The 36-year-old Anderson Silva recently landed a sponsorship deal with the iconic sports brand Nike.
This blockbuster signing comes on the heels of the Brazilian subsidiary of Burger King announcing their agreement with the fighter to become involved in their promotional campaigns earlier in the month.
Sport Club Corinthians Paulista – a Nike sponsored Brazillian soccer club – also intends to involve Anderson Silva in their outreach campaign. Look for him to enter his fight at UFC 134 wearing the club’s jersey.
Silva’s representatives are 9ine – a firm founded by the soccer great (and former Corinthins player himself) Ronaldo. Joining up with the firm 9ine in January has so far been a boon to the pocketbook for Silva.
Although Kimbo Slice has appeared in commercials, Anderson will offically be the first MMA fighter sponsored by the athletics giant.
Louis Alexander, director of sports marketing for Nike in Brazil stated that “Listening to the voice of the athlete is the essence of the culture of Nike. Being able to have an athlete the caliber of Anderson Silva among our partners is a great honor for us.”
Do you think this will signal a trend of major brands attaching themselves to fighters?
Who do you think will be next in line for a deal?