Anyone else notice DASH on Rory McDonald's (as well as a few other fighters) banners , shorts, t-shirts and hats? It's the first Crypto (legit) I have seen sponsoring MMA Fighters, and I am sure it will not be the last. Here is what FORBES had to say one day ago:
"On Saturday night at The Forum in Los Angeles, California, Rory MacDonald will have his first opportunity to capture Bellator gold when he challenges welterweight champion Douglas Lima in the co-main event of Bellator 192.
CALGARY, AB - MARCH 25: Rory MacDonald speaks to fans and media during the UFC 189 World Championship Press Tour at Flames Central on March 25, 2015 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, MacDonald will also be bringing new attention to a fresh form of revenue for MMA fighters. MacDonald recently agreed to a lucrative deal with cryptocurrency provider Dash. MacDonald created a proposal/campaign to Dash Nation called Dash for the Belt and it received the requisite positive votes.
MacDonald was able to secure more than $350,000 in the deal and in conjunction with the agreement, he will be wearing Dash branded gear and completing other promotional duties. Here's a breakdown of those duties:
Rory has committed to wearing Dash branded outerwear for his many public appearances leading up to the fight, during the “walk-out”, during the fight and after the fight. As part of the sponsorship, GreenCandle will be sending a swag package to Rory for his pre-fight interviews and gym workouts to have Dash on full display for the build-up of the event. Rory will be tweeting about Dash and possibly mention it during interviews. During the walk-out, Dash-branded attire will be seen front and center on the t-shirt and shorts. During the fight, Dash will be visible on the shorts and after the fight with a Dash “trucker” hat. A representative from GC will be at the event to ensure Dash has maximum exposure.
As most know, MacDonald spent six years competing in the UFC. He signed with Bellator in August 2016 and made his debut with the promotion in May 2017. The sponsorship deal that the UFC and Reebok struck back in 2014 would never have allowed MacDonald to generate this additional revenue from Dash.
UFC fighters are required to wear all Reebok apparel during walkouts and in the Octagon. The deal has been controversial and criticized by fighters currently competing under the banner and those like MacDonald who have moved on. I had an opportunity to speak with MacDonald about the Dash deal, his career, and legacy in and out of the cage.
Could similar deals with Dash and the flexible earning potential that Bellator allows help to swing more fighters toward the promotion?
"I think this could be a big disruptor in the MMA market," MacDonald said of Dash. "The scale of partnerships that Dash is able to do compared to other companies when it comes to sponsoring fighters [are a factor]. They have a large budget and if the community supports and if they continue to go after the MMA market, it should be very interesting."
The bout between MacDonald and Lima is a premier fight on the MMA landscape. Without question, these two men are among the best in the world at 170 pounds. Based on talent alone, there's reason for excitement. MacDonald's association with Dash and what that can mean for the future of the promotion and sport only makes the fight more significant.
MacDonald acknowledges,"this fight is the next big step for Bellator."
Who knows what shockwaves will be sent through the MMA fighter community if MacDonald emerges with the gold and an even bigger deal with Dash moving forward. Championships and cash speak louder than anything in mixed martial arts and MacDonald is poised to secure both."
What are your thoughts?
