Why UFC fighters put Vaseline on their face, mouth before they fight
Article excerpt
UFC fighters coat their faces and mouths with Vaseline before stepping into the octagon, a practice so routine that fans watching UFC 250 are suddenly curious about its purpose. The slick petroleum jelly reduces friction between skin and gloves, limiting cuts and abrasions that could force referees to stop fights early. It also helps sweat slide off rather than pool in a fighter's eyes, maintaining visibility during grueling matches. Athletic commissions allow the practice under strict rules: cutmen apply it only to the face, not the body, and must wipe it away between rounds to prevent excessive slipperiness that might give one fighter an unfair advantage.
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The scenes at UFC 250 at the White House are one-of-a-kind.
With the historic home of the President in the background, some of the best mixed martial artists in the world are in the Octagon clashing.
There's so much catching the attention of everyone watching, but something small is actually particularly intriguing to the audience.
Before each fight, the competitors have Vaseline smeared on their face and their mouth.
It's a pretty universal tactic, and there's a good reason for it.
Why do UFC fighters get Vaseline?
It's all about the effect Vaseline has on the skin.
The petroleum jelly reduce skin friction by keeping it softer and more stretchy.
In essence, it prevents the skin from drying out.
Dry skin is easier to cut.
If the skin is more slippery, punches and kicks don't quite grab on the skin with the same amount of friction.
Less friction on the skin means less cuts.
Fighters don't want to compete with lacerations on their face if they can help it, so this little tactic helps prevent that as best as they can.
Clearly, the right kind of contact can still cut open a face, but they'll do anything they can to have a slightly better chance, and this is a universally accepted move.
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