Adidas Announces Partnership with UFC Welterweight Contender Robbie Lawler

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UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks has Reebok. Now, Robbie Lawler, the division’s potential No. 1 contender, has Adidas.

The athletic apparel company officially announced a partnership with Lawler on Friday. “Ruthless” is believed to be the first mixed martial artist to be sponsored by Adidas, which is the second largest sportswear manufacturer in the world behind Nike.

According to a UFC official, Lawler will not be allowed to wear Adidas gear to or in the Octagon on Saturday, when he squares off with Matt Brown in the UFC on Fox 12 headliner at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. If Lawler wins, a rematch with Hendricks appears to be the next logical stop. The American Top Team product dropped a narrow unanimous verdict against “Bigg Rigg” at UFC 171 in Dallas this past March.

We are excited to announce our partnership with @ruthless_rl #Ruthless #adidasMMA #RobbieLawler #UFConFOX12 pic.twitter.com/pkQh5Qqwea

— adidasCombatUSA (@AdidasCombatUSA) July 25, 2014

Hendricks, meanwhile, signed a deal with Reebok ahead of his UFC 167 matchup with Georges St. Pierre. In addition, UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis also recently secured a sponsorship agreement with Reebok.