Jon Jones has signed a new sponsorship deal with GAT, a sports nutrition products company. It is the first sponsorship deal since Jones was reinstated by the UFC.
Jones will become the first MMA fighter to be sponsored by the company which caters to bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts.
You may recall that Jones lost all of his sponsor deals including one with Reebok and a deal with Nike lapsed.
BREAKING NEWS: @JonnyBones signs with TeamGAT! #CompeteHarder #TeamGAT pic.twitter.com/zqOAKjd2Kx
— GAT (@GATSupplements) November 4, 2015
According to the press release, Jones’ manager Malki Kawa approached the company about a potential sponsorship with the former UFC light heavyweight champion.
Via GAT press release:
“I was thrilled when Malki Kawa called me to discuss TEAMGAT expanding to include MMA athletes and signing Jon Jones as our first,” said Mark Post, Vice President of GAT. “I’ve been a fan of his since he entered the sport. Everyone at GAT is excited about signing Jon. The whole world will be watching when he gets back into action. TEAMGAT will be proud to be in his corner.”
No details on the financials of the deal or what the sponsorship deal will cover. Jones cannot wear the GAT logo in the octagon but we assume he will be on its web site and in advertisements.
Payout Perspective:
The sponsorship deal is a building block for Jones as he seeks to make a comeback in multiple arenas. Obviously he is preparing for his return to the octagon. But, he is also trying to rebuild his presence outside the octagon. His last run-in with the law stripped him of everything he had in MMA (his title, sponsors and the opportunity to fight in the UFC). The sponsor deal is not a high profile one but it allows Jones a chance. For GAT, it’s a calculated risk but a good one if Jones is able to keep himself out of trouble.
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