UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey has officially signed her first apparel endorsement deal.
On Thursday, Buffalo David Bitton and Rousey announced their decision for Ronda to be the first and only woman to represent Buffalo Pro
“It’s such an amazing opportunity to be able to represent Buffalo Pro,” Rousey said in a statement. “Not only am I the first female they’ve ever had representing the campaign, but it’s the first time any MMA fighter has done any type of fashion thing at all.”
“I feel really honored to be taking the first steps into this industry,” she added. “I never had the confidence when I was younger to dress well, and avoided any type of fashion and femininity, and I’m enjoying the chance to embrace it at this point in my life.”
Got to step away from MMA for a minute to shoot this fashion campaign for @BuffaloJeans. Hope you guys like it 🙂 pic.twitter.com/2SDFZqu6Nd
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) October 30, 2014
Rousey has been waiting for the perfect opportunity before committing to an endorsement or sponsor in the apparel industry.
“I purposefully have been holding out a long time on the apparel side of sponsorship. It was worth giving up lots of money that had been offered to me in order to pick exactly the right sponsor at the right time,” she explained.
And more from @BuffaloJeans pic.twitter.com/tmQaTmw6y3
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) October 31, 2014
“Buffalo Pro was the perfect thing because they never had a woman, and there had never been any MMA athlete who had a sponsored fashion deal at all. So, I was excited to jump all over it,” Rousey continued. “I got so many cool clothes. I was looking around and said to my roommate the other day, ‘Jesus Christ, why haven’t I gotten a fashion sponsorship sooner?’”
Rousey will be returning to the Octagon for UFC 184 on February 28 in Los Angeles, where she will be putting her belt on the line against fellow fighter Cat Zingano.
