Shop Fairtex FGV18 Super Sparring Grappling Gloves, designed for MMA fighters who need extra protection for striking without losing the freedom required for grappling.
Originally custom-designed for heavyweight striker Alistair Overeem, the FGV18 combines substantial knuckle padding with an open grappling design and secure fit for MMA sparring.
The Fairtex FGV18 Super Sparring Grappling Gloves are designed to bridge the gap between striking protection and the freedom of movement needed for MMA.
Standard competition-style MMA gloves offer relatively little padding for repeated hard sparring. The FGV18 takes a more training-focused approach, adding substantial protection across the knuckles while retaining the open-hand design needed for clinching and grappling.
They're particularly suited to MMA fighters who want to move between striking and grappling during the same sparring rounds.
The FGV18 was originally custom-designed for Alistair Overeem, a heavyweight MMA fighter known for powerful striking.
Fairtex therefore built the glove around additional protection for heavier punchers.
Key features include:
The result is a glove aimed at fighters who need more protection than a competition-style MMA glove while still being able to grapple.
Sparring is where the FGV18 makes the most sense.
The additional knuckle padding is designed to provide greater protection for both the fighter wearing the gloves and their training partner during striking exchanges.
At the same time, the grappling construction leaves the hand sufficiently open for clinch work, takedowns and ground training.
This makes the FGV18 particularly useful for mixed MMA rounds where you're constantly transitioning between striking and grappling.
The history behind the glove tells you quite a lot about who it's designed for.
Fairtex originally developed the FGV18 for Alistair Overeem, whose larger frame and powerful striking required greater protection during training.
You certainly don't need to be a heavyweight professional fighter to use them, but the design makes particular sense if you're a heavier or harder-hitting athlete looking for a protective MMA sparring glove.
Not every MMA glove is designed for the same job.
Competition-style gloves prioritise dexterity and a fight-like feel, while dedicated sparring gloves can use additional padding to make repeated partner training safer.
The FGV18 sits firmly toward the protective sparring end of the spectrum.
If you'd like to compare it with other designs, browse our Fairtex MMA Gloves collection.
You can also browse our complete Fairtex range for boxing gloves, shin guards, Muay Thai shorts and other training equipment.
Fairtex currently produces the FGV18 in sizes S, M, L and XL.
The glove is designed to have a relatively snug, secure fit, so use the sizing information provided with the individual product rather than simply guessing from the size you normally wear.
A properly fitted MMA glove should remain secure during striking and grappling without excessively restricting your hand movement.
The Fairtex FGV18 is a protective MMA sparring and grappling glove designed with additional knuckle padding while retaining the hand movement required for grappling.
Yes. Sparring is one of the main purposes of the FGV18. Fairtex designed the gloves with extra knuckle padding to provide greater protection during striking while retaining an MMA grappling-style construction.
The FGV18 was originally custom-designed for heavyweight MMA fighter Alistair Overeem. Fairtex developed the glove with substantial knuckle protection suited to larger fighters and powerful strikers.
Fairtex produces the FGV18 in S, M, L and XL. The gloves are designed for a secure, snug fit, so check the product sizing information before choosing your size.
