UFC Freedom 250 will feature custom event gloves for all bouts on what is being billed as a historic one-of-one White House card on the South Lawn in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, June 14, 2026.
The special gloves are part of the promotion’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, and will be worn during a lineup that includes Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje in a Lightweight title unification main event and Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane in the co-main event, where Pereira will attempt to win a third UFC title in a third division.
Early reaction to the custom UFC Freedom 250 gloves has been sharply negative from some fans. One reaction simply read, "YUCK," while another said, "These gloves are lame as hell, I’m sorry," and, "Should’ve been black gloves with Freedom 250 logo." Another fan complained, "Instead of making custom gloves, the UFC should be looking into ways to improve their gloves so that there are less eye pokes," adding, "Fans would much rather important fights don’t get stopped because of eye pokes rather than seeing fighters wearing red gloves."
Other responses were similarly harsh, including, "Lmfao looks like a Halloween costume," "They look like they were made by a toddler," and, "Looks like some little kid gloves you buy at Dick’s Sporting Goods." One commenter summed up their view by saying, "These are genuinely disgusting," and, "The UFC just really knows how to ruin everything."
UFC gloves previously underwent a redesign intended to reduce eye pokes, which was replaced less than a year later after criticism.
