The UFC has a rich history of fighters expressing themselves through their walkout gear and fight kits. These aren't just clothes; they tell a story, reflecting each athlete's identity, heritage, and personal journey. From national pride to personal style, the evolution of UFC walkout jerseys and fight kits is a fascinating aspect of the sport.
UFC is also exploring new ways to monetize fighter walkouts with a new uniform feature. Let's delve into some memorable examples and the broader context of fighter sponsorships and earnings.
Conor McGregor's iconic walkouts have always been a highlight for fans.
Iconic Fight Kit Designs and Their Significance
Each pair, crafted in partnership with the fighters themselves, serves as more than just fight gear, it tells a story.
- Sean O’Malley: Kicking off the year, Sean O’Malley, one of the sport’s brightest stars this year, donned vibrant pink shorts with gold trim for his main event clash against Marlon “Chito” Vera at UFC 299.
- Alex Pereira: Pereira’s multicolored shorts, worn at UFC 300, UFC 303, and UFC 307, honor his Brazilian ancestry and his home, The Pataxó Tribe.
- Zhang Weili: Zhang Weili’s custom fight kit, worn in her UFC strawweight title bout at UFC 300, featured traditional Chinese patterns with intricate dragon motifs woven into the design.
- Max Holloway: Fan favorite Max “Blessed” Holloway wore custom shorts inspired by his proud home of Hawaii at UFC 300 and UFC 308.
- Justin Gaethje: Justin Gaethje’s Venum Unrivaled shorts at UFC 300 showcased a unique black-and-white interpretation of the United States flag.
- Dustin Poirier: Dusitn Poirier’s shorts worn at UFC 302 featured a floral design inspired by his everyday creative style and his southern Louisiana flare.
- Leon Edwards: Leon Edwards’ custom shorts at UFC 304 honored his two homes, combining the colors of Kingston, Jamaica, where he was born, and Birmingham, England, where he was raised.
- Paddy Pimblett: At UFC 304, Paddy Pimblett wore bright orange shorts to pay homage to his early MMA career in Cage Warriors. This tribute not only honors Pimblett’s early beginnings, but also serves as his signature look alongside his cornrows and electric walkout.
- Dricus Du Plessis: Dricus Du Plessis’ shorts at UFC 305 featured the vibrant and striking colors of the South African flag, a respectful tribute to his roots and the pride he brings to every fight.
- Israel Adesanya: Also at UFC 305 were Israel Adesanya’s black and gold lightning shorts, reflective of his love of anime and an ode to his electric fighting style.
- Brandon Moreno: In his long-awaited return to the Octagon at Noche UFC, Brandon Moreno sported custom black and red shorts, featuring images of Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec god and feathered serpent.
- Jon Jones: UFC heavyweight champion, Jon Jones, wore red, black, and gold shorts at UFC 309 that featured two lion heads meeting in the center. Inspired by Jones’s faith, his shorts also feature the same verse that is mirrored across his chest tattoo.
- Michael Chandler: In Michael Chandler’s return to the Octagon at UFC 309, he sported custom shorts that embodied his patriotic spirit.
Justin Gaethje's unique black-and-white interpretation of the United States flag on his UFC 300 shorts.
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The Greatest UFC Walkout 🗿
UFC Collectibles and Memorabilia
Step into the shoes of your favorite UFC athletes with exclusive fight worn memorabilia. These are not replicas - every fight worn jersey, hoodie, pair of gloves or shorts has been physically worn by the athletes themselves, either during their walkout or in the Octagon. Every fight worn item is truly unique.
From the gloves that landed the finishing strike to the shorts that went the distance, each collectible is a 1-of-1 piece of history, tied forever to a specific athlete, bout, and event. Alongside fight worn items, fans can also own authentic event used items taken directly from the Octagon.
These include official round cards carried by Octagon Girls, the very corner stools where fighters rested between rounds, and even sections of the Octagon canvas printed with the UFC logo and framed for display.
Every collectible comes authenticated with cutting-edge NFC technology and holograms, so you can be certain you’re holding a genuine part of UFC history. Right now, UFC Collectibles is hosting the Fall Auction - running from September 4th to 23rd. Own the Fight.
Fighter Sponsorships and Earnings
UFC fighters earn fixed sponsorship money when they fight. In terms of sponsorships, fighters receive a flat rate in the form of Promotional Guidelines Compliance Pay, which ranges from $21,000 for non-champions to $32,000 for title challengers and $42,000 for champions, all on a per-event basis.
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For reference, UFC's Crypto.com fight kit sponsorship costs $175 million over a ten-year period. This is enough to pay UFC champions their Promotional Guidelines Payout 4,000 times over.
As a larger-scale comparison, former champion Demetrious Johnson has stated he received five figures for starring in, and on the box art of, the popular UFC video games over the years.
| Fighter Status | Promotional Guidelines Compliance Pay (Per Event) |
|---|---|
| Non-Champions | $21,000 |
| Title Challengers | $32,000 |
| Champions | $42,000 |
The UFC didn't disclose whether fighters will receive any of the proceeds from these products. If they operate anything like ONE Championship, fighters won't see a penny of the sales, since the promotion reserves the rights to profit from their image.
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