What oz means on a glove
An oz is an ounce, about 28 grams. The number tells you how much one glove weighs, and almost all of that weight is padding. More ounces means a thicker layer over the knuckles and a softer hit.
Boxing gloves run from 8 to 16 oz and are often picked by bodyweight. MMA gloves are much lighter, because your fingers have to stay free to grab and the glove can’t get in the way on the ground.
| Weight | Where it’s worn | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 4 oz | Professional fights | The least padding. Usually supplied by the promoter. |
| 6–8 oz | Amateur competition (IMMAF) | More protection for amateurs. The official IMMAF glove is 7 oz; the organiser supplies it. |
| around 7 oz | Sparring and training | The most padding over the knuckles; protects you and your partner round after round. |
Professional fights: 4 oz
In professional MMA, gloves weigh at least 4 ounces. Under the unified rules used by US athletic commissions, the promoter supplies the gloves and fighters don’t bring their own. So you don’t need to buy 4 oz gloves for a fight, and for training they are too thin.
Amateur competition: 6 to 8 oz
IMMAF, the international amateur federation, requires gloves of 6 to 8 oz: open-handed, with finger and thumb loops and a hook-and-loop wrist strap, no laces. The official IMMAF amateur glove is 7 oz. The federation deliberately sets amateur gloves apart from 4 oz professional ones. Competitors don’t bring their own gloves; the organiser supplies them.
Belgrade hosts the IMMAF European Championships in 2025, 2026 and 2027, so these rules apply in Serbia too.
Before a competition, always check the rules of that event. The organiser sets the kit and often supplies it.
Sparring in training: around 7 oz
In training you do many rounds, week after week, with the same people. That’s why sparring gloves carry more padding than professional gloves. The foam sits over the knuckles and the front of the glove, and the fingers stay open so you can grab, take down and work on the ground.
CUTLINE sparring gloves are 7 oz, with open fingers, a protected thumb and a hook-and-loop wrist strap, the same weight as the official amateur glove. They are made for training and sparring. In competition the organiser supplies the gloves, for amateurs and professionals alike.
CUTLINE sparring gloves, 7 oz, sizes M, L and XL.
SEE THE GLOVESCan I spar in 4 oz gloves?
For regular sparring, we don’t recommend it. Thinner gloves protect your partner less, and sparring is training, not a fight. If your coach says otherwise for a specific drill, listen to your coach: they know what contact was agreed.
MMA gloves on the heavy bag
MMA gloves are fine for short technical rounds on the bag. For long, hard bag work, boxing gloves are the better choice, since they have more padding and support the wrist better over a high volume of punches.
Not sure what size to get? Read the MMA glove size guide.
FAQ
What oz MMA gloves for sparring?
Around 7 oz. Sparring gloves carry more padding than professional gloves, to protect you and your partner over many rounds.
How heavy are UFC gloves?
Professional MMA gloves weigh at least 4 oz, and the promoter supplies them for the fight.
What gloves are worn in amateur MMA competition?
Under IMMAF rules, 6 to 8 oz gloves, open-handed with a wrist strap; the official IMMAF glove is 7 oz. The organiser supplies the gloves, so check the event rules before you enter.