Ahead of Noche UFC, one of the year’s most anticipated mixed martial arts events, Dana White wore an eye-catching, Mexico-inspired custom sneaker.
The chief executive officer of the UFC wore the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low “Canary” dressed in the green, white and red hues of the Mexican flag on Friday night during the ceremonial weigh-ins. The shoe’s signature reverse Swoosh branding on the lateral side, which was executed in black, included “14 09 2024” written in gold, a nod to the event’s date.
The custom sneaker was designed by Taller Jacobo y María Ángeles, who also designed the “Tribe Belt #1” championship belt for women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso. The fighter received the belt as a gift in September 2023 before her first title defense against Valentina Shevchenko.
The Saturday night of Mexican Independence Day has long been the date for the biggest boxing matches of the year, and recently has become a key event date for the UFC. (Mexican Independence Day is Sept. 16.) Noche UFC, according to the UFC, was created to “honor Mexico’s rich history and vibrant culture, a nation built on resilience, courage and an indomitable fighting spirit.”
For the event — which took over the Sphere in Las Vegas — the UFC stacked the fight card with its top-tier Mexican talent, including Grasso, Brian Ortega, Raul Rosas Jr., Daniel Zellhuber and several others.
About the Author
Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.
