Ahead of inaugural season, PFL institutes its own uniform policy

When the Professional Fighters League officially relaunches next month, its logo won’t be the only new look it will be featuring.

MMAFighting.com has learned that the promotion has instituted its own uniform policy, however, unlike the UFC’s recent deal with Reebok, this one will allow fighters to feature their own sponsors while competing.

Below are the details, according to a deck that was distributed to fighters and their camps in March and subsequently obtained by MMAFighting.com:

PFL

PFL

1. Each fighter is allowed to feature only two sponsors.

2. Sponsor logos can only be placed on specific locations (see photo).

3. PFL will outfit and supply each fighter with official competition gloves and shorts for all league fight events throughout the regular season, playoffs and championship.

4. Fighters will be required to wear PFL’s official gloves and shorts in addition to apparel and headwear worn during all league fight/events including fight walk ins and weigh-ins.

5. PFL will grant each fighter the right to sell up to two sponsors to receive logo placement on official competition shorts.

6. Fighters will be permitted to feature up to two sponsor logos on all weigh-in and walk-in apparel and headwear provided sponsor logos are consistent with their competitive short sponsors.

7. Fighters will have the opportunity to change sponsors and logos three times throughout the season: Once before the regular season,
 once before the playoffs and once before the championship.

8. All Fighter sponsor logo integration must adhere to the PFL’s sponsor
 logo size and placement specifications, approval and embellishment process.

9. PFL will be responsible for all embellishment of fighter sponsor logos.

10. PFL to provide fighter with sponsorship sales materials.

11. PFL reserves the right to feature up to two logos of official league brand partners on fighter competition shorts including performance apparel/shirt provider.

12. PFL brand/and of its sports performance apparel partner logo to be featured on fighter competition shorts.

13. PFL nor its broadcast/media partners will permit any fighter sponsor signage boards or banners of any kind in and around the cage prior to, during or following official fights nor at walk-ins or weigh ins.

13. PFL reserves the right to outfit fighter corners.

14. Sponsorship categories not permitted include but are not limited to: vape, tobacco, condoms, pornography and gambling.

“We wanted to give the fighters the opportunity to continue to build their brand and sponsors while also creating a clean, professional look for the launch of the 2018 season,” PFL president Carlos Silva said when asked about the thought process behind this new policy.

According to Silva, PFL fighters will not have to pay a sponsorship tax, as was once the case in the UFC, meaning, they’ll keep all the money they earn from the sponsorship deals.

Fighters were asked to submit their sponsors for approval on Thursday. There are similar deadlines in place prior to the playoffs and championship.

The fighter gear design will be similar to the UFC’s fighter kits in that the corners will be distinguished by different colors. The promotion has not struck a deal with an apparel company so the gear will not feature a logo of that sort.

PFL’s inaugural season kicks off June 7 at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York City, and the main card will air live on NBCSN. Six weight classes (featherweight to heavyweight) will be featured with 12 fighters signed to each class.