UFC officially announces uniform deal with Reebok, fighters to be paid based on ranking

The UFC and Reebok made it official today after months of talk, Reebok will be the official "uniform" of the UFC.

During the press conference to announce the deal, Dana White called it the "largest non-broadcast deal we've ever done." He then went on to suggest that every penny from the deal would go to the fighters but also said that apparel with a fighter's name on it would result in them receiving 20% of the sale on the back-end. The way those two pieces fit together was not fully explained.

This is a massive change for the sport. Fighters will be given "kits" at the start of fight week that include their apparel to be worn in the Octagon. Fighters will no longer have their own sponsorships and will instead rely on the mandatory Reebok deal to generate a significant part of their income.

The deal is currently inked for six years.

MMA Fighting had some extra details on the announcement before the presser was over:

In calling the partnership a "seminal moment" for the UFC and the sport of mixed martial arts, Fertitta explained that "the vast majority, if not all, of the revenues" from the deal will be redistributed to the UFC's roster. Fighters will earn a tiered sponsorship income dependent on their ranking the day of weigh-ins prior to their fight, regardless of card placement. Champions will bank the most money, followed by (in descending order): fighters ranked No. 1 to No. 5 in their division, fighters ranked No. 6 to No. 10, fighters ranked No. 11 to No. 15, and unranked fighters.

While not delving deep into detail, Fertitta explained that each fighter will be distinguished by their own personalized kit, and that in addition to a flat sponsorship income, athletes are also expected to receive 20-percent royalty payments dependent on sales for their individualized kits into perpetuity, meaning retired fighters will also draw from the program.

We'll have more information on the deal in the coming hours, days and weeks.