UFC Joins Topps Debut Patch Program at ESPN Fight Night

Topps is expanding its highly successful Debut Patch card program to the UFC, starting at UFC Fight Night on May 31 with fighter Andreas Gustafsson wearing the first patch on his walkout jersey. After the fight, the patch will be removed, sent to Topps' Dallas facility, embedded into a one-of-one card, and then signed by the fighter, creating a unique collectible that ties to a precise moment in the athlete's career. This program, which began with MLB in 2023 and has since included MLS and WWE, has proven lucrative, with some cards fetching six- and seven-figure sums, such as Paul Skenes' MLB Rookie Debut Patch Autograph selling for $1.2 million. The UFC joining the program aligns with Topps' ongoing expansion, with NBA and NFL launches planned in the coming years, and marks a significant innovation in the collectibles market by providing certified, moment-specific memorabilia. The patches will appear on the right sleeve of fighters' walkout jerseys and will be incorporated into an upcoming Topps UFC product release, though specific products have not yet been announced. This initiative follows Topps' exclusive licensing deal with UFC and represents a new avenue for UFC to engage collectors and fans.