Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images
On Friday, UFC President Dana White has unveiled an all-new UFC Legacy Championship Belt that will be up for grabs in the matchup between bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw and flyweight champion Henry Cejudo this Saturday in Brooklyn, New York.
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The UFC Legacy Championship Belt represents a new era of UFC, ushering in 25 years of the company’s existence. The belt is reportedly valued at three times more than its predecessor, the UFC Classic Championship Belt, which was used for 17 years.
Drum roll, please:
The @ufc's championship belt got an upgrade for the #10YearChallenge 👀 pic.twitter.com/ksYnrRhDej
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) January 18, 2019
Check out the new editions to the UFC Legacy Belt 👀 pic.twitter.com/2pSDoMpaiv
— UFC (@ufc) January 18, 2019
https://twitter.com/aaronbronsteter/status/1086279004074663937
The new UFC championship belt.
📷 @DarrenDemeterio pic.twitter.com/pk1uIiGVDo— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) January 18, 2019
Via UFC:
“Starting in 2019, fighters who win UFC championship bouts will be awarded a UFC Legacy Championship Belt, which will be used during the duration of their professional MMA career. Subsequent championship wins in their respective division will be represented by red stones on the side plates of the belt. Additionally, athletes who win titles across multiple weight classes will be awarded one belt per division.”
The eight country icons represent the first eight countries that were home to UFC champions
- USA – Mark Coleman
- Canada – Carlos Newton
- Brazil – Murilo Bustamante
- Netherlands – Bas Rutten
- Poland – Joanna Jedrzejczyk
- Belarus – Andrei Arlovski
- UK – Michael Bisping
- Ireland – Conor McGregor
The 25 White Cubic Zirconia and Ruby stones on the belt represent 25 years of the UFC, with the Roman numerals signifying 1993, the UFC’s inaugural year. Each champion’s belt will be customized with his/her name and weight class, and post-victory, one of the stones will be replaced with a red stone. The women’s belt is identical, albeit slightly smaller.
What do you think of the new look? It seems like Twitter has already made up its mind:
Great, if the mission was to make a Superbowl Ring for the UFC… but it wasn't. Then it's like they said no to the ring and put it as a buckle on a belt. Looks bland. Doesn't scream "Bad Mother Fucker". It screams, "Corporate Synergy, Yaaay". #NotImpressed
— Dan (@DanTheMexiKhan) January 18, 2019
Is it just me or is this new UFC belt ugly as all heck? pic.twitter.com/QMiEHAO0Gt
— Rob Young (@polyh3dron) January 18, 2019
the new UFC belt looks like something the Avengers would insert into a space time continuum to go back in time and tell whoever designed this belt to try again. #UFCBrooklyn pic.twitter.com/J5PvyZY9yT
— MacMally 🍀 (@MacMallyMMA) January 18, 2019
I’m usually pretty open minded about things like this, but the new UFC championship belt is putrid looking. I’ve seen regional events with more prideful looking hardware #UFCBrooklyn pic.twitter.com/XoqshHSFak
— #Dizz (@TalkMMA) January 18, 2019
Why does the new UFC belt look like a Power Rangers morpher tho? pic.twitter.com/TTi4uZ21sP
— Dnellicious (@Dnellicious) January 18, 2019
https://twitter.com/mma_inciter/status/1086289084086083587
New UFC belt reminds me of the Impact Grand Championship but not as sleek. pic.twitter.com/DakmFI1qTH
— Hurricane Helms (@ShaneHelmsCom) January 18, 2019
I just saw the new UFC belt designs. What in the blue hell? Nah, please tell me this is a joke. Even Stevie Wonder could have designed a better belt than this. This is disgusting, a crime against humanity. Whoever designed this belt needs to be imprisoned. Yuck! 🤢 pic.twitter.com/kx8o6Kfo1W
— Jordan Patu (@Jordan_Patu) January 18, 2019
I do not like the new UFC belt at all
— 52% of Teslas crash (@VicNobu) January 18, 2019
https://twitter.com/BGBBayBay/status/1086276304800870403
https://twitter.com/RNL241510/status/1085611949654765569
With all the hate, only one opinion can trump them all.
Ok I’m back. https://t.co/ogw6m4ZeGE
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) January 18, 2019
I went from hating it to loving it. I am a man of little integrity.
[h/t UFC]