However, it was in 2012 when Jones became the face of MMA when he signed a global sponsorship deal with Nike, becoming the first MMA athlete ever to be sponsored by the sports apparel giant.

Jon Jones, widely considered the greatest MMA fighter of all time, achieved a major milestone in 2012 when he became the first UFC fighter to sign a sponsorship deal with global sports apparel giant N ...

In endorsement deals, Jones partnered with Nike which had his signature added on his shoe line. He also had a sponsorship deal with Gatorade in the second phase of his career.

It is also worth noting that Jones secured a Nike sponsorship in 2012, an unprecedented example of business success for an MMA fighter at the time, before being dropped by the sports-clothing ...

Aug. 8, 2012: Jones signs a worldwide sponsorship deal with Nike, becoming the first UFC fighter to do so.

Aug. 8, 2012 – Jones becomes the first UFC athlete to land a worldwide sponsorship deal with Nike.