Islam
Makhachev is confident that he will keep the belt. He also
wants to frame it together with the new gold gloves.🎥: Sport 24 (YT) pic.twitter.com/Su3xvtaGoq
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA)
May 25, 2024
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Order Now! UFC 302 “Makhachev vs. Poirier” Saturday at 10
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Islam
Makhachev (25-1) has mixed reviews about the new
Ultimate Fighting Championship gloves.
The new gloves will debut at
UFC 302 where Makhachev is set to defend his lightweight title
against Dustin
Poirier (30-8) on June 1 at Prudential Center in Newark, New
Jersey. Upon testing the new gloves, Makhachev found them stiffer
than the prior generation, restricting the extension of one’s
fingers. While the gloves have been re-designed to prevent
lacerations, Makhachev believes they could instead lead to more
cuts due to the stiffness.
“The [new gloves] are very stiff. As I told you, they will cause
more cuts, as the previous UFC gloves were softer,” the Dagestani
told Sport 24 in a recent interview. “These are stiffer. They don’t
let you fully open your hand just to make sure the fingers don’t
extend straight forward. But overall, they are pretty much the
same. I am going to frame them next to the belt, as the first
golden gloves in the UFC. I believe that means a lot.”
Meanwhile, Poirier found the new gloves softer and lighter than the
old ones. He also likes them better as they allegedly make it
easier to make a fist, while the old ones naturally kept one’s
fingers outstretched.
Makhachev is currently riding a 12-fight winning streak, tied for
the longest in the division’s history. The lightweight champ scored
a head kick knockout in a rematch against Alexander
Volkanovski in his last title defense at UFC 294 in October
2023.
Meanwhile, Poirier earned the third gold bid of his career under
interesting circumstances. Arman
Tsarukyan was originally offered the shot after his UFC 300 win
over Charles
Oliveira last month. “Ahalkalakets” turned it down citing the
quick turnaround. With Makhachev adamant on fighting in the summer,
the UFC called upon “The Diamond,” who is coming off a second-round
knockout win over French standout Benoit St.
Denis.
Order Now! UFC 302 “Makhachev vs. Poirier” Saturday at 10
p.m. ET on ESPN+