A long-rumored UFC uniform program, now officially known as the UFC’s “athlete outfitting policy,” is finally a reality.

UFC officials today announced that, beginning in July 2015, Reebok will serve as the exclusive worldwide outfitter for the world’s largest MMA promotion.

“We have come to an agreement for what we think is a landmark deal for both the sport of mixed martial arts, as well as our brand in the UFC,” UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta said. “We look at this as Reebok and the UFC are essentially changing the sport’s landscape again. This clearly has never been done in combat sports.”

Financial terms of the six-year partnership were not released, but UFC officials said that though the agreement represents the most valuable non-broadcast contract the company has ever signed, the UFC will not directly profit from the new deal. Instead, company execs said the deal is structured so that the “vast majority of the revenue” from the deal – taking out only the costs associated with administering the new program – will be paid directly to UFC fighters.

“We are actually extremely proud to be able to say from the launch we are going to be distributing the vast majority, if not all, of the revenues that are coming from this deal to the fighters,” Fertitta said. “They will be paid on a per-fight basis, as they perform. And the determination of how much they will get paid will be communicated to them in the coming weeks, but it will be based on where they are ranked at the day of the weigh-in prior to their fight.”

Reebok is expected to roll out its retail component of the new venture in July, as well, though a few teaser announcements are expected to come earlier in the year. Fertitta said Reebok’s pledge to the UFC is “the same level, if not a bigger commitment” than the company previously invested in a landmark deal with CrossFit.

Rankings to determine fighter pay

Under the terms of the new deal, UFC champions will be paid at the highest level per fight while the remaining fighters will be tiered based on their spot in the official UFC rankings.

Fighters ranked No. 1-5 will be paid at one level, No. 6-10 at a lower level, No. 11-15 below that, and unranked fighters at a base rate. The payments will remain consistent regardless of whether the athletes’ bouts air on pay-per-view, FOX, FOX Sports 1 or UFC Fight Pass.

“It provides an incentive model for the fighters,” Fertitta said. “The more successful they are, the more money they will make out of this program.”

In addition to the per-fight rate, Fertitta said fighters will also receive royalty payments representing 20 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness. The royalty program will also include retired fighters and continue in perpetuity.

Fertitta used UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez as an example of what fighters can expect moving forward. He said a certain level of individuality will be maintained for athletes as they garb themselves exclusively in Reebok gear.

“If you can imagine Cain Velasquez, he obviously will have a certain look, feel and appeal to merchandise and what he wears into the octagon,” Fertitta said. “He will be compensated based on how much of that actually sells, over and above what he will be paid as defending champion for a fight.”

No existing sponsors on fight week

The new deal means that beginning with fight week for next summer’s UFC 189 event in Las Vegas, existing sponsors will no longer appear on fighter clothing – not only on fight night, but also at all pre-fight media appearances – and in-cage sponsor banners also will be eliminated. Fighter camps also will be outfitted with approved clothing to create a uniform look in athletes’ corners.

That said, existing sponsors are still welcome to support UFC fighters, UFC officials said. However, the companies will be tasked with finding a new activation process since third-party logos will no longer be allowed on UFC broadcasts, other than title-sponsor slots – similar to those seen with European soccer clubs – that the UFC may eventually sell to “a major, global brand” down the road.

“This is no different than any other major sport,” Fertitta said. “You can’t just run on to the field or on to the basketball court with whatever sponsors you want. It just doesn’t work that way. We’re now at that level.

“Net-net, we’re confident that this is all going to be additive to fighters from a compensation standpoint.”

At each UFC event after the July rollout, a newly established team of UFC equipment managers will distribute to each fighter and cornerman a Reebok gear bag with fight shorts, walk-out jerseys, hoodies, T-shirts, fleece tops and bottoms, headwear, socks and shoes, among other items, which will be used throughout fight week and are intended for the athlete to keep after the event.

On fight night, all necessary gear is expected to be laid out and labeled in the arena locker room, similar to the what a pro sports team would expect to see before each game.

UFC: Fighters have responded positively

UFC officials began reaching out to UFC fighters to explain the new process prior to today’s announcement. Fertitta said the response has been encouraging.

“Overwhelmingly, we have had a positive response to the program for a number of different reasons,” Fertitta said. “One, it’s completely additive to what they’re already doing. And I think there’s a sense of, yes, they understand that this elevates the level of the sport and the brand – and their brand in addition to that – because it’s going to look much more professional.

“They get to keep their existing sponsors. They get paid for wearing these uniforms for each fight, which means now a lot of these guys don’t have to run around trying to scurry up sponsorships at the last minute, which can be very distracting at times. And in addition to that, they are partnering with us on the backend by receiving a percentage of sales.”

One final component of the new deal includes a charitable endeavor, as a portion of the revenue generated by the new line of Reebok products will be donated to Fight for Peace, a nonprofit organization founded in 2000 with the aim of providing an alternative to the armed violence and drug trafficking prevalent in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, a Brazilian city widely regarded as the spiritual birthplace of MMA.

In 2007 the organization opened a London branch and now advises a network of charities around the globe in similar efforts. Reebok recently announced a partnership with the organization.

While the new policy is certainly destined for much scrutiny in the coming months and years, Fertitta believes it’s the right move for the company and thinks the program is one of the most important ventures in UFC history – on par with his family’s 2001 purchase of the promotion.

“We truly think that this is a long-term investment that we’re making, no different than the investment me and my brother made in 2001,” Fertitta said. “Listen, we took four or five years to build this thing, and because of the money we invested and the time, effort and energy we put in, I think everybody has benefitted greatly.

“As we sit here today, and kind of what’s happened to the sport and the industry, we kind of liken it to that. This is a seminal moment for this industry and for this sport and taking it to another level.”

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.