Why do referees shake fighters' gloves up and down after knockdowns?

They rub whatever debri is on them to avoid it getting in the eyes of the other fighter.

 

they wipe the gloves clean

 

I may be wrong, but I am pretty sure it is to see if there is any resistance from the fighters hands as well as to wipe down the gloves since they may have picked up foreign matter from the canvas.

 

I thought it was to see the resistance from the fighter. If there arms are limp it might indicate that he is not fit to continue. Is this not true?

 

It is true, one of two reasons, both of which have been mentioned. Hence they pull the gloves towards them.

 

aye thats right

 

No, it's too wipe the **** off the gloves, to protect the other fighter.

 

it's also to check the reactions of the fighter you're thinking about letting back into the fight......trust me.

if he pulls forward with the gloves and loses eye contact that says a whole lot.

 

Wipes anything off of the glove that may have been picked up from the floor. Checks to see if the fighter is steady on his feet. Both reasons mentioned above.

 

wiping dirt of the gloves. also gives them a reason to walk foreward without the fighters pretending not to be hurt.

 

especially to the body.

if you're hurting and the ref pulls you forward that will show.

doesn't mean he'll wave it off but it lets him know.

 

To congatulate them for getting up and also to make sure they aren't holding anything.

 

it's to wipe off any possible debri that might have gotten stuck to the glove in order to protect the other fighter.

They just don't do it on KDs, they do it when a fighter slips as well.

 

aye a slip is for the debris.