UFC fighters getting uniforms, no more sponsored trunks

UFC fighters will sport a new look next year, one that will bring uniformity to a sport known for its streak of individualism.

UFC, the world’s top mixed martial arts competition, has struck a six-year deal with Reebok and the uniforms will be revealed shortly before fighters wear them in July.

“It elevates the sport,” UFC President Dana White said (via the Associated Press). “For everybody to be dressed the same, to look the same, it just makes everything more professional. Every year, we take this thing to another level.”

Fighters will no longer be allowed to sell patches on their trunks to sponsors and the new deal will help make up for that revenue. Although terms of the deal were not announced, White said the UFC itself would make almost no money from the deal over the first few years. Fighters will be paid on the basis of their rankings.

“We’ve done a lot of research in the last two to three years,” UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta said. “We feel like we’ve created a program that’s going to be worth at least as much, and in some cases more, than they’re making [with sponsorships].”



Fighters @FrankieEdgar, @RondaRousey and @ChrisWeidmanUFC at the Reebok #UFC partnership announcement. pic.twitter.com/eM6aKwfSSK

— WWD (@wwd) December 2, 2014



Change won’t stop with uniforms, either. As UFC works on branding, it will do away with sponsorship banners that usually hang behind competitors during fight introductions.

“It makes me physically sick to my stomach when I see those guys rolling out that banner, but I never stopped it because I didn’t want to take money away from guys when I couldn’t supplement that money,” White said. “Now we can give them something better.”

There will be a range of choice in the uniforms, with board shorts, bicycle shorts and, for women, shorts with a skirt front


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