NEW YORK – UFC®, the world’s premier mixed
martial arts organization, today announced a new multi-territory partnership
with AirAsia, Asia’s leading low-cost carrier, to serve as the global brand’s
first-ever “Official Airline” sponsor. The partnership, which encompasses Asia
and Australia, will begin on Saturday, November 4, during the
highly-anticipated UFC® 217: BISPING vs. ST-PIERRE, live from Madison Square
Garden in New York, New York.
“This deal is an indication of how much UFC
and the sport of mixed martial arts have grown in Asia and around the world,” UFC
Vice President of Asia-Pacific Kevin Chang said. “AirAsia is an innovative and
fast-growing brand, we thank them for the support and we’re looking forward to
creating engaging branded content for fight fans and AirAsia customers to
enjoy.”
“In many ways, UFC’s rapid rise as a global
phenomenon parallels AirAsia's,” said Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, Group Chief Executive
Officer of AirAsia. “The UFC expanded from their first event in Denver to the
rest of the US and then to Asia-Pacific and the world, while AirAsia grew from
a small domestic airline into Asia's largest low-cost carrier that now flies to
the US. Opposite directions but chasing the same dream, and we are thrilled to
team up with a brand that shares our drive and vision.”
AirAsia will begin its international
activations during UFC’s historic inaugural event in mainland China at UFC
FIGHT NIGHT®: SILVA vs. GASTELUM on Saturday, November 25 at Mercedes-Benz
Arena in Shanghai. As part of this collaboration, AirAsia will obtain rights to
signage and branding inside UFC’s world-famous Octagon® during the event in
Shanghai and select international UFC events in 2018.
With this partnership, AirAsia will also
serve as presenting sponsor of select UFC Fan Experiences throughout the region
and promote a national sweepstakes campaign where two fans will win a UFC VIP
Experience during an event in 2018. The airline brand will also be integrated
across multiple UFC-based social and digital platforms, as well as having a
presence during live-event broadcasts and on UFC.com. UFC and AirAsia will also
jointly sponsor content featured on Weibo and WeChat platforms in China.
Along with integration during international
UFC events, this sponsorship will also deliver exciting co-branded content to
Asian fight fans via AirAsia and UFC’s media platforms. These initiatives
include monthly training sessions featuring UFC athletes and members of the UFC
Performance Institute’s staff.
UFC and AirAsia will also make history by
selecting the first-ever UFC scholarship program recipient. As part of this
program, one Asia-based athlete will be awarded an all-expenses paid
scholarship that includes travel to the United States and training at the UFC
Performance Institute in Las Vegas, Nevada.
For more information on AirAsia, please
visit airasia.com or follow AirAsia on Facebook and YouTube (AirAsia), Twitter
and Instagram (@airasia), Weibo (@亚航之家) or WeChat and Zhihu (@亚洲航空).
For more information on UFC, please visit
UFC.com. Follow us on Weibo, WeChat, Youku, QQ, Facebook (UFC Asia), Twitter
and Instagram (@ufc).
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