As part of a partnership with blockchain company, Dapper Labs, who previously created NFT platforms for the NBA, NFL, and LaLiga, the UFC has launched its own NFT marketplace.

The NFT marketplace, named ‘Strike’, will see UFC iconic moments and highlights available for US$50 each, with the first drop to include 200,000 NFT packs, with each pack to include three highlights.

It has been reported the partnership includes a commitment from the UFC to split all profits evenly between the respective athletes and the organisation.

UFC senior vice president of global consumer products, Tracey Bleczinski, said future releases beyond the initial 200,000 will align with the 2022 event calendar for the competition.

“Dapper Labs is an innovator in this field, creating an industry that didn’t exist a few years ago,” Bleczinski said.

“Their vision for the potential of these products is the reason UFC chose Dapper Labs as its first NFT partner.

“We’re thrilled to finally be able to offer these amazing digital collectibles to enrich the UFC experience for our fans,” she said.

Dapper Labs head of partnerships, Caty Tedman, said: “Dapper Labs has accelerated the move to Web3 by building new apps and platforms that enable great user experiences for millions of fans.”

“Partnering with UFC, one of the fastest growing sports in the world, with a global fan base of more than 625 million people, is the next step to bringing even more into experiencing the benefits of decentralization while also delivering a meaningful experience for die-hard UFC fans to collect and own the moments that matter to them,” Tedman said.

UFC fans now have access to the new platform to buy and sell their NFTs, with the packs to initially include action images, fight commentaries, and crowd responses, with the UFC’s in-house production unit working with Dapper Labs to include extra content.