CYPRESS, CALIFORNIA – Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. (Toyo Tires) announced today the company will continue as the Official Tire of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 2012. A long-time supporter of the UFC and MMA athletes, Toyo Tires has become a regular presence inside and outside The Octagon.

In 2012, TV viewers and event attendees alike will see the Toyo Tires logo inside The Octagon during six UFC Pay-Per-View television events and several UFC on FX and FUELTV events.

As the Official Tire of the UFC, Toyo Tires will also have an increased presence on UFC.com this year and plans to again incorporate UFC and MMA fighters into its marketing efforts. SEMA Show attendees will recall Octagon-inspired display, photo opportunities and fighter appearances at the 2011 event. The company also promotes the affiliation and activities through its consumer website and social media sites.

“Toyo Tires is proud to continue its association with the UFC, and to connect with its passionate fans who expect performance at the highest level,” said Amy Coleman, senior director of marketing, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. “This is a huge, year-round sport that is highly visible. We have received an overwhelmingly positive response regarding our association with the UFC, both from our dealers and consumers, many of whom are avid UFC fans.”

Toyo Tires first became the Official Tire of the UFC in 2006 and has maintained a strong relationship since, sponsoring the UFC and individual athletes such as Middleweight Mark Munoz, Lightweight Anthony Pettis and Light Heavyweight Brandon Vera. During that same time, the UFC expanded globally and cemented its place as the fastest growing sport in the world. Today, UFC programming is broadcast in over 149 countries and territories, reaching almost a million homes worldwide, in 20 different languages.

About Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp.

Toyo Tires has stood for innovation, quality, performance, and excellent service for over 65 years, including 45 years in the United States.

The company offers a complete selection of premium replacement tires for nearly every make and model including high performance cars, luxury vehicles, light trucks, and SUVs as well as commercial trucks. Popular consumer product lines are Proxes (for high performance passenger cars, light trucks and race cars), Open Country (for light trucks and SUVs), Versado (for luxury passenger cars), and Extensa (high value tire for passenger cars and minivans). Many of the tires are built here in the United States at their state-of-the-art factory in Bartow County, Georgia.
Learn more at www.toyotires.com and follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.

Ultimate Fighting Championship® - www.ufc.com

Universally recognized for its action-packed, can’t-miss events that have sold out some of the biggest arenas and stadiums across the globe, the UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization. Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, and with offices in London, England, Toronto, Canada and Beijing, China, UFC® produces more than 30 live events annually and is the largest Pay-Per-View event provider in the world.

In 2011, the UFC burst into the mainstream with a landmark seven-year broadcast agreement with FOX Sports Media Group. The agreement includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network annually, with additional fight cards and thousands of hours of programming broadcast on FOX properties FX and FUEL TV. This includes the longest-running sports reality show on television, The Ultimate Fighter®, which now air on FX in an exciting new live format.

In addition to its reach on FOX, UFC programming is broadcast in over 149 countries and territories, to nearly one billion homes worldwide, in 20 different languages. UFC content is also distributed commercially in the United States to bars and restaurants through Joe Hand Promotions. The UFC also connects with tens of millions of fans through its website, UFC.com, as well as social media sites Facebook and Twitter. UFC President Dana White is considered one of the most accessible and followed executives in sports, with nearly two million followers on Twitter.

Ancillary UFC businesses include best-selling DVDs, an internationally distributed magazine, the best-selling UFC Undisputed® video game franchise distributed by THQ, UFC GYM®, UFC Fight Club affinity program, UFC Fan Expo® festivals, branded apparel, trading cards, and JAAKS articulated action figures.