Over the years, I’ve seen plenty of epic knockouts that left me speechless. There’s nothing like watching a perfectly timed strike connect, sending an opponent to the canvas. As thrilling as those moments are, I know the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is about more than just knockouts. It’s about the fighters—their skill, their grit, and their ability to compete safely. That’s why the UFC made the right call by introducing new gloves, and why they should stick with them.

Let’s not forget why the gloves were changed in the first place. Eye pokes have been a persistent issue in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), and they’re not just fight-enders—they’re career-threatening injuries. Remember Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad in 2021? A single eye poke forced the fight to end in a no-contest, leaving hundreds of fans frustrated and Muhammad with some vision issues. This isn’t a rare occurrence. Fighters like Michael Bisping have talked about permanent eye damage caused by years of fighting.

The new gloves aim to fix this. By limiting finger extension, they significantly reduce the risk of accidental eye pokes, making fights safer and fairer for everyone involved. Sure, they aren’t perfect, but they’re a massive improvement over the old gloves, which allowed fighters’ fingers to point straight out, practically inviting accidental pokes.

Some fans argue the new gloves have led to fewer knockouts, and I get it—knockouts are thrilling. Let’s be honest: the UFC isn’t lacking excitement. Fights like Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje 2, where Gaethje landed a clean head-kick knockout, proves that the new gloves haven’t made knockouts disappear. They’ve just made fighters think more carefully about their technique, which isn’t a bad thing.

More importantly, MMA isn’t just about knockouts, it’s also about the grind and the heart the competitors put into every single fight. Iconic fights like Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald 2 or Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega didn’t rely on quick finishes to captivate audiences. They were full-on battles, showcasing skill and resilience. If we reduce MMA to nothing but knockouts, we lose the depth and artistry that make it unique.

Beyond the fights themselves, the UFC’s decision to prioritize safety sends a message: it values its athletes as people, not just as entertainers. In a world where sports are increasingly scrutinized for how they treat their players, it matters. Combat sports already carry inherent risks, and anything that mitigates those risks is a step in the right direction.

Of course, the new gloves aren’t perfect. Fighters have voiced concerns about discomfort and difficulty throwing strikes with full power. The solution isn’t to go back to the old gloves, though, it’s to innovate. The UFC should continue refining the design to balance safety with functionality. Other promotions, like Bellator, have experimented with glove designs, and the UFC has the resources to do the same.

At the end of the day, this isn’t just about gloves, it’s about the UFC’s future. By sticking with the new gloves, the promotion proves it can evolve without sacrificing what makes the sport great. Fans will always appreciate the thrill of a knockout, but real fans know the fighters’ health is more important.

The UFC has a responsibility to its athletes and its audience. Keeping the new gloves—and continuing to improve them—is the best way to honor that responsibility.