Everlast Worldwide Inc. and Bellator MMA, have collaborated to produce the next-generation of MMA fight glove. The new glove will debut when Bellator’s 10th season kicks-off this Friday, February 28th, 2014.
Over the last year Everlast product designers have worked closely with Bellator’s team and its athletes to create the PowerLock MMA Fight glove. The new glove promotes proper hand form and technique, which can help to reduce the risk of face, hand and wrist injuries. The PowerLock displays a number of improvements over earlier generations of MMA gloves; these changes include a curved striking surface that aides proper hand form, redesigned foam to maximize hand protection on the impact zone and additional padding that shields the first and fifth metacarpals, two commonly injured bones of the hand.
“Fighter safety is absolutely paramount in every decision we make, and when our team sat down with Everlast, both of our company’s shared one goal: take the next step in advancing the protection for every athlete that steps into our cage,” said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. “We’ve already had countless fighters test this new glove in full sparring and the reviews have been off the charts. Working in partnership with Everlast we have created a glove that not only improves fighter comfort, but also lowers the risk of injury from both an offensive and defensive perspective. We’ve really hit a home run here, and I can’t wait for all of our athletes to strap on this new glove beginning February 28th.”
“As the industry leader in fight sports equipment, fighter safety is our number one concern,” said Matt Cowan, EVP Marketing, Sales and Product for Everlast. “We’ve seen an increasing number of injuries across the sport of MMA and as the official fight glove and equipment sponsor of Bellator we wanted to address those concerns. This next-generation fight glove provides superior comfort, support and protection to athletes without drastically changing the equipment they’ve grown accustomed to competing in. As the sport of MMA continues to evolve, our equipment will evolve with it.”
Bellator 110 takes place on February 28thth and will air live on Spike TV and spike.com from the Mohegan Sun Arena at 9 p.m. EST/8 p.m. CST.