The UFC light-heavyweight champion has signed a sweeping, worldwide sponsorship deal with sports apparel giant Nike, MMA Fighting has confirmed with multiple sources.
The two sides have agreed to a multi-year contract that will see Jones decked out in Nike gear for the foreseeable future. On Sept. 1, when he faces Dan Henderson at UFC 151, Jones will be rocking the famous "Swoosh."
As a part of the deal, Jones will be featured on worldwide Nike advertising and receive his own signature line, sources said. It is expected to be announced within a week.
MMA Fighting contacted Jones' agent Malki Kawa, who had to comment at the time. Jones was sponsored by the UFC itself for his last title bout against Rashad Evans. He stated back in April that he had wanted to work with Nike for a long time (via MMA Weekly):
Quote :
"For this fight, I have a goal, I've had a goal of being sponsored by Nike for many, many years. Part of our strategy to try and make that happen one day is to not be a billboard, and not just be sponsored by TapouT one week, and Affliction one week, and then MusclePharm next week, and all these random companies."
It appears that his wish has been granted. Jon Jones is about to get a lot of visibility.
Birdofthad Platinum Belt
Favorite Fighter(s) : Ken shamrock, Frank Shamrock, Guy Mezger, Pete Williams, you get it Lions Den Posts : 17542 Join date : 2009-07-19 Age : 37 Location : D Town
Subject: Re: Jon Jones Signs Global Sponsorship Deal With Nike Wed Aug 08, 2012 5:28 pm
and it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy
josh200612 Silver Belt
Favorite Fighter(s) : Rashad Evans #1!,Rampage,GSP,Couture,Chael Sonnen,BJ Penn,Robbie Lawler,King MO,Frank Mir Posts : 8931 Join date : 2009-07-16 Age : 39 Location : Charlotte , North Carolina
Subject: Re: Jon Jones Signs Global Sponsorship Deal With Nike Wed Aug 08, 2012 6:23 pm
GSP should of got it first.
KingsOwn19 Administrator
Favorite Fighter(s) : Lyoto Machida, BJ Penn, Anderson Silva,Dan Henderson, Emelianenko Fedor, Josh Barnett Posts : 12421 Join date : 2009-07-16 Location : Northern California
Subject: Re: Jon Jones Signs Global Sponsorship Deal With Nike Wed Aug 08, 2012 6:58 pm
josh200612 wrote:
GSP should of got it first.
GSP has Under Armour and Gatorade...though they don't give him big promotion. I think he did a commercial for each of them and thats it. They are pretty high profile sponsers.
I figured this would happen. He was wearing Nike shit at Silva-Sonnen and i wasnt going to chalk it up to him being black. I figured a deal was close to being made.
Not a fan, but it's good that MMA fighters are getting some high profile sponsers and can get more mainstream attention. We'll see how Nike promotes him.
Subject: Re: Jon Jones Signs Global Sponsorship Deal With Nike Wed Aug 08, 2012 7:02 pm
gsp was in a few big time commercials if I remember correctly.
In more related sponsorship news, Phil Davis is in a Sprite commercial.
Ludo Bronze Belt
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Subject: Re: Jon Jones Signs Global Sponsorship Deal With Nike Wed Aug 08, 2012 7:43 pm
Farmer1906 wrote:
gsp was in a few big time commercials if I remember correctly.
In more related sponsorship news, Phil Davis is in a Sprite commercial.
Do people even still drink sprite?
KingsOwn19 Administrator
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Subject: Re: Jon Jones Signs Global Sponsorship Deal With Nike Wed Aug 08, 2012 7:54 pm
only those who obey thier thirst.
josh200612 Silver Belt
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Subject: Re: Jon Jones Signs Global Sponsorship Deal With Nike Wed Aug 08, 2012 9:28 pm
KingsOwn19 wrote:
josh200612 wrote:
GSP should of got it first.
GSP has Under Armour and Gatorade...though they don't give him big promotion. I think he did a commercial for each of them and thats it. They are pretty high profile sponsers.
I figured this would happen. He was wearing Nike shit at Silva-Sonnen and i wasnt going to chalk it up to him being black. I figured a deal was close to being made.
Not a fan, but it's good that MMA fighters are getting some high profile sponsers and can get more mainstream attention. We'll see how Nike promotes him.
Ya I forgot about UA so I'm sure Nike wouldn't take him then. I think he had one commercial with UA and like three with Gatorade?
Guest Guest
Subject: Re: Jon Jones Signs Global Sponsorship Deal With Nike Thu Aug 09, 2012 12:44 pm
Late last week, "Bones" broke the news that he'd fulfilled a lifelong dream by signing a multi-year endorsement deal with NIKE, Inc., the sportswear giant known worldwide for its "swoosh" logo and sneaker monopoly, who also dropped boxing legend Manny Pacquiao from its stable in the process.
So why are some mixed martial arts (MMA) fans scratching their heads?
What should be considered a landmark deal with the mainstream sports world has been marred by Jones' recent run-in with the law, something not lost on outspoken World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) superstar CM Punk, who blasted the partnership via his official Twitter account shortly after the signing.
Those comments after the jump.
Quote :
Let's reward more drunk drivers with endorsement deals! #responsibility
For those of you keeping score at home, comments from the "straight-edge superstar" were re-tweeted 1,215 times and saved to 319 "favorites."
Jones plead guilty to Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) after crashing his Bentley into a utility pole in his home state of New York back in May. The arrest cost him $1000 and a six-month suspension of his driver's license, among other penalties, but it did not cost him a mega-deal with one of the world's biggest sports retailers.
Did NIKE drop the ball?
Like it or not, Jones (who recently apologized for his misstep) may be the face of the Octagon for years to come, assuming he can successfully defend his 205-pound strap against Dan Henderson at the UFC 151 pay-per-view (PPV) event from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sept. 1, 2012.
Where do you stand on Punk's comments? Was he out of line -- or simply speaking for the silent majority?
KingsOwn19 Administrator
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Subject: Re: Jon Jones Signs Global Sponsorship Deal With Nike Mon Aug 13, 2012 7:35 pm
OU Administrator
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Subject: Re: Jon Jones Signs Global Sponsorship Deal With Nike Wed Aug 22, 2012 10:09 am
Quote :
"#Nike only made 80 signature T-shirts for UFC 151, I absolutely cannot wait to bless my fans, talk about #exclusive"
GDPofDRC Administrator
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Subject: Re: Jon Jones Signs Global Sponsorship Deal With Nike Wed Aug 22, 2012 12:25 pm
Oh hayle no!
OU Administrator
Favorite Fighter(s) : Diaz Bros, Wandy, Ace, Hendo, JDS, Lima Bros,Uncle Creepy, long live Iceman Posts : 43280 Join date : 2009-07-15 Age : 38 Location : Lawton, Oklahoma
Subject: Re: Jon Jones Signs Global Sponsorship Deal With Nike Wed Aug 22, 2012 12:30 pm
GDPofDRC wrote:
Oh hayle no!
lol exactly, as if the words on the shirt weren't bad enough, he had to throw in that tweet.
Guest Guest
Subject: Re: Jon Jones Signs Global Sponsorship Deal With Nike Wed Aug 22, 2012 12:43 pm
I can't to purchase this glorious shirt to honor the saint that is Jon Jones.