The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the world's premier mixed martial arts organization, has partnered with Dapper Labs, the creator of the Flow blockchain and NBA Top Shot, to launch a new non-fungible token (NFT) collection called “UFC Strike.” The collection will debut on January 23, 2022, offering fans the opportunity to own digital highlights from some of the most memorable fights in UFC history.
What is UFC Strike?
UFC Strike will consist of 200,000 total NFT packs, with an initial release of 100,000 “Fully Loaded” packs. Each pack contains three “Moments” — short video clips capturing finishes, knockouts, and submissions from iconic fighters such as Francis Ngannou, Amanda Nunes, Kamaru Usman, Rose Namajunas, Derrick Lewis, and Justin Gaethje. The packs are priced at $50 each and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis via ufcstrike.com.
Expanding the Sports NFT Ecosystem
Dapper Labs gained widespread recognition with NBA Top Shot, which has generated over $776.49 million in all-time sales from 492,039 traders. The company has since expanded into NFL digital collectibles and now into MMA. The UFC boasts over 625 million fans globally and broadcasts events to 900 million households across 175 countries. Tracey Bleczinski, UFC Senior Vice President of Global Consumer Products, stated: “Dapper Labs is an innovator in this field. Their vision for the potential of these products is the reason UFC chose Dapper Labs as an NFT partner. We’re thrilled to finally be able to offer these amazing digital collectibles to enrich the UFC experience for our fans.”
Strategic Moves in Crypto
The UFC has been actively exploring blockchain and cryptocurrency integrations. Last July, the organization partnered with Crypto.com in a major sponsorship deal. More recently, UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou announced he would receive half of his UFC 270 fight purse in Bitcoin via Cash App. Dapper Labs plans to expand UFC Strike over time with additional drops aligned with the UFC event calendar, as well as a future peer-to-peer marketplace for fans to buy, sell, and trade their Moments. This move underscores the growing convergence of sports entertainment and blockchain-based digital collectibles, offering a new avenue for fan engagement and ownership.