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12/23/2024 01:38:19 am

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Major Sponsor Xyience Cuts Ties with UFC

Xyience, then official energy drink of the UFC

(Photo : rondarousey.net)

Xyience, one of the major sponsors of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) since 2006, has been bought by a Texas company and is ending its ties with the UFC.

Xenergy, Xyience's performance energy drink, has been a staple in UFC live events. Their sponsor status has always been present in the octagon and in commercials.

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Several fighters, including Dan "The Outlaw" Hardy, Mark Muñoz, and women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey have been on the labels of the Xenergy drink.

However, Xyience has been bought by Texas Company Big Red Ltd., an independent soda company that has been acquiring several brands including Thomas Kemper Soda and energy water HyDrive.

Xyience though, may be the biggest company bought by Big Red, being valued at US $45 million in sales, after the 2013-2014 year with Rousey advertising the drink.

One of the acquisition's major points was that Xyience end their longstanding relationship with the UFC.

Big Red CEO, Gary Smith, said that he will not forget the consumers attached with the UFC. Instead, he intends to "soften it up a little bit," or make the image of Xyience less hardcore.

Apart from UFC enthusiasts and athletes, Smith wants to extend the market to healthy people, Crossfit athletes, Color Run participants, and marathoners.

Now people, are beginning to search for a replacement to Xyience. Most pundits and speculators are already throwing the ball to the court of NOS Energy.

NOS, a subsidiary of Coca-Cola, was one of the companies that tried to feel the waters of MMA products. Previously, they catered only to the racing and video gaming industry.

However, in 2012, they signed then welterweight champion, Georges "Rush" St-Pierre to a multi-year endorsement deal. It also became the major sponsor of reality show The Ultimate Fighter on FX.

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