UFC 14 introduced the use of four-ounce gloves in the UFC.
Held in Birmingham, Alabama, in July 1997, the event required fighters to wear small open-finger gloves. The change was part of the UFC’s gradual move toward more formal equipment and safety standards.
Early UFC events were known for minimal equipment, and competitors at UFC 1 famously fought without gloves. By the time of UFC 14, gloves were becoming an important part of the promotion’s evolving rules and presentation.
The introduction of gloves did not mean that the modern Unified Rules were already complete. Weight classes, round structures, fouls and other regulations were introduced or standardized across several later events. This is why UFC 14 should not be confused with the first event using the modern Unified Rules format.