The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has just announced that they will be entering into a sponsorship with the British Judo Association and will be the title sponsor of the 2015 British Open Judo Championships.

The Championships will be held at the Wembley Arena on July 12, 2015. The event will now be linked to the prime mixed martial arts (MMA) organization in existence.

Like Us on Facebook

The sponsorship deal in place states that the UFC will take advertising on the British Judo website and social media, as well as other advertising opportunities as they look for ways to support and promote the sport and the national governing body.

British Judo Chief Executive Andrew Scoular said that they are absolutely thrilled with their new partnership with the UFC. He adds that it will bring about many mutual benefits to both organizations, the sport of MMA, and judo in the UK.

"We look forward to developing other sponsorship and advertising opportunities with UFC in the future," Scoular said. "By partnering with such a leading martial arts brand as UFC, we will receive significant added exposure for British Judo as a core martial art."

UFC Chief Global Brand Officer, Garry Cook said that the 2015 British Open Judo Championships will be a fantastic event and an even more important stage where, athletes can perform and promote their sport.

In addition, he said that they are excited in bringing together UFC fans and Judo supporters, and practitioners of both sports.

Initially, people who hear "UFC" or "MMA" will often think of core martial arts such as boxing, muay thai, and jiu-jitsu.

However, when Ronda Rousey - the UFC women's Bantamweight Champion - came in and dominated the sport, it seems the paradigms are shifting. More and more people are looking forward to the introduction of the martial art judoka as a primary one for MMA.

TagsUFC, Judo, British judo association, 2015 british open judo championships