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The Best MMA Gloves

Last updated on September 8, 2022

We looked at the top 10 MMA Gloves and dug through the reviews from 32 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best MMA Gloves.

Our Review Process

Don't Waste Your Money is focused on helping you make the best purchasing decision. Our team of experts spends hundreds of hours analyzing, testing, and researching products so you don't have to. Learn more.

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Our Picks For The Top MMA Gloves

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Product Overview
Key Takeaway
Pros
Cons
 Top Pick

Liberlupus Open-Palm MMA Gloves

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Liberlupus

Open-Palm MMA Gloves

Liberlupus came out with an MMA glove made for everyone, whether they want to train in MMA, kickboxing or even traditional boxing. These training gloves are made of synthetic leather.

Overall Take

For All-Around TrainingLiberlupus gloves come in two different sizing options: S/M and L/XL.

Pros
" Made of wear-resistant synthetic leather"
Cons
"As usual with this design, they are not great for heavy bags."
 Runner Up

Venum Challenger Double-Closure MMA Gloves

Venum

Challenger Double-Closure MMA Gloves

Venum's Challenger MMA gloves have layered foam, giving them shock absorption for adequate protection. They feature a hook and loop closure and black faux leather.

Overall Take

Stay SecureThese MMA gloves have an exclusive velcro-strap system for keeping them secure.

Pros
" Double closure system for easy access"
Cons
"Less padding makes striking more hazardous"
 We Also Like

Sanabul Essential Hybrid Sparring & MMA Gloves

Sanabul Essential

Hybrid Sparring & MMA Gloves

Sanabul Essential MMA Hybrid Sparring gloves are perfect for the gym with their unique designs. These faux leather gloves have a sizing system with options for S/M and L/XL.

Overall Take

Built to SparThese are not recommended for use with punching bags but are great for sparring.

Pros
" Sanabul also included a high level hand locking system, so your wrist is protected and the gloves won’t move."
Cons
"A seam that protrudes out away from the padding may be inconvenient to some"
 Strong Contender

ZooBoo Adjustable Half-Finger MMA Gloves

ZooBoo

Adjustable Half-Finger MMA Gloves

If you're looking for a wide range of color and design options, ZooBoo MMA gloves are a perfect choice. These gloves come in six colors and designs, each featuring a skeleton pattern.

Overall Take

Many Color OptionsZooBoo gloves are made with three layers of protection and come in six designs.

Pros
" Three layers of padding to ensure maximum comfort"
Cons
"Some users felt they weren't very durable"

Buying Guide

So, you want to start throwing hands? Either as a way to stay in shape, have fun or compete with others, getting into boxing and mixed martial arts are awesome choices. Of course, you’ll need a good set of gloves.

When you are looking to buy MMA gloves, you should keep a few things in mind, starting with the size. MMA gloves generally come in small, medium and large sizes, but there are sometimes only two sizes: small/medium and large/extra large. Try on the gloves before buying if you can to ensure a good fit, but if you’re buying online be sure to follow the measuring guidelines, which usually involves checking the circumference of your hand below the knuckles.

The material of your glove is also important to consider. MMA gloves are usually made from leather or synthetic materials. You’ll need to choose a durable make that will last long. Third, think about the padding on the glove. MMA gloves have different levels of padding, from light to heavy, and you’ll want to choose a glove with the right amount of padding for how you plan to use them.

MMA fighters wear gloves for two main reasons: to protect their hands and to improve their performance. The gloves’ padding helps protect the hands from injuries from punching. If you’re using your gloves to train exclusively on bags, you should be fight with light or medium padding but if you plan to spar against others, heavy padding might be the way to go.

The material used in the gloves also helps improve performance by providing a better grip and more dexterity. MMA gloves are an essential part of the sport, and you should choose yours carefully to ensure the best possible experience. Gloves should fit tight by securing the hook and loop closure, ensuring they stay on during training.

Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
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Products Considered

We identified the majority of the mma gloves available to purchase.
10

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

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32

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: Sports Illustrated Reviews, The Karate Blog, US Combat Sports, Boxing Addicts, BestReviews.

28,036

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 10 MMA Gloves and also dug through the reviews from 32 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best MMA Gloves.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

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Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in their category.

The Best Bang For Your Buck

ZooBoo Adjustable Half-Finger MMA Gloves

Key Takeawy

If you're looking for a wide range of color and design options, ZooBoo MMA gloves are a perfect choice. These gloves come in six colors and designs, each featuring a skeleton pattern.

What other experts liked

Three layers of padding to ensure maximum comfort
- Sports Illustrated Reviews
Made from premium PU leather, they are going to last for many training sessions before ever showing signs of wear.
- The Karate Blog
Features an ergonomically-friendly pre-curve design
- Heavy
The MMA Gloves made by premium synthetic leather and superior glove construction
- Boxing Addicts

What other experts didn't like

Not washable
- Sports Illustrated Reviews
Some users felt they weren't very durable
- Heavy

What to Look For

  • Leather and synthetic builds are both durable options for MMA gloves and should be considered worth the money.
  • Choose a glove with the right amount of padding for your needs. If you plan to actually fight against other people, opt for more padding than if you are only training on punching bags.
  • MMA gloves are designed to provide protection for you and the people you spar against, and choosing the right glove is vital in ensuring the safety of everyone involved.
  • Wearing MMA gloves is mandatory to participate in the sport, so make sure to purchase a pair before you think about competing at any level.
  • Most MMA organizations regulate the size, material and padding of the gloves used by their fighters, as to even the playing field and ensure an expected level of safety.
  • Sports within the MMA realm, like muay thai, may have specific requirements for their gloves, so a pair of general MMA gloves may not work.

More to Explore

MMA combines techniques from sports like boxing, wrestling, judo, jujitsu, karate and muay thai. While not introduced to the modern world until the 20th century, it’s believed that the ancient Greeks participated in a sport similar to what we now call MMA.

MMA gloves are a vital part of the sport and have a long history. Gloves have been worn in the sport of mixed martial arts since the early 1990s. The first MMA gloves were adapted from boxing gloves and were not explicitly designed for the sport. Over time, MMA gloves have evolved to meet the needs of fighters. MMA gloves are similar to boxing gloves in the ways they are padded but leave the fingers exposed for executing holds.

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