The UFC is sponsoring Jon Jones for his upcoming fight. Normally fighters and their managers negotiate with outside parties, for example Muscle Pharm, for sponsorship deals (walkout shirts, short advertisements, sign, hats, etc.). As far as I know this marks the first time the UFC has financially backed one fighter vs. another in competition financially. In the past Zuffa owned supplements company Xyience has sponsored a lot of fighters but that is more indirect. As a result former champion and current contender Rashad Evans told media that the UFC is against him in the fight. Fair or foul? http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/4/1...nsors-jon-jones-rashad-evans-reacts#storyjump
The UFC also has deals with Frank Mir and Alistair Overeem (eek!) to wear their clothing, and apparently more and more fighters will wear their apparel in the events to come. The UFC has already pushed out many clothing sponsors due to high annual buy-in prices (last I heard it was $100,000 to get your foot in the door, now it might be much more), and traditional sponsors like FORM and now apparently Team Punishment have gone under.
