DANA WHITE and the rest of the UFC brass have sanctioned a shock short-notice chance for tomorrow morning’s card at Madison Square Garden.
MMA‘s top promotion returns to MSG for a stacked UFC 309 card, which will be headlined by the return of pound-fr-pound great Jon Jones.
Jones, 37, will defend his heavyweight title against former champion Stipe Miocic in what could be his swansong.
But just days before their MSG melee both men, along with the rest of the fighters on the card, are processing a surprise short-notice change for their fight.
It’s emerged that the UFC have DITCHED their newly-released gloves for the stacked pay-per-view card.
And fighters have been told they’ll be competing in the promotion’s old gloves, which were done away with in June.
The news was first reported by veteran mixed martial arts reporter Ariel Helwani.
He wrote on X: “UFC has informed the fighters competing on Saturday’s 309 card in NYC that they will be using the old gloves not the new ones introduced back in June, per multiple sources.
“Specific reason unclear at the moment.”
The ditching of the new gloves quickly became a talking point for MMA fans, one of whom wrote on X: “Interesting.”
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Another said: “The NYASC [New York State Athletic Commission] has always been a joke.”
And another simply said: “What?”
The UFC makes it's annual visit to New York City on November 16 for another blockbuster pay-per-view card.
UFC 309 will take place at the iconic Madison Square Garden, which provided some unforgettable moments since mixed martial arts was legalised in New York state in 2016.
Topping the bill at the ‘World’s Most Famous Arena’ is the eagerly-anticipated heavyweight title fight between champion Jon Jones and former titleholder Stipe Miocic.
And in the co-main event of the evening, Michael Chandler will throw down with former lightweight champion and fellow fan favourite Charles Oliveira.
UFC 309 is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated cards of what has been another massive year for MMA’s top promotion.
And fans in the UK and Ireland can watch all the action from what promises to be an incredible night at MSG live on TNT Sports Box Office.
The penultimate pay-per-view card of the year will be available to purchase for a mere £19.99.
UFC 309 will also be available to buy on Discovery+, EE TV, Prime Video, Virgin Media TV and Sky Sports.
And fight fans don’t need to subscribe to TNT Sports to buy the star-studded event.
Watch UFC 309: Jones v Miocic exclusively live on TNT Sports Box Office from 1am on Saturday 16 November.
For more info visit: tntsports.co.uk/boxoffice
One remarked: “This is awkward.”
Another chimed in: “The new glove design is cool and all but they simply haven’t done enough to deserve Jon Jones fighting in them.”
The UFC unveiled their new gloves in April just days before their historic 300th pay-per-view card in Las Vegas.
The new gloves were created in order to reduce the amount of eye pokes and hand injuries being suffered by fighters.
Their rigidity and padding, however, haven’t been well received by some fighters.
And fans have even suggested they’ve potentially been the reason for the lack of knockouts this year.
There is, however, no clear data suggesting that to be true in any way.
Watch UFC 309: Jones v Miocic exclusively live on TNT Sports Box Office from 1am on Saturday 16 November.
For more info visit: tntsports.co.uk/boxoffice
