One of the top officials at the UFC’s White House event responded to Ilia Topuria’s insinuation that Justin Gaethje had violated rules with his gloves.
“His gloves and wraps were fine and totally within regulations,’’ Andy Foster, one of three regulators at UFC Freedom 250, told USA TODAY Sports. “Also well inspected by multiple inspectors.’’
Topuria suffered severe bruising around his eyes during the lightweight title fight against Gaethje, who won when Topuria’s corner stopped the fight before the fifth and final round as the bloodied Topuria sat on his stool.
On Wednesday, Topuria wrote on X, “Next time I’ll make sure they check Justin’s gloves so he doesn’t put anything weird on them.”
“Oh, people don’t believe that,’’ Gaethje said during an
interviewposted by Championship Rounds.
Foster, the executive director of the California State Athletic Commission, said the use of foreign objects inside gloves could take place in boxing, but not mixed martial arts.
Boxing gloves used for pro fights range from eight ounces to 12 ounces, whereas the standard glove for MMA fights is only four ounces and considerably smaller.
“Harder to pull that off," Foster said, referring to hiding a foreign object inside an MMA glove.
But during an appearance on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” Gaethje indicated he has faced similar allegations.
“People saying I got bricks in my gloves, what a compliment,’’ Gaethje said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UFC official rejects Ilia Topuria’s claim about Justin Gaethje’s gloves
