This weekend, the UFC on ESPN: Blanchfield vs. Barber event takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. In an exciting addition, fighters making their promotional debut will now wear specially designed "debut patches" on their Venom fight shorts. This announcement was made on Wednesday in collaboration with Topps trading card company, which aims to create unique collectible cards featuring these patches.
The "debut patch" will be worn by UFC athletes during their first fight. After the bout concludes, the patch will be transformed into a one-of-a-kind signed trading card, making it a special memento for both fighters and fans. Swedish middleweight Andreas "Bane" Gustafsson will have the honor of being the first fighter to wear this new patch during UFC on ESPN 68.
Gustafsson, with a professional record of 11 wins and 2 losses, earned his place in the UFC by knocking out Pat Pytlik on Dana White's Contender Series last August. He will face seasoned veteran Trevin Giles, who holds a record of 16 wins and 7 losses. This matchup is especially poignant for Gustafsson, who enters the octagon on a three-fight winning streak. His two career losses were closely contested, with one decided by majority decision and another by split decision.
Giles, on the other hand, is looking to turn the tide after suffering three consecutive defeats. The pressure is on him to secure a win as he steps into the octagon opposite Gustafsson.
The UFC’s exclusive apparel partner, Venom, provides fighters with in-octagon fight kits and fight week apparel. This partnership began in April 2021, allowing Venom to take the reins after previously sponsoring over 200 UFC athletes between 2009 and 2015. The introduction of the debut patches underscores the UFC's commitment to enhancing the experience for new fighters and their fans.
UFC on ESPN 68 is set to be a thrilling event, headlined by an anticipated women’s flyweight matchup between No. 4 ranked Erin Blanchfield and No. 5 ranked Maycee Barber. This fight holds special significance, as the two were originally scheduled to compete at UFC 269 in December 2021, but Barber had to withdraw for undisclosed reasons. Now, fans eagerly await this clash to see who will emerge victorious in this competitive division.
Overall, the debut patch initiative highlights the UFC's innovative approach to celebrating new fighters and their journey in the promotion. As fighters like Gustafsson make their entrance into the octagon, fans around the world can look forward to not only exhilarating matchups but also the unique collectibles that commemorate these pivotal moments in combat sports history.
