UFC opens new sponsorship category with 7-Eleven

The Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial arts organisation has entered into a partnership with convenience store chain 7-Eleven.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the chain will serve as UFC’s first-ever official convenience store partner in the United States and Canada.

Under the agreement, UFC and 7-Eleven will team up to launch a peel-to-win Big Gulp sweepstakes this Friday. The sweepstakes will give fans the chance to win one of more than 1.8 million prizes made available at participating 7-Eleven stores.

UFC-branded Big Gulp beverages will be on offer to fans as part of the sweepstakes, which run until December 31. Designs will feature UFC gloves, a UFC Octagon and select UFC athletes such as Tyron Woodley (left of picture), Cody Garbrandt, Amanda Nunes, Daniel Cormier and Yair Rodriguez.

Customers who buy a Big Gulp drink will receive a peel-to-win game piece, which can be redeemed for food or beverages, a 10-per-cent discount on a purchase at UFCStore.com or a free seven-day subscription to UFC’s OTT platform, Fight Pass.

Instant win prizes include a grand prize of a 2017 model Harley-Davidson motorcycle, replica UFC Championship belts and a copy of the EA UFC 2 video game for Xbox One.

7-Eleven will also benefit from exposure inside the Octagon during UFC events, and will be promoted across UFC.com, during live-event programming, and across the series’ social and digital platforms.

“UFC has a huge fan base of both male and female young adults who like to shop at convenience stores, making this promotion a great match-up,” 7-Eleven marketing director Maria Trujillo said.

“With one in four of those UFC convenience store shoppers choosing 7-Eleven, that leaves a lot of potential to reach an untapped audience that is important to us. I believe this collaboration that includes exclusive UFC merchandise and a prize on every Big Gulp cup provides a great incentive to entice even more fans to shop at 7-Eleven.”