Boy Kimino in the nineties helped launched this company into international recognition as a fine supplier of mixed martial arts and jiu jitsu equipment .

With fifteen years of dedication to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and the world of MMA, Bad Boy’s MMA gear and especially their gloves comes with a unprecedented loyalty that is not met with any other organization among those in the mixed martial arts world. Some fighters even have the Bad Boy logo tattooed on their skin to show their loyalty to this product.

Some of those who proudly sport  Bad Boy gear are current champion Lyoto Machida, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Diego Sanchez, Junior “Cigano” Dos Santos, and Ruger ”El Matador” Huerta, the first MMA fighter to be featured on Sports Illustrated.

Customer Reviews From the Internet

“These gloves have some of the softest leather I have seen in a boxing or muay thai glove. The construction is quality, for instance the logo on the wrist strap is embroidered not silk screened on. Only downside is that the fingertip area is a little tight on me.”

Cost Comparision

Bad Boy Gloves cost around the same as other gloves within their caliber of professionalism. They are not too pricey, but don’t expect to find a super cheap pair. But when you want to find a glove that can last for sparring or fighting

Bad Boy MMA Fight Gloves

These MMA Gloves have been tested through battle in rings and cages around the world. They have cut fingers with an open thumb and palm spots. Bad Boy MMA Fight Gloves have a wider Velcro wrist strap for extra wrist support with all leather construction. Sizes are  M, L, XL, XXL.

Bad Boy MMA Training Gloves

These Bad Boy MMA boxing gloves have five layers of foam protection and the soft leather has a worn in feeling and is one of the most comfortable gloves for mixed martial arts training. These MMA gloves have excellent hand protection with a pre-curved fit for comfort and need only a small break in period. These gloves have a hook and loop wrist wrap for a secure fit and come in sizes 12, 14, 16 and 18 ounces.

Bad Boy Curved Contour Focus Mitt

This MMA practice glove is made of superior leather construction with 2” contour shock-absorbing padding. It has a curved design that is more anatomically correct and is perfect for handling straight jabs, punches, hooks, and even uppercuts. It’s hook and loop wrist attachment secures the glove snuggly to the wrist.

A Look at Various MMA Glove Manufacturers

“I’ve been in the fight game for over 30 years and accumulated a wealth of knowledge. I took my personal experience as a former kickboxer plus my years of protecting fighters and I applied that knowledge to my job, and now to gear as well.  For years I’ve said “they should do this” or “they should make it like that”, so now I specifically set out to correct all the design defects in the gear fighters and trainers have been using.  I didn’t re-invent the wheel, but I made small, critical improvements and kept them affordable!  I think you’ll immediately feel the difference in comfort and quality when you’re using my gear.  While I used nice leathers, strong stitching (of course!), ergonomic forms, and engineered foam, I kept the price under control.  Anyway, I hope you’re as pleased with this gear as I am proud to put my name on them!  -Jacob “Stitch” Duran

If you’re a boxer or mixed martial arts fighter and you’re bleeding, Jacob Duran is the man you want in your corner.

Known simply as Stitch throughout the sport, the 55-year-old Duran is an elite cutman. His job is to help look after the safety of fighters while allowing them to do what they do best.

“It’s an odd trade, it’s a great trade,” Duran told The Canadian Press in an interview prior to Saturday night’s UFC 67: All or Nothing card at the Mandalay Bay. “I think I’ve the best job in the world.”

Review For Stitch Duran MMA Gear (from the Internet)

“I own a ton of stitch duran gear, these are THE best mma gloves from this brand

These have a full open palm, no bridge between the thumb/rest of hand, makes for a true ufc style glove, these are top quality competition gloves

For pro events I would recommend these since they have better stitching (literally) than the UFC brand gloves, these are built better”

At 56, Stitch—everyone calls him Stitch—is the most famous cutman in the world because he is the principal cutman of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and its subsidiary, WEC. And mixed martial artists separate themselves from other athletes in many ways, most notably in how often they bleed. Stitch has risen on that ugly tide like a boat. He discovered kickboxing in 1974 while stationed in Thailand with the Air Force. After he returned to northern California, he opened a kickboxing school in Fairfield, where he first tried his hand at closing cuts. By 1995 he’d migrated to Las Vegas, drawn to the glow, and found full-time work as a boxing cutman. (He still freelances for several boxers, including Wladimir Klitschko.) When MMA took over town, Stitch became the company man, put on contract by the UFC in 2001 to work most of its events, including Nov. 15’s Randy Couture-Brock Lesnar heavyweight title fight. For tonight’s event alone, he’s been assigned the 10 fighters coming out of the red corner. A lot of them get cut when they report for work at Blood Inc.

Stitch Duran MMA Gloves and Gear are low cost, high quality gear that are perfect for new and serious mixed martial artist who want to hone their craft to enter the Octagon.

MMA Gloves: Everlast Gloves

As a company that’s been around since 1910, Everlast has been leading the world in boxing equipment since the early days of that sport. Now, with the popularity of mixed martial arts, Everlast now has MMA gloves that are exclusive to the sport.

For those who train hard, Everlast MMA gloves are some of the best on the market for their ability to handle intensive rough sessions and still have the durability to last through the years. Many Muay Thai fighters and MMA ring specialists like the brand recognition that comes with an Everlast product.

The average price of MMA gloves made by Everlast is less than a hundred bucks. Their gloves are made of high quality leather and have an air vent in the middle of the palm to help promote airflow. Most of their gloves have four layers of protective foam which is very important when sparring or training on the heavy bag.

Hand and wrist injuries are the most common occurrence that keeps most mixed martial arts fighters out of the Octagon. Most injuries do not happen during bouts but during training when wearing the wrong equipment puts a fighter out of competition. Everlast MMA gloves not only offer protection, but also fit snugly and the loop feature offers great wrist support.

If you happen to be a grappler, than Everlast’s MMA Grappling Gloves are excellent during groundfighting or submission training. The gloves have the right level of padding without leaving your hand with any flexibility. For a reliable MMA glove, Everlast will always be a leader in sports equipment.

MMA Gloves By Everlast

Most Everlast MMA gloves have an EverDRI™ lining which provides moisture wicking as well as antimicrobial protection so gloves will stay fresher longer. They have an open palm design for grip and ventilation with a supportive hook-and-loop wrist strap that helps supply long lasting durability and functionality.  

Amateur MMA Competition Gloves

Premium Leather Grappling Gloves

7 oz. Leather Striking Training Gloves

These high-grade leather mixed martial arts training gloves are designed for striking and heavy bag work. They have open-palm design features with a curved anatomical grip and fit, solid curved foam padding for protection , anatomical thumb padding for mobility and supportive 18″ hook-and-loop wrist strap with tri-sect closure that offers extra support  and protection.

Different Types of MMA Gloves

When it comes to the world of mixed martial arts, there is a lot more to the Octagon then just punching, kicking and wrestling.  Having the right gear, not just for fighting, can be very important to a fighter and having the right types of MMA gloves can make the difference not only in a match but in the long term care of your wrists and hands.

Most people when they think of MMA gloves really only think about the ones used in the ring, but there are several types.

Types of MMA Gloves

Sparring Gloves

These gloves are specifically designed and used for protection during practice bouts. A MMA fighter does not want to damage his hands, nor hurt his opponent during sparring and regular mixed martial arts gloves are not suitable for practice. Make sure when purchasing sparring gloves that they state clearly that the gloves are for sparring or else you can seriously injure anyone you practices with.

There are two types of sparring gloves on the market. The first kind looks like regular MMA gloves and have individual finger slots. The other kind of gloves has a large striking pad and finger loops. Both types offer more padding than regular MMA gloves and are sufficient for training.

Bag Gloves

When needing to hit the heavy bag, sparring gloves are not suitable, nor are fighting gloves. A mixed martial arts fighter needs to have more padding and wrist support to handle the stronger forces when striking heavy bags and striking pads. A typical MMA bag glove has increased wrist support and denser pads. Other features might be a grip bar built into the glove. These gloves are not interchangeable with other types, so do not use them when fighting or sparring.

Fight Gloves

Having less padding than sparring gloves, fight gloves are specifically designed to for fighting. When getting MMA fight gloves be sure to check the weights and get the gloves that are approved by your fight organization as certain weights are not legal for MMA competition. Four ounce gloves are usually the standard. Because these gloves have very little padding, do not use them to spar.

Hybrid Gloves

There are hybrid gloves that can work for a couple or all of the above categories, but if you are serious about becoming a MMA fighter then it is best to get individual MMA gloves of each type. This will help your gloves last longer and will help prevent injuries that can develop from using the wrong gloves.

Best MMA Gloves – UFC Ultimate MMA Grappling Gloves

MMA gloves are probably the most important part of a mixed martial artist’s equipment. So, deciding on the best glove will probably be the most crucial decision in a MMA fighter’s career. If you need a glove for just sparring or one designed for official sanctioned MMA fights, then the UFC Ultimate Fighter Grappling Gloves are the ones to choose.

These MMA Gloves were well thought out. A lot of research and design went into these gloves to make them the best quality and utility that very few MMA glove manufacturers can match.  A lot of MMA fighters back this glove for overall consistency within the Octagon.

The cost of one pair averages about 39.95.

Some reviews from around the web:

“I own both the Official MMA Grappling Gloves and the UFC Ultimate Grappling Gloves, and the Official is my favorite. I have no complaints about either.”

From actual user review on QualityJury

“Goldmine. I have long practices and these don’t bother me to leave on like my old gloves did.”

From actual user review on Yahoo Shopping

Manufacturer description / features:

The only glove tested and approved by the UFC and required in the Octagon for all UFC events. Features pre-curved fingers to reduce hand fatigue and an open palm design for maximum dexterity. Constructed from 100% genuine leather with fully adjustable wrist wrap for maximum support.