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Bellator Fighting Championships continues to make smart and beneficial business moves heading into their second season next month, as the organization today announced a new business partnership with well known sports-equipment company Everlast.
Per a press release, "Everlast will become the exclusive equipment provider for Bellator, including fight gloves, cages and training equipment." In addition, they will produce a series of co-branded equipment and apparel that will be made available through catalogs as well as online and in retail stores.
Furthermore, "Everlast will also be a category-exclusive promotional sponsor of all Bellator events and the two companies will strategically market, promote, publicize and advertise their partnership through a wide variety of channels."
Said Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney "This is a proud moment for Bellator. Everlast is one of America’s most iconic brands and they have a 100-year history of providing the best-quality equipment for professional and amateur fighters around the world. We are thrilled that our fighters will be using Everlast gear and are also very pleased to have Everlast’s support as a category-exclusive sponsor."
Also chiming in was Everlast's President Adam Geisler, who stated "Bellator is one of the most innovative and respected brands in the MMA industry and their tournament format reflects their own unique authenticity and understanding of the professional fighter. We are extremely excited and believe this partnership provides a tremendous opportunity to lift both brands to a new level.”
Penick's Analysis: This is a huge move for Bellator, and is yet another in a line of really good moves on their part heading into this second season. Everlast has a long history in combat sports and is a big name in boxing equipment as well. To get the Bellator name on Everlast products and have such a well known named sponsor in the combat sports world is highly beneficial to Bellator and their brand name.
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