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MMA Gear Review: Truth Fightwear MMA Gloves

Quality mixed martial arts gloves are a good investment. You use this mma gear for stand up training, wearing and tearing them on the bags, and for getting used to grappling with fight gloves. Most quality fight gloves available today are quite expensive, ranging from about $40.00 to $60.00. Truth Fightwear mma gloves are an excellent alternative for only US $24.99 (exclusive of shipping and taxes of course). This fabulous mma gear from TXMMA.com has tough stitching and is of excellent quality. I say the stitching is strong because I’ve seen people spar with them for several months with not a loose stitch visible.

MMA Gear: Truth Fightwear Gloves for only US $24.99

The gloves themselves look great and comes with their own small bag. This allows people undergoing mma training to separate their gloves from other mma gear in the gym bag.

One downside is that the only design that is available is apparently only black. You may not be able to relive those days from Pride (where blue gloves were the official mma gear used).

Check the photo below to the open palm design. This allows for easy access in putting on and removing the mma gloves. Such a feature is a prefered option for mma gear among practitioners who train in grappling and clinching.

MMA Gear: Truth Fightwear mma gloves with open palm design

The holes through which you insert your fingers are quite smooth. My fingers do not seem to irritated as much with this mma gear. This lessens the chances for chaffing of the skin on the knuckles as well as irritation.

If you are searching for an inexpensive pair of mma training gloves or need a new pair to satisfy state athletic commission requirements on mma gear, then .

I have honestly not seen Truth Fightwear in stores so if you’re interested, you will have to visit www.TXMMA.com.

MMA Gear Review: Everlast EverGel Glove Wraps

Among the products used as boxing, kickboxing or mixed martial arts training gear, handwraps are among the most used but the least noticed. These are of course the covering between one’s hands and gloves, that usually take time and patience to put around one’s hands. (Unless you like sweating directly onto your mma gloves.)

MMA Gear: Everlast EverGel Glove Wraps

The gear for review in this article is Everlast Evergel Glove Wraps, an alternative to said handwraps and is supposedy more convenient to wear and more protective. The product is meant to be worn under bag gloves or training gloves or alone for use on light bagwork or the speed bag. It comes in various colors as seen in the picture. (Keep in mind that unlike other mma gear such as board shorts, these wraps are not too visible under bag gloves and so the color may not be so important.)

As the name implies, there is a gel layer for the knuckles covered with neoprene for added protection. The strap for locking the wrist has Velcro. There is a hole in the palm and mesh on top of the hand area of the glove wraps for air circulation in this mma gear.

During actual use, the gloves are very comfortable and easily slip onto one’s hands. The gel layer more than adequately protects the knuckles from getting too sore. In addition, unlike the traditional handwraps used under mma or boxing gloves, EverGel glove wraps do not move within the bag gloves. Too much shifting of the handwraps will cause the knuckles to be less protected during training.

On the other hand, these EverGel glove wraps also have negative attributes for use as mma gear. Compared to the usual handwraps, the main hand covering of EverGel is elastic material. Thus, the carpals (i.e. small bones of the hand) are less secure. Furthermore, using the glove wraps on the heavy bag will show evident wear-and-tear after just one session. The instructions actually do not recommend heavy bag use with the glove wraps. In that case, better have the traditional hand wraps as mma gear on the next session when using the heavy bag. All in all, Everlast Evergel glove wraps are a timesaving alternative to the handwraps when one is NOT about to pound the heavy bag.

MMA Gear Review: Windy Shin Instep Guard

Windy muay thai equipment and other windy products are a popular brand among muay thai circles and are being used by many mixed martial arts fighters.  The Windy company is based out of Thailand, and all the products are handcrafted from leather in Thailand.  Windy training equipment can be purchased here in the United States through the many websites that specialize in mma equipment.

One of those products from Windy is the pro-style shin instep guard.

This shin pad is made from 100 percent leather, which should add to the durability of the product and is available in two different colors, red or black.  There are three sizes available, large, regular and extra-large. These shin pads are priced at $59.99 from ringside.com.  After some checking around the prices for the shin pads do not vary from other websites.  The shin pads themselves are very slim and compact compared to other shin pads/guards that are available.  Some of the other shin pads out there feel like your wearing a catcher’s shin guards with the way the extra material hangs off your leg.  The Windy shin pads fit very comfortable around your lower leg and no extra material is hanging off from the sides.  Because of their slim fit they can be used to not only train in muay thai, but can also be worn when mixed martial arts training as they do not get in the way when doing ground work.

They have two Velcro straps with a metal loops. The metal loops are never against your bare leg, as there is a piece of leather behind it to insure comfort. The only negative I saw was that there was too much excess strap around my ankle.  This I assume can be fixed possibly cutting it down for a perfect fit, but risk fraying of the strap.   One feature that can be noticed is the extra padding right down the middle of the shin pads.  Extra protection in this area is vital for a muay thai fighter.  It will also insure that you aim your kicks perfectly so not to hit with another area of your lower leg. 

These pads can be used by a muay thai fighter or because of the slim fit can also be used by the mixed martial artist when sparring and it ends up on the ground.

MMA Gear Review: Brute Earguards

People like to show off scars. It’s a sign of manliness, particularly having engaged in a battle. One of the most common signs of battle in the mixed martial arts world is the cauliflower ear.

Impact to the outer ear may damage drainage causing accumulation of blood. The blood clot bloats up the ear, distorting it. A certain layer of the ear (the perichondrium to you eggheads) is separated from the cartilage. This prevents nutrition of the cartilage and its death. (To stop your boredom…) More scientific processes occur and the ear can be permanently deformed. This is a badge of courage among some fighters, wrestlers and grapplers. For other martial artists, partcularly the pretty boys, it’s an aesthetic dillema. In this population of martial arts practitioners, they need mma gear like earguards to prevent potentially ear-deforming trauma.

MMA Gear: A brand of earguards: the Brute Adult Shockwave Headgear

Brute Adult Shockwave Headgear is one such earguard. Its use in bjj, wrestling or mma training decreases the likelihood for the occurence of cauliflower ears. This bjj/ wrestling/ mma gear is light with soft straps. Other brands of earguards tend to have hard straps that may be uncomfortable for some grapplers. It is also not as likely go hinder escapes from a partner’s choke attempts. Some buyers of mma gear find this Brute headgear to fit well. Some feel the need for a wider chinstrap. Others declare the headgear slides off easily. There is also the issue of the velcro straps being on the front and back of the product. This may make it slightly more difficult to wear than other earguards.

Buying mma gear such as board shorts, rashguards and headgear is like buying underwear. One won’t know if it has the right fit until one rolls with it a few times. Sparring is the only time wherein one will experience if a product has the right fit or not. By that time it will be too unhygienic to return the product.

Note: Earguards, like rashguards, and wrestling shoes, are illegal for use in North American-sanctioned mixed martial arts events and may or may not be allowed in jiu-jitsu or submission wrestling competitions. However, using them in training will prevent health-related problems such as the cauliflower ear. Choose and purchase your mma gear wisely. Many martial arts practitioners have rolled without rashguards (but with shirts) or earguards and do not end-up with skin infections or disfigured ears.

MMA Gear Review: KO Fight Gear Full Faced Headgear

KO fight gear Peak Athletics, is a company that has a grass roots following, but that following is growing more and more.  One of the main reasons this company is growing in popularity among fighters, trainers, and just the average person, is its’ customer service.  YES!! Good customer service actually does help your companies’ customer base grow.  Their excellent customer service can simply be seen on the companies website.  They offer to send you two pairs of shin pads if you are in between sizes!!  I don’t many too many companies that are willing to do that. One of the surprising aspects, at least for this author, was the quality of the product.

KO full-faced headgear is one of many products available through KO fight gear. As they specialize in the training and fight equipment.  All of the equipment from KO fight gear is made of high quality leather, which just adds to the longevity of their products.  The design of the full-faced headgear includes a lace top adjustment and Velcro closure on the back of the headgear, which really makes for a good tight fit around the your head.   The enclosure also minimizes movement, which is very important especially when sparring because you don’t need the headgear to be moving around hampering your vision.  It also provides full cheek and chin protection, but is designed for maximum visibility.  Sometimes you sacrifice one for the other.  KO fight gear has found a way to provide you with both.  The extra padding does not make the headgear feel any heavier than any other headgear that do not have the extra padding.

The headgear and the other product available from KO fight gear can be purchased through their direct website.  KO fight gear also has another option for another headgear on its website. Shipping is about a week (full 7 days) and is around $5 but as of right now they are offering 10% discount and free shipping.

MMA Gear Review: Sprawl Board Shorts

There aren’t too many fighters nowadays who step inside the octagon or ring wearing trunks. Today, most of our favorite mixed martial artists’ gear is composed of the black or blue gloves, tape and of course, board shorts. The current UFC light heavyweight champion, Forrest Griffin, and the former UFC welterweight champion, Matt Serra are among the fighters sponsored by Sprawl. Others include veterans Ricardo Almeida, Josh Burkman, Kenny Florian, Josh Koscheck, Jason McDonald, Diego Sanchez, Joe Stevenson, Mike “Quick” Swick, and others.

MMA gear: Sprawl board shorts

Sprawl is an mma gear company that is among the more popular brand among fans of the sport. (This is likely due to the popularity of the sponsored fighters.) The usual board shorts have been used for the sport due to them generally being lightweight and having a smooth texture, no buttons and no zippers (the presence of which will give partners abrasions and/or cuts). Sprawl has improved on this design by adding features such as material made of 100% nylon and no pockets for grips or snagging. Velcro and tie closures are located to the side so these do not press into one’s belly during no gi bjj or mma training. Seems are reinforced for durability during training too. Crotch area is made higher for splits and high kicks. In addition there are no-slip grips on the inner thighs for armbars, shoulderlocks or general guard play. Let’s not forget that Sprawl shorts are also comfortable. The shorts neither soak up sweat, cling or hike up one’s legs.

To get a good buy, make sure to get the right size by either fitting your mma gear or using the available size charts. This will be good advise to take up since Sprawl shorts have no drawstrings for tightening the waist. Prices range from US $34.50 to 56.50 according to the official website.

MMA Gear Review: Titlemma Heavy Bag

Heavy bags are ever present in all types of gyms rather they are just your regular health clubs, or gyms that specialize in striking.  They provide an incredible workout for fitness enthusiasts, and of course provide sport specific training for people training in any striking disciplines.  Mixed martial arts fighters need a variety of punching bags in the gym, since they also incorporate leg kicks in their fights and training.  This is why seeing a muay thai banana bag in mma gyms is very common.  A muay thai banana bag is usually about 6’ in height and weigh anywhere between 100-120lbs.  Because of its length the banana is very versatile, because you able to incorporate kicks into your training.  One of those bags that stood out for this author was the titlemma heavy bag.

It’s just the same as a traditional muay thai banana bag; 6’ in length and it weighs 100lbs.  This bag has been around the gym for a while now and it still standing the test of time.  The bag seems to be a little bit thicker than your traditional banana bag.  The bag is made from tri-layered synthetic leather, and it’s not showing any signs of cracking that you might get from items made of synthetic leather. It is also foam filled and has a fiber resistance fiber filling, which keeps the shape of the bag, but it is also soft enough not to cause the user any unnecessary harm. It comes with a chain, and a d-ring on the bottom to fasten down to keep it from swaying, but it is not necessary to use.  This bag drew interest from this author because there are times when you are unable to get to the gym, or need some extra work. I needed to find a bag for home use.  The canvas bag limited my home training. 

I decided to go with the titlemma heavy bag for my home use after looking around with other companies this bag fit my budget for home equipment. To my surprise when checking the titlemma website the exact bag was on sale for $99.99!! The shipping is $40.  I unfortunately bought the bag when it wasn’t on sale. But still at regular price was a good option for this author.

MMA Gear Review: Nike Pro Max Rashguard

Now rashguards are not definitely not legal gear of mixed martial arts competition in the octagon (i.e. United States athletic commissions). However rolling on the mats shirtless is unhygienic. The mats may be dirty for one. Your partner may not appreciate touching a sweaty body for the duration of practice. Worst of all, skin diseases, particularly Staph infections, may be easily transmitted via skin-to-skin contact that will happen in training, without the proper mma gear, that is. Rashguards as the term suggests, protects one from skin conditions. The tightness of the design simulates mma competition by having no grips available, like that with the gi. In addition, no gi submission wrestling competitions allow the use of rashguards.

Nike Pro Max is not marketed under mma gear as a rashguard for bjj and submission wrestling training but it should be.

T-Shirts are of course, more easily available alternatives to rashguards, but they have a tendency to get wet and hinder movement. A partner’s feet and hands may also get caught in a T-shirt’s looser openings.

There are many brands of rashguards available from merchants catering to both the surfing and martial arts community. However, to expand one’s options, there are other products outside the martial arts circles that can be used as mma gear.

One example of “other” rashguards is the Nike Pro Max compression shirt (short sleeved). These tops are made for use during baseball, football, futbol or cycling. Upon seeing one online, this reviewer finds that it resembles the rashguards used for mma gear in all aspects except in name. I bought it for an amount between 30 to 40 dollars and tried it out at the gym. Sweat wicks off the rashguard-lookalike quite well. It was as cool and unobstrusive as other rashguards I use as mma gear or submission wrestling outfits. This is just as good as other rashguards I have tried or perhaps even better. It is also quite durable withstanding Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training a few days a week. This may be good deal for some who have only know of mma gear from more familiar brands associated with the UFC or the BJJ Mundials. It may also be worthwhile to note that Nike is an internationally known sports brand not just in the martial arts community.

MMA Gear Review: Fairtex Extra

Fairtex is a name that is synonymous with muay thai here in the United States.  It is the most popular brand of muay thai equipment in all of North America, and is recognized all over the world.  Its equipment can be seen in gyms all over the world.  Fairtex also sponsors a number of mixed martial arts fighters, and of course a number of muay thai fighters.  Fairtex has also got into the apparel market, but when you think of the company Fairtex, training equipment is the first thing that comes to mind.

Since coming to America in 1993 Fairtex provided trainers, fighters, and just the regular joe, another alternative for good quality training equipment.  There are some other good quality muay thai equipment that come from Thailand, but no other company has the history or has made the effort to bring muay thai to the United States.  Fairtex is present at my current gym and the muay thai pads that are always in use are the Fairtex extra thick thai kick pads.  From my understanding they have been in use for past couple of years and still look like they are in great shape.  All the thai pads from Fairtex are handmade in Thailand, these have a leather shell and 4 layers of foam for better protection.  The extra thickness has made a difference for me, especially when holding the pads for guys that have tree trunks for legs. 

The Velcro straps provide a little bit more comfort than the belt and buckle straps.  The Velcro also makes it easier to switch back and forth between you and your partner, making a quicker exchange.  There are still some other good quality muay thai equipment from other companies out there.  Some are a little cheaper as well. But Fairtex is a trusted company and should be considered when thinking about buying muay thai training equipment if you have the extra money.

MMA Gear Review: Ouano MMA Gloves

Ouano International gloves are currently the official mixed martial arts gear of World Extreme Cagefighting or the WEC as well as Elite Xtreme Combat. Many months ago, this product was also the official mma gloves of the Ultimate Fighting Championship or UFC. However, Century, being a bigger business, has taken over the provision of mma gloves for the leading mma organization in North America. There are many opinions available online about Century martial arts products but let us focus on the mma gear from Ouano in this review.

mma gear: ouano mma gloves

According to the official website: Ouano mma gear has been “Battle tested by the best fighters in the World.” The gloves have “Cut fingers, completely open palm. Wider velcro wrist strap for extra support. Sleeves have been added to all the fingertips as well as the open palm area. Lightweight; approximately 4 oz. per glove. ” An additional detail is the lack of a thumb strap, making wearing and removing the gear a bit easier. This feature can also help or hinder one’s grips during sparring or competition depending on how one is accustomed to grappling while wearing gloves. One more thing, at a very light 4 ounces, these are not ideal for sparring sessions. You will hurt your knuckles during padwork and can easily damage your partner’s face with these mma gloves. There is little padding for those activities. Use this type of mma gear only for actual competitions. Ouano or other brand of bag gloves should be used for mma/ striking training.

Well of course, the gloves are battle tested. It was and is the official mma gear for several mma organizations. The high quality and comfortable light feel of the gloves are definite reasons for their widespread use in competition. No questions there. The only negative aspect of the gear is their price tag. It’s US $60 a pair from the official Ouano International site. Although with a price that high, there will be less aspiring mma practitioners who opt to use these gloves in sparring.